DEL and Thrive by Five Washington

Thrive by Five Washington is a public-private partnership established in 2006. Thrive partners with local and statewide entities and individuals—both public and private—to help ensure every child has the chance to have positive early learning experiences, so that they are prepared to succeed in school and thrive in life.

The Department of Early Learning (DEL) and Thrive work together to serve Washington's youngest children by leveraging public and private dollars, assets and resources to help achieve long-term results. We do this by partnering on early literacy projects, communications efforts, kindergarten readiness research, and other projects. Thrive’s Board of Directors is co-chaired by Gov. Chris Gregoire and William H. Gates, Sr., of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Thrive by Five Washington is a nonprofit, 501 (c) (3) corporation.

Visit Thrive by Five’s website to learn more about their work, and to read their blog, Birth to Thrive Online.

Thrive’s board of directors

The DEL Director serves as a non-voting member of the Thrive Board of Directors. Other members of Thrive’s board include legislators, and representatives of the public and private sectors. To help ensure collaboration and partnership, two Thrive board members serve on DEL’s Early Learning Advisory Council.

Click here to see a full list of Thrive board members.

What are the Thrive Demonstration Communities?

Thrive Demonstration Communities are local partnerships that have the potential to serve as a model for how a community-wide approach to early learning can support healthy child development and school readiness.

In 2006, White Center (located south of Seattle) and East Yakima were chosen to be the two demonstration communities because of their local leadership, diversity and commitment to early learning. As Thrive Communities, White Center and East Yakima are developing programs for young children and their families and caregivers that support healthy child development.

DEL and Thrive partnered to design and field test our state’s quality rating and improvement system, Seeds to Success, in White Center and East Yakima.

Click to learn more about the Thrive Communities.