DEL News

August 13, 2009
Leaders sign Early Learning Partnership resolution

OLYMPIA – The leaders of the Department of Early Learning (DEL), the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and Thrive by Five Washington this week signed a joint resolution committing to collaboration on behalf of Washington children and families.

The Early Learning Partnership joint resolution lays out the vision for how the three entities will work together to create a statewide early learning system that supports school readiness for all children. Click here to read the resolution.

"The time is now," DEL Director Bette Hyde said in signing the resolution, along with Superintendent Randy Dorn, and Thrive by Five Washington President and CEO Nina Auerbach. "We owe it to children in our state to get this right — to make sure they start school ready to learn and succeed."

A "joint accountability framework" document that gives details into specific roles and responsibilities in the Early Learning Partnership.

Specific priorities and goals within the Partnership include:

  • Improving the safety and well-being of children in child care and early education programs.
  • Making parenting information and support readily available.
  • Developing and implementing a voluntary quality rating and improvement system (QRIS).
  • Developing and implementing a kindergarten readiness assessment process.
  • Phasing in enhanced early learning options, such as infant/toddler services, pre-K, and full-day kindergarten, for all children.
  • Continuing to build public-private early learning partnerships.
  • Exploring funding opportunities to promote creativity to advance early learning goals and priorities.
  • Promoting early literacy programs and strategies to ensure all children read at grade level by third grade.
  • Reviewing, revising and implementing the Washington State Early Learning and Development Benchmarks.
  • Developing a comprehensive statewide Early Learning Plan and response to the Governor’s request for a 2010 legislative proposal.

Would you like to be a "key communicator" who provides feedback and input on a regular basis during the development of the statewide Early Learning Plan? E-mail communications@del.wa.gov to be added to the list. Click here to learn more our Early Learning Plan work.

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The Washington State Department of Early Learning is a Governor’s Cabinet-level state agency created in 2006 to bring heightened visibility and focus to early learning and help all Washington children reach their full potential. DEL oversees the state-funded comprehensive preschool program, child care licensing, child care subsidy policy, and other initiatives and programs to support parents as children’s first and most important teachers. For more information, visit the DEL Web site at www.del.wa.gov.

For more information:

DEL Communications Manager Amy Blondin
360.725.4919 (office)
360.878.0628 (cell)
amy.blondin@del.wa.gov