State plan would help fund, rate preschool providers

Children in preschool generally do not receive grades, but under a proposed plan, the preschools themselves could be graded.

Voluntary evaluations are part of Gov. Christine Gregoire’s recently unveiled plan to revamp the state’s pre-kindergarten educational system.

“The plan takes a look at the system of the state and ways to improve the early learning programs in Washington,” said Karen Tvedt, executive director of the state Early Learning Council.

According to a written release from Gregoire’s office, half of the children that are entering kindergarten are not ready. This means that they lack the social or mental skills necessary for kindergarten.

“If more than half of the kids are not ready for kindergarten, that’s really a concern,” Tvedt said. “You might worry that they get a sense early on that they are not on the same level.”

The main goal of the program is to streamline the administration of early learning in the state. Currently, several programs such as Head Start, Early Childhood Education Assistance Program and Immigrant Head Start serve the state’s youngest citizens.

The cabinet-level program would combine the half dozen programs that are under various other departments. The program is expected to cost $1.5 million to establish.

The program would create an entity that would bring public programs and private preschool programs to establish goals and improve the quality of early learning, Tvedt said.

“Research points to the importance of the very earliest months and years as being critical to development and how well children do in school and in life,” she said. “You can make a huge difference in how well (children) do by investing in early childhood education.”

Approximately 75,000 children are served annually through a state-sponsored preschool program. The majority of children, however, receive childcare or preschooling through private establishments, Tvedt said.

The plan would allow the providers to voluntarily receive a rating. She said that for example, a school receiving a rating of 1 might simply meet basic minimums. A school receiving a 5, however, might be nationally accredited and offer special programs.

Although centralized oversight could eventually lead to a statewide preschool system, Tvedt said that is not in the immediate plan. There could be a second round of refinements made to the system.

“But we’re not far enough along to know if that’s something that will come from the Early Learning Council,” she said.

Preschool should still be merely a part of a child’s development, Tvedt said.

“We would all pretty much agree that parents play the role as a child’s first teacher,” she said. “We need to make sure each of our children is prepared when they enter school.”