Given the budget challenges facing the state this session, the legislature and Governor prioritized early learning by enacting the following bills:

2SHB 2731: Implements an Early Learning Program for low-income three and four year olds by initially focusing on children enrolled in the state’s Early Childhood Education and Assistance Act (ECEAP).  The bill protects this funding,  provides opportunities for children and families to participate in voluntary preschool programs with comprehensive services (as needed) starting in the 2011-12 school year and targets preschool availability to all eligible children by 2018.  The program coordinates the transition from preschool into kindergarten so that children and their families are well supported and children enter school ready to learn. Funding will be phased in incrementally beginning in school districts where state-funded full-day kindergarten is already provided. Private-pay families can participate in the program for a fee based on space available.

SSB 6759:  Establishes a technical workgroup to develop a comprehensive plan to determine whether a voluntary program of early learning (preschool) should fall under the state’s K-12 basic education mandate or be an entitlement program, either statutorily or constitutionally.  The plan will consider the opportunities and barriers to implementing either option at a minimum and will take into consideration such elements as: eligibility criteria for children and child care providers, program standards, performance measures, governance, funding requirements, implementation timeline and the future role of the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP).  A final report is due to the Legislature by Jan. 1, 2012.

2SHB 2867: Creates a Birth-to-Three Planning Process by directing the Department of Early Learning to work in collaboration with Thrive by Five and the Early Learning Advisory Council to put together a comprehensive birth-to-three plan that ensures young children, parents and their caregivers have access to high-quality education and support services. A final report, along with recommended funding levels is due to the Legislature and Governor by December 1, 2010.  

E2SHB 3141: Reforms Working Connections Child Care Subsidy Program by increasing the authorization period to 12 months for families with children enrolled in ECEAP, Head Start and Early Head Start beginning Sept. 2011.  Previously, families could be authorized for up to six months of care.  Authorization changes will result in continuity of care for children and predictability for parents and child care providers.  A report is due to the Legislature analyzing the impact of these changes and will include recommendations on whether the 12-month authorization period should be expanded to include other families receiving Working Connections child care subsidies.  While the Working Connections child care subsidy was decreased, related job search restrictions in the WorkFirst (TANF) program were loosened to compensate for the budget reductions.  

Additionally, support for home visitation for young children and their families was increased through a budget proviso.  The legislature added $200,000 of new state money and transferred $300,000 of existing home visiting money to establish a public-private matching account that the Department of Early Learning will oversee and Thrive by Five Washington will administer.   Due to a snafu in passage of the budget, $300,000 was inadvertently removed from the Council on Children and Families (CCF).  This error needs to be addressed as it could have implications on Washington State’s maintenance of effort for receipt of federal home visiting funds this fall.