Washington House Democrats

Legislature approves early learning department

March 4, 2006

OLYMPIA – Washington’s littlest learners will be the focus of a new state agency authorized by the Legislature today. The new cabinet-level Department of Early Learning will bring together child care and preschool programs currently scattered among many state agencies.

The bill, HB 2964, was requested by Gov. Christine Gregoire and sponsored by Rep. Ruth Kagi, (D-Lake Forest Park), a long-time early learning advocate and chair of the House Children and Family Services Committee.

“By creating a unified Department of Early Learning, we affirmed our state’s commitment to helping parents give their children the best possible start in life,” Kagi said. “This will help give Washington’s children a better chance to start kindergarten ready to succeed in school.”

The new Department of Early Learning will partner with a high-powered group of private sector supporters of early learning that includes the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Boeing, Lockheed and the Talaris Research Institute. All have agreed to make major investments in early learning programs and research, and to coordinate investments and policies with the new department.

“Young children and parents will be the beneficiaries of an unprecedented commitment from the state and philanthropic organizations to work together through this new partnership,” Kagi said. “The Gates Foundation has already committed $90 million over the next ten years. This would not be possible without the new Department of Early Learning to serve as a single point of partnership with the state.”

The new agency will direct programs and functions such as the Working Connections Child Care program, child care licensing, the Head Start Collaborative Office, and the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program.

In addition to consolidating and coordinating the state’s early learning and child care programs, the new department will collaborate with the K-12 school system to ensure that early learning programs prepare students for success in the classroom. A growing body of research has shown that improving early learning programs can help close the achievement gap for children entering kindergarten.

The bill will be sent to the Governor’s desk for her signature.

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FOR INTERVIEWS:

Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-Lake Forest Park
(360) 786-7910
Kagi.Ruth@leg.wa.gov

Media Staff Contact
Michael Itti
(360) 786-7631
Itti.Michael@leg.wa.gov