DEL News

December 1, 2009
Leaders deliver draft Early Learning Plan to Governor
Plan includes recommendations for first steps to implement

OLYMPIA - Early learning leaders today released a draft long-term plan for building a statewide early learning system that ensures school readiness and success for all children in Washington from birth through third grade.

In response to a request from Gov. Christine Gregoire, leaders from the Department of Early Learning (DEL), Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), and Thrive by Five Washington (Thrive) also have delivered to her recommendations for how to begin implementation in 2010. Both the draft plan and the recommendations can be found online at www.del.wa.gov/partnerships/elac/elp.aspx.

“The time is right,” said DEL Director Bette Hyde. “We have a governor who clearly prioritizes our youngest learners, and communities who understand the incredible amount of growth and development that happens in a child’s earliest years. This plan is a roadmap for coordinating in the services and programs that prepare all kids for school and life.”

“Early learning doesn’t end when kids hit kindergarten,” said Randy Dorn, Superintendent of Public Instruction. “This plan reflects the fact that educators in early learning and the K-12 system have to work together to make sure children succeed.”

“A lot of what is in the plan is already happening around our state—we need to coordinate and align investments and efforts with a clear vision for children and families,” said Nina Auerbach, Thrive president and CEO.

The plan, in draft form, reflects the input of hundreds of early learning stakeholders and community members. It outlines how to build an early learning system that brings together the independent systems for: Early care and education, including preschool; kindergarten through third grade; health and nutrition; special needs and early intervention; and family support.

It includes strategies, outcomes and indicators in five key areas:

Ready and successful children

  • All children have optimal physical health, mental health, oral health and nutrition.
  • Pregnant and postpartum women receive health, nutrition and support services to optimize the pregnancy and the health of their newborns.
  • All children have developmentally appropriate social-emotional, language, literacy, and cognitive skills, and demonstrate positive mental health and well being.
  • Families have access to high-quality early learning programs and services that are culturally appropriate and affordable for those who choose them.
  • All children enter kindergarten healthy and emotionally, socially and cognitively ready to succeed in school and in life.

Ready and successful parents, families and caregivers

  • Parents are their children’s first and most important teachers, and have the support they need to help their children “learn to learn” in their first years of life.
  • A comprehensive, culturally and language-appropriate information and referral system about all aspects of child health, development and early learning is accessible to all pregnant women, parents, families and caregivers.
  • Parents, families and caregivers have the knowledge and skills needed, along with culturally appropriate services and supports, to act and respond in ways that promote optimal child health, development and early learning.
  • Parent, family and caregiver voice shapes policies and systems.

Ready and successful early learning professionals

  • All early learning professionals and teachers can demonstrate the competencies to provide children birth through third grade with developmentally and culturally appropriate early learning experiences in healthy and safe environments.
  • All families have access to high-quality, affordable child care and early education programs staffed by providers and teachers who are adequately trained and compensated.
  • A fully-developed Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) is established and maintained so that early learning and school-age providers have the support and resources necessary to improve the quality of their programs and environments, and so that families have the information they need to make the best early learning choices for their children.

Ready and successful schools

  • All children and families make smooth transitions among home, early learning settings and school.
  • All schools are ready for the children who attend, including preparing for their individual gifts and needs, level of knowledge, skills, social-emotional and physical development, and their cultural background and language.
  • All students transition from third grade with the abilities to read well, to do basic math, and to actively participate in the learning environment.

Ready and successful system and communities

  • The early learning system in Washington uses evidence-based and/or demonstrated best practices (as available) to support families in fostering children’s healthy development and learning and build high-quality early learning programs for children birth through third grade.
  • The early learning system in Washington works to close the preparation gap.
  • The early learning system supports children with developmental disabilities and other special needs, and their families, to optimize each child’s health, development and educational outcomes.
  • Governance and accountability systems ensure progress toward achieving the vision for a high-quality, accessible, early learning system for all children in Washington.
  • Communities support families and promote children’s learning and healthy development.
  • The public understands the critical economic and social value of high-quality early learning for every child from birth through third grade, and actively supports related policies and investments.

DEL, OSPI and Thrive will gather input on the draft plan between now and March 2010, when the plan will be finalized. An online survey and additional information is available at www.del.wa.gov/partnerships/elac/elp.aspx.

Contact:     Amy Blondin, Department of Early Learning, 360.725.4919; amy.blondin@del.wa.gov

                    Molly O’Connor, Thrive by Five Washington, 206.621.5562; molly@thrivebyfivewa.org

                    Nate Olson, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, 360.725.6015; nathan.olson@k12.wa.us

###