Urge legislators to make early learning a priority
When kids get high quality early experiences, they thrive in kindergarten, graduate on time, and have a greater chance of lifelong success. Yet Washington’s public investment in children hasn’t kept up with the science about brain development. In fact, state investments in kids birth to 5 equal just 1.1 percent of the state budget.
Washington's lawmakers must invest in our children and families
Disproportionately high costs and long waitlists leave parents struggling to find the care they need to work and support their families. The impact is most felt in communities of color, which often experience barriers to livable or high wage jobs.
And while the cost of child care is high, the majority of early childhood educators are so poorly compensated that many of them are forced to leave the early learning workforce. Children need strong and stable relationships with their teachers in order to thrive, but low salaries leave many child care providers unable to retain skilled educators - resulting in the disruption to those formative bonds.
Here in Washington, we can do better than this. Lawmakers must dedicate funds to early learning to support our children and the educators who care for them!