State Rep. Ruth Kagi spoke at a White House conference for education leaders last week.
Kagi spoke Tuesday, Dec. 8, at a conference of education leaders from around the country called White House State Education Leaders Convening, which discussed education from early learning to K-12 and higher education.
She said Monday that discussion at the event focused on work being done in several states to help students succeed.
Kagi, chairwoman of the state House committee on early learning and human services, said that she was invited to speak about Washington state’s efforts to improve access to early learning and improve the quality of early learning across the state.
Democrat Kagi said that inclusion of early learning as a topic at the event reflects increasing recognition of the importance of early learning in preparing children for success in school. She added that Washington’s new laws to improve the quality of early learning in both childcare and pre-schools are interesting to public policy makers across the nation.
“Being invited to speak with state and federal education leaders and senior White House officials about our early-learning policies is evidence of Washington’s leadership role in early learning in the country,” Kagi said. “It was a great honor to represent Washington state and share the story of our bi-partisan effort to assure children have the skills to succeed when they enter kindergarten.”
She added that the Early Start Act, passed during the 2015 legislative session, will increase access to effective, high-quality early learning programs and that the policies in the Early Start Act are guided by proven brain science and the positive long-term impact that quality early learning has on a child’s school readiness, overall health and life.
“Early learning is one of the best methods we have for closing the opportunity gap and making sure that every child has the chance to succeed,” Kagi said. “I am incredibly proud of Washington’s early learning professionals, advocates, and legislators for coming together to prioritize investing in our youngest children.”
Kagi represents the 32nd Legislative District, including Lynnwood, Woodway, parts of Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace, unincorporated areas of southwest Snohomish County, Shoreline and part of northwest Seattle.
Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.
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