Newsroom

DEL seeks input on early learning benchmarks update 10/14/09: OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Early Learning (DEL) is seeking public input as it prepares to update our state’s early learning guidelines... Read More >
State pre-kindergarten program hits milestone, enrolls 150,000th child 09/30/09: OLYMPIA – This month, the state’s pre-kindergarten program for low-income children and families enrolled its 150,000th child since its 1985 creation. The Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) provides free preschool education, family support, and health and nutrition services to low-income 3- and 4-year-old children and their families... Read More >
Leaders sign Early Learning Partnership resolution 08/13/09: 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... Read More >
DEL seeks information from the experts on fun: Washington kids 08/06/09: Calling all kids! The Washington State Department of Early Learning (DEL) is seeking new information to add to the “Just for Kids” section of its Web site, and we need help from the experts: Washington children... Read More >
DEL to hold hearings on plan for Child Care and Development Fund 04/02/09: OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Early Learning will hold two public hearings in May on the state’s draft two-year plan for the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)... Read More >
DEL launches new Spanish section of Web site 04/02/09: OLYMPIA – The Department of Early Learning (DEL) today launched a new "En Español" section of its Web site dedicated to reaching out to more Spanish-speaking Washington residents... Read More >
DEL seeks input on federal Child Care and Development Fund plan 03/24/09: OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Early Learning is seeking public input on the state’s two-year plan for the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), which helps promote accessible, affordable, quality child care around the state... Read More >
Gov. Gregoire appoints Early Learning director 02/10/09: OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced her appointment of Dr. Bette Hyde as director of the Washington State Department of Early Learning... Read More >
Gov. Gregoire names Karen Tvedt as DEL interim director 01/12/09: OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire today named longtime children’s policy expert Karen Tvedt to serve as interim director for the Department of Early Learning (DEL) until a permanent replacement for founding director Jone Bosworth is appointed... Read More >
State study shows high child care costs for families 12/11/08: OLYMPIA – Washington families are paying an average of $7,644 per child per year in center-based care and $6,938 a year for home-based care, according to a new Department of Early Learning (DEL) study... Read More >
DEL founding director announces resignation 12/02/08: OLYMPIA – Jone Bosworth, the founding director of the Washington State Department of Early Learning (DEL), today announced her plans to leave the agency next month... Read More >
DEL seeks child care providers to help test project 11/05/08: OLYMPIA – The Department of Early Learning (DEL) invites Washington child care providers who are interested in improving the quality of care they offer families to apply now for the field test year of the state’s voluntary quality rating and improvement system... Read More >
DEL seeks input on kindergarten readiness planning 10/23/08: OLYMPIA – The Department of Early Learning (DEL) is seeking input from parents, educators and other stakeholders on kindergarten readiness assessment options for Washington... Read More >
DEL launches new ‘Just for Kids’ Web site 10/13/08: OLYMPIA – The Department of Early Learning (DEL) today launched a section of its Web site dedicated to fun, educational information and activities for young children in Washington... Read More >
DEL kicks off Seeds to Success quality rating and improvement system 10/03/08: OLYMPIA – More than 100 child care providers around the state will be part of the “field test” of Washington’s new voluntary quality rating and improvement system (QRIS), called Seeds to Success... Read More >
Kindergarten readiness Web site available for back-to-school preparation 08/26/08: OLYMPIA – The Department of Early Learning (DEL) has created a new kindergarten readiness Web site section for parents... Read More >
DEL funds 12 community projects to provide parent education, support 08/25/08: OLYMPIA – To support parents as their children’s first and most important teachers, the Department of Early Learning (DEL) is funding 12 projects around the state that reach foster parents, young parents, grandparents raising grandchildren and others to support healthy child development. This is the second time DEL has awarded funding to community parent education and support projects... Read More >
Washington parents know quality child care, new survey shows 07/29/08: OLYMPIA – The Department of Early Learning (DEL) today issued the results of a statewide survey that offers an unprecedented look at what Washington parents want and need when making early learning decisions for their families. The survey of more than 900 Washington parents of children ages birth through 5 is among the most comprehensive surveys of its kind conducted in the nation... Read More >
DEL issues new guide for parents on choosing child care 07/23/08: OLYMPIA – Choosing child care is one of the most important decisions many parents make. The Department of Early Learning (DEL) today issued a new guide to help parents find the right child care arrangement for their families... Read More >
State-funded preschool program sees historic expansion - More than 1,000 additional Washington families to enroll in 2008 05/15/08: OLYMPIA – After the first open, competitive bidding process in Washington’s state-funded preschool program in nearly two decades, the Department of Early Learning (DEL) has awarded 1,145 new enrollment slots for the 2008-2009 school year... Read More >
DEL launches updated Licensed Child Care Information System 04/30/08: OLYMPIA – The Department of Early Learning (DEL) today launched an updated, more comprehensive online tool for parents and others seeking information about Washington’s 7,400 licensed child care providers.... Read More >
Governor Gregoire declares May 9 child care provider appreciation day 04/24/08: OLYMPIA – To honor the work done by Washington State’s more than 7,400 licensed child care providers, Governor Chris Gregoire has proclaimed May 9, 2008, as Child Care Provider Appreciation Day in our state.... Read More >
DEL, children’s museums partner to help more children learn through play 04/16/08: OLYMPIA – Nearly a million children and adults visit Washington’s children’s museums each year to experience the joy of learning through play: Splashing in a water table; sorting vegetables in a make-believe farmer’s market; and learning about science, art, language, health, and other cultures while having fun... Read More >
Three organizations join forces, commit to improve early learning for children statewide 04/09/08: OLYMPIA — Leaders of the Washington State Department of Early Learning (DEL), Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and Thrive by Five Washington today affirmed their partnership in improving early learning opportunities for all Washington children, and helping them find success in school and in life... Read More >
Department of Early Learning launches new Web site 04/02/08: OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Early Learning (DEL) today launched its new Web site, featuring more information on topics including child development, licensed child care and early learning partnerships around the state... Read More >
Washington’s state-funded preschool program makes strides in quality 03/19/08: OLYMPIA – Washington’s state-funded preschool has made significant improvements in the quality of programs provided to children and families, meeting nine out of 10 quality standard benchmarks as designated by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER)... Read More >
Pierce County joins DEL pilot sites for QRIS 01/14/08: OLYMPIA – The Department of Early Learning (DEL) today announced it is adding a sixth pilot site to its Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). Pierce County will join the first phase of the QRIS pilot project as a privately funded site... Read More >
Public wants to do more to make Washington child-friendly state, poll shows 01/--/08: OLYMPIA – What have you done to help a child today? It’s a question we at the Department of Early Learning (DEL) ask ourselves every day to remind us why we’re here: to help Washington children realize their full potential... Read More >
DEL, WSU support increased literacy among Latino child care providers 01/03/08: KENNEWICK — More than 200 Spanish-speaking licensed home child care providers care for about 1,800 children in the Tri-Cities, many with limited literacy skills in either Spanish or English... Read More >
Resources for parents and child care providers in the wake of recent storms 12/13/07: OLYMPIA – The recent storms produced heavy rains, flooding, landslides, high winds and major road closures and caused extensive damage to homes, businesses, public utilities, public facilities, and infrastructure in many parts of our state. As many of Washington’s communities move from responding to recovery, the Department of Early Learning (DEL) wants to ensure parents, child care providers and the citizens of Washington are aware of some resources... Read More >
DEL issues licensed child care report 12/13/07: OLYMPIA – The Department of Early Learning's 2006 Licensed Child Care Report is now available. The report includes information from a 2006 survey of licensed child care providers, including the numbers of children in care... Read More >
DEL funds 22 community projects to provide parent education, support 12/03/07: OLYMPIA – After receiving more than 80 creative and innovative proposals, the Department of Early Learning (DEL) has selected 22 projects in 17 counties to provide funding for culturally relevant, innovative services supporting underserved parents in healthy family development and early learning... Read More >

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Media Contact: Amy Blondin
Communications Manager
360.725.4919 (office)
360.878.0628 (cell)

DEL Update newsletters: Click here for past issues

Early Learning in the News: "Preschool for All: Will the Dream Come True in Washington?"
-- Seattle's Child (11/05/09); "Speaker credits Head Start for success"
-- Yakima Herald-Republic (09/08/09); "New child care center was built kid-friendly"
-- Spokesman Review (09/04/09); "Let the Children Play (Some More)"
-- The New York Times (09/02/09); "KING 5 Special: Ready for School, Ready for Life"
-- KING 5 (08/30/09); "Kindergarten transition program a positive first step"
-- Yakima Herald-Republic (08/26/09); "Web site points children, parents to summer activities"
-- The Columbian (05/27/09); "Governor shows leadership on early learning"
-- The Seattle Times (05/22/09); "SPECIAL REPORT PART II: Digging Into Daycare Safety"
-- KEPR-TV (05/15/09); "SPECIAL REPORT PART I: Digging Into Daycare Safety"
-- KEPR-TV (05/14/09); "Child Care Complaints in the Open pt2"
-- KIMA-TV (05/15/09); "Daycare Complaints Out In The Open"
-- KIMA-TV (05/14/09); "Program launched to improve early childhood education"
-- The Oregonian (05/11/09); "Referral service helps ease the process of finding child care"
-- Spokesman-Review (05/04/09); "Crime loses when kids are given an early start"
-- The Oregonian (05/02/09); "Kindergarten Cram"
-- The New York Times Magazine (04/29/09); "Putting More School in Bremerton Preschools"
-- Kitsap Sun (01/14/09); "Assess all children before they enter school to help them learn"
-- The Seattle Times (12/29/08); "Washington study explores school readiness test"
-- The Seattle Times (12/16/08); "State's Early Learning Program Adds Kitsap Preschool Sites"
-- Kitsap Sun (11/17/08); "State Begins Effort to Launch Child-Care Rating Program"
-- Kitsap Sun (11/17/08); "Middle-class squeezed out of child care, preschool"
-- Walla Walla Union-Bulletin (11/15/08); "Preschool Rating Systems Need Fine-Tuning, Study Says"
-- Education Week (10/28/08); "Child care ratings to be field tested"
-- The Olympian (10/13/08); "Town Hall Planned on Child-Care Rating System"
-- Kitsap Sun (10/13/08); "Gates grant helps youth get ready to enter school"
-- The Olympian (9/17/08); "Help a child be ready for kindergarten"
-- The News Tribune (8/27/08); "State: Abuse cases closed too slowly"
-- The Olympian (7/29/08); "It takes more than a village...Child-care providers desperately needed"
-- union-bulletin.com (6/28/08); "Meth and Kids in Washington State"
-- kplu.org (6/24/08); "Valley Latinos enjoy Mother's Day fiesta"
-- Yakima Herald Republic (5/11/08); "Parents study how to give kids a head start"
-- The Wenatchee World (4/23/08); "Kids learn when they're having fun"
-- Seattle PI (4/15/08); "Early Learning expands Web site offerings"
-- The Olympian (4/14/08); "Compassion — and action?"
-- The Seattle Times (4/13/08); "State's Department of Early Learning paying dividends"
-- Editorial, www.tdn.com (4/11/08)
Archived News: DEL works to build public awareness of importance of early learning (11/19/07); DEL selects sites to design early learning rating system (11/06/07); Governor Gregoire announces literacy grants for WA families (10/17/07); Fingerprint Fees Reduced (10/01/07); New WA State law about window cord blinds (07/22/07); DEL signs Joint Resolution with British Columbia (07/08/07); Governor's early Learning legislation enacted (05/09/07); Early Learning is Well Supported in the Legislature (04/22/07)