With its highly trained teachers, small class sizes and on-site family support services, Educare is one of the most respected models of early learning and care in the country. The Educare center in White Center becomes the 10th of its kind in the country and will serve 134 children from birth to age 5 from income-eligible families and children with disabilities. It will also serve as the hub for the larger White Center Early Learning Initiative, which is one of two Thrive by Five Washington Demonstration Communities in the state.
The grand opening event celebrated the partnerships at levels that made this center possible. Following the recognition of key partners and contributors, building tours and activities were provided for young children and their families.
Governor Signs Early Learning Bills
This week, Gov. Gregoire signed several early learning bills, showing her continued to commitment to making sure all children in Washington state get off to a great start in life.
These bills "recognize that learning starts from the moment that a little one greets the world,” Gov. Gregoire said during the signing at Auburn High School, her alma mater. "This is a defining moment in the state of Washington." Gregoire is also co-chair of the Thrive by Five Washington Board of Directors.
The bills put an early intervention program under the state Department of Early Learning, phase in enrollment of additional eligible children to the state-funded preschool program, and call for the development of a plans that would create a continuum of services for children birth to age 3 and voluntary statewide program for early learning.
Read more.
13 SCHOOL DISTRICTS AWARDED EARLY LEARNING GRANTS
Support Awarded to Strenthen Local Preschool-3rd Grade Partnerships
In an effort to support school readiness and seamless transitions into kindergarten for our state’s youngest learners, the state Department of Early Learning, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and Thrive by Five Washington recently awarded competitive grants to 13 school districts totaling $117,003.
The grants will be used to build early numeracy, develop literacy skills, and improve kindergarten transitions—three areas considered essential to ensuring school readiness. Funding will be used for teacher release time, materials, professional development, planning meetings and other activities that support enhanced preschool-third grade (P-3) partnerships.
“Local communities often have the best ideas, but the most limited funds,” Thrive by Five Washington President and CEO Nina Auerbach said. “These mini-grants are seed money to move promising ideas forward.”
To receive one of the early learning grants, school districts had to:
- Demonstrate a local P-3 partnership that included the district, early learning providers and an existing early learning coalition.
- Offer state-funded full-day kindergarten.
- Define the real-life outcomes for children, families and/or teachers they expect to achieve with the grant.
The districts have a wide array of planned uses for the dollars, including:
- Designing and producing early learning literacy kits for families and teachers.
- Purchasing evidence-based early learning curriculum for local child care centers, and training the child care providers to ensure smooth transitions to kindergarten.
- Strengthening parent involvement through local family nights and play and learn groups.
- Facilitating meetings between early learning providers and kindergarten teachers.
The school districts and their funding amounts are:
Aberdeen, $6,170 Orondo, $10,000
Bremerton, $10,000 Quillayute Valley, $10,000
Edmonds, $10,000 Seattle, $10,000
Franklin Pierce, $10,000 Spokane, $8,000
Hood Canal, $8,500 Tacoma, $10,000
Longview, $9,333 Toppenish, $5,000
Mount Vernon, $10,000
STATEWIDE EARLY LEARNING PLAN
Let us know what you think!
During the month of April, there will be a large statewide push to gather feedback on the initial draft of the statewide Early Learning Plan. This draft reflects the input of hundreds of early learning stakeholders and community members and outlines how to build a singular early learning system from existing independent systems for:
- early care and education (including preschool);
- kindergarten through third grade;
- health and nutrition;
- special needs and intervention; and
- family support;
Click here to read the draft plan. Then, look for opportunities in your community to discuss the draft plan, or share your input online as the plan is finalized.
The state Department of Early Learning, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Thrive by Five Washington delivered the draft plan to Gov. Gregoire on Dec. 1. The three entities are working with partners to ensure broad outreach – and feedback – on the plan before it is finalized.
If you would like to host a meeting to gather input on the plan, please e-mail communications@del.wa.gov for information and tools.
LEARNING FOR LIFE
Beginning this month Learning for Life began airing weekly on Wednesday mornings at 8:20 a.m. on KONG 6/16. This month a number of exciting topics were covered including:
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Child Life Specialists: Meet Evi Feltus, Child Life specialist at Swedish Medical Center. She talks about what Child Life specialists do and when they're likely to show up at a child's bedside, common hospital fears for children under 6, and things parents can do at home and in the hospital to help their child. |
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Managing Childhood Food Allergies:
Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson, pediatrician and author of Seattle Mama Doc blog, talks about the increase in childhood food allergies and why, the foods most likely to trigger an allergic reaction, and what parents can do from the time their child is born that might make a difference. |
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Parent Ambassador Program: Joel Ryan, executive director of the Washington State Association of Head Start & ECEAP, talks about the Parent Ambassador Program, how it's empowering parents to speak up on behalf of themselves and their kids and what they've been fighting for in Olympia and in Washington, DC. |
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Educare Early Learning Center’s Grand Opening: Reporter Cam Johnson tours the Educare Early Learning Center, learns about what makes the care so high quality and finds out how everyone in White Center - and potentially everyone in the state - stands to benefit from the work happening here to make sure all children get a great start in school and life. |
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BLOCKfest:
See BLOCKFest in action at a local event and learn more about how this travelling program, developed by Idaho Parents As Teachers and sponsored locally by Thurston Early Childhood Coalition, helps families give their children a good start with math and science. |
Learn more about this month’s Learning for Life and watch segments from past Learning for Life series and specials on Thrive’s Web site.
CHAMPIONS IN ACTION
Family Literacy Project to Launch During the Week of the Young Child
There has been a great excitement within the 10 early learning coalitions supported by Thrive around early literacy. Building on this excitement, this year’s statewide coalition project will focus on family literacy. Coalitions will kick off work on the project – the creation of Family Story Books –during the Week of the Young Child (April 11-17).
At various events organized by the coalitions, families with young children will make a special book that tells a story about their family. They’ll then talk about how to support their children’s early language and literacy development. This fun, positive learning experience for families and children will help parents more effectively share stories about their family with their children and talk with them about meaningful themes found within each book. Sharing stories not only enhances literacy, but it also strengthens family bonds.
