State Rep. Ruth Kagi and several other public officials spoke about the benefits of early childhood education at a hearing before the House committee on early learning and human services Jan 28.
Democrat Kagi, chairwoman of the committee, is the prime sponsor of the Early Start Act, House Bill 1491, which the committee approved Feb. 3.
The bill aims to integrate childcare and preschool to promote full-day programs, to reward quality and to create incentives for participation in a quality-rating and improvement system.
The bill directs the State Department of Early Learning to provide quality early childhood education through an “Early Achievers” program for pre-schools and licensed child-care programs. It expands the existing Early Achievers program and authorizes the department to require all licensed or certified child-care facilities and education programs serving non-school-age children and getting state funds to participate in the Early Achievers program. The bill also requires the department to focus care and education on supporting school readiness for pre-school children and on improving educational outcomes in response to the Early Achievers program data collection and analysis. Finally, it creates an Early Achievers Review Subcommittee to provide guidance to improve the quality of instruction and environment for early learning and make recommendations on changes to the Early Achievers program.
The bill includes a provision that declares it void if the legislature doesn’t approve necessary appropriations.
“Early learning has the highest return on investment of any education dollar spent,” Kagi said at the hearing. “Estimates range from $4 to $17 for every dollar invested. When children start school with the skills they need, they are prepared to succeed. If we want better education outcomes for our children, investing in early learning is the critical first step.”
Other supporters who spoke at the hearing included King County Executive Dow Constantine, Chelan County Sheriff Brian Burnett, Bremerton Police Chief Steve Strachan and retired Navy Admiral Eleanor Valentin.
Burnett and Strachan said that the best possible investment in improving public safety is high quality early learning.
“Seventy percent of prison inmates do not have a high school diploma,” Strachan said. “And one of the few proven ways to increase graduation rates is high-quality early learning. It’s about doing the right thing, early on.”
Valentin, a 31-year Navy veteran, who recently retired as the highest ranking woman of color in the Pentagon, spoke about the merits of early education to national security.
“Three-fourths of young adults aged 17-24 are unfit for military duty because they can’t pass the physical and mental tests,” she said. “Early Start is part of a strategy that will allow our children to succeed. It’s a smart investment for all who care about the future of our kids and the future of our national security.”
At the Feb. 3 meeting, the committee approved, by an 8-3 vote, a substitute bill that includes the creation of an early start account, with money from the legislature and other sources to be used only to improve the quality of early care and education programming.
Among those in the committee majority was Democratic Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self. Ortiz-Self represents the 21st Legislative District, including most of Edmonds, unincorporated areas north of Edmonds and Lynnwood and northeast of Lynnwood, all of Mukilteo and part of south Everett.
The bill is scheduled for a hearing before the House Appropriations Committee Feb. 19.
Kagi, a member of the Appropriations Committee, represents the 32nd District, including Lynnwood, Woodway and nearby unincorporated areas of southwest Snohomish County, parts of Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace, the city of Shoreline and part of northwest Seattle.
Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
