# data[].attributes.headline
Have you been given any good advice lately?

# data[].attributes.subject
Have you been given any good advice lately?

# data[].attributes.headline
What's the best way you've found to calm yourself when you get stressed?

# data[].attributes.subject
What's the best way you've found to calm yourself when you get stressed?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Why Early Learning is Important:

Research has shown that children who are able to participate in early learning programs perform better throughout their years of schooling. Early learning programs focus on six areas of kindergarten readiness:

Social-Emotional - Children do better in school when they can regulate their emotions, establish positive relationships with others, and constructively participate in group settings.

Physical - The early years are important for the development of fundamental gross-motor and fine-motor skills needed to be active learners.

Language - Children need to understand increasingly complex language and use language to express their thoughts, ideas, needs, and feelings.

Cognitive - Children are more successful in school when they have positive approaches to learning, and are able to attend, engage, and persist to solve problems.

Literacy - A child's progress in reading and writing is one of the best predictors of whether the child will function competently in school and in life.

Math - Research shows that math is the number one predictor of future success in reading and math.*

*Duncan, Greg. University of California, 2007. Early Childhood Longitudinal studies. "The strongest predictors of later achievement are school-entry math, reading, and attention skills. Early math skills have the greatest predictive power."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Research has shown that children who are able to participate in early learning programs perform better throughout their years of schooling. Early learning programs focus on six areas of kindergarten readiness: Social-Emotional - Children do better in school when they can regulate their emotions, establish positive relationships with others, and constructively participate in group settings.

# data[].attributes.body
Claudette Lindquist, Director of Early Learning (Heritage University)
Alternate: Angelica Hernandez, ESD 105

# data[].attributes.headline
Executive Committee Nominee: Stacey Drake

# data[].attributes.subject
Executive Committee Nominee: Stacey Drake

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Dr. Finch and Assistant Superintendent Stacey Drake Speak With KIT 1280 About The Importance of Early Learning - West Valley School District 208

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
West Valley School District provides a number of tools to help parents stay involved in their child's learning opportunities. Your individual school has more specific information regarding curriculum, events, and staff contact information. However, we welcome parents to reach out to the District offices with any questions or concerns regarding your child's educational needs.

# data[].attributes.headline
February 1, 2023 - WCFC goes to Olympia!

# data[].attributes.subject
February 1, 2023 - WCFC goes to Olympia!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC) was created by the Legislature in 2007.

ELAC representatives from around the state meet regularly to provide input and recommendations to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) so our strategies and actions are well informed and broadly supported by parents, child care providers, health and safety experts and interested members of the public.

Governor Jay Inslee holds final authority for policy decisions.

The council has adopted a Racial Equity Framework through which it conducts its business as an advisory board to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

Members

The Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC) members are a diverse group of people whose role is to provide DCYF with input and recommendations to inform DCYF's work.

ELAC includes parents, child care providers, health and safety experts, legislators, representatives of Tribal Nations, independent schools, K-12 and higher education, and others who are interested in creating a statewide early learning system that helps all children realize their full potential.

Some ELAC members are appointed by the Governor. Others are appointed by various entities as required in the legislation that created ELAC.

Meetings

The Early Learning Advisory Council has six regular meetings each year, held on the first Tuesday of odd months. At each meeting, ELAC members get updates on DCYF's work and provide input and recommendations to DCYF.

Members of the public are welcome to attend ELAC meetings. Public comment periods are offered throughout each meeting. The locations and times vary for each meeting.

2022
December 6, 2022 August 2, 2022 October 4, 2022 June 7, 2022 April 12, 2022 February 1, 2022
At the time of the meeting, please join the Zoom meeting via the link below.

9:00am-3:00pm

Meeting number (access code): 824 9183 1069
Meeting password: 904723

Join by phone: 1 253 215 8782 US Toll
Passcode: 904723

2021
December 7, 2021 October 5, 2021 - Joint Early Learning Advisory Council, Provider Supports Subcommittee, and Parent Advisory Group Meeting August 3, 2021 June 1, 2021 - Joint Provider Supports Subcommittee Meeting March 30, 2021 - Joint PAG Meeting February 2, 2021

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Department of Children, Youth & Families

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC) was created by the Legislature in 2007. Read the statutory language ELAC representatives from around the state meet regularly to provide input and recommendations to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) so our strategies and actions are well informed and broadly supported by parents, child care providers, health and safety experts and interested members of the public.

# data[].attributes.headline
Please follow this link to sign in for today's meeting!

# data[].attributes.subject
Please follow this link to sign in for today's meeting!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
March 2023 Investing in Coalition Meeting Attendance

# data[].attributes.headline
Executive Committee Nominee: Michele Cawley

# data[].attributes.subject
Executive Committee Nominee: Michele Cawley

# data[].attributes.body
@forthekidswa

# data[].attributes.body
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89642965812

# data[].attributes.headline
Leg Session Week 7.5 Update-Erica Hallock, Start Early WA

# data[].attributes.subject
Leg Session Week 7.5 Update-Erica Hallock, Start Early WA

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Erica Hallock

Director, Policy & Advocacy, Start Early Washington

Erica Hallock serves as the Director of Policy and Advocacy for Start Early Washington. She has worked in early childhood, health and human services policy in both California and Washington state.

She has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California at Riverside and a Master of Public Policy and Administration from California State University Sacramento.

She is a proud mom of two young adults (one of whom teaches in Washington's state preschool program) and lives in Spokane when she is not in Olympia.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Erica Hallock, Director, Policy & Advocacy , Start Early Washington

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Director, Policy & Advocacy, Start Early Washington Erica Hallock serves as the Director of Policy and Advocacy for Start Early Washington. She has worked in early childhood, health and human services policy in both California and Washington state. She has a B.A.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
(Photo Credit: Erica Hallock)

Trivia

When Washington state legalized marriage equality in 2012, it joined how many other states in recognizing same-sex marriages?

Potato Day!

The excitement was palpable as the Washington Potato Commission held the first in-person "Potato Day" since 2020. Lines of potato fans stretched around the third floor of the Legislative Building well before the lunch hour as the common refrain of "did you get your potato yet?" rang throughout campus.

All joking aside, it is fiscal cutoff this week (see more information below about fiscal cutoff) and folks are tired/stressed/irritable. Friendly faces offering free comfort food is sometimes just what's needed to put a pep back in your step! Potatoes are unifying.

The Washington Potato Commission brings comfort food to campus

(Photo Credit: Erica Hallock)

Cutoff Time - Again

This week, legislative focus - when not on potatoes - was on fiscal committees as they held marathon meetings to work through public hearings, amendments and votes on hundreds of bills prior to today's fiscal cutoff deadline. After today, bills with a financial impact that have not been approved by the fiscal committee in its house of origin are considered "dead." Frequently, bills heard in fiscal committees are amended to include two clauses - "null and void" or "subject to appropriation." These clauses allow bills to proceed through the process but provide "escape hatches" if the policies put forward in the bill are not funded in the final adopted budget. Put another way, inclusion of these clauses makes implementation of the bill contingent upon budget funding.

Now, there are always exceptions to the rules, particularly in the legislative process, and the reality is no bill or idea is dead until the Legislature adjourns April 23. One exemption is that bills deemed "Necessary to Implement the Budget" (or NTIB) are not subject to cutoff dates. Further, concepts surfaced in bills can be amended into other bills or reflected in the budget.

Starting next week, action will turn to the respective Senate and House floors as those bodies work through all of the bills approved by the fiscal and policy committees. The next legislative cutoff is Wednesday, March 8 at 5 p.m. with the deadline for bills to be voted out of their house of origin (e.g., House bills must be approved by the House, and Senate bills approved by the Senate). We are at the time of session where you need to grab sleep when you can - kind of like living with a newborn. It is not unusual for one of the bodies (typically the House) to pull an all-nighter during this period.

Bill Hearings

SHB 1550. The House Appropriations Committee held a public hearing on Substitute House Bill 1550 Tuesday, which can be seen on TVW starting at the 34:45 minute mark. As a reminder, this bill would sunset Transitional Kindergarten (TK), replacing it with a new Transition to Kindergarten (TTK) program to be administered by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) with a role for the Department of Children, Youth and Families.

The Appropriations Committee hearing began with a panel that included State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal, DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter and Maddy Thompson, Governor Jay Inslee's Senior Policy Advisor on Education and College Access. The opening panel spoke in opposition to the bill, stressing the importance of maximizing preschool access as well as the positive outcomes children are receiving from existing TK programs. Following that panel, several school district and education stakeholders reiterated the positive developmental outcomes from TK program participants as well as concerns that removing basic education as the funding source for TK could eliminate current programs as well as other supports for families such as school bus transportation.

Several early learning providers spoke in favor of the bill, focusing on the importance of the quality of services available in existing early learning programs. Additionally, early learning advocates stressed the importance of strong collaboration between school districts and community-based early learning providers so as not to negatively impact early learning programs.

As of this publication, SHB 1550 is on the possible executive session (vote) list for the Friday, Feb. 24 hearing.

Updates on additional early learning related bills include:

Senate Bill 5225, which would increase eligibility for subsidized child care such as eligibility for dependents of child care employees and children regardless of immigration status, was passed out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee Wednesday.

Senate Bill 5580, which would create a post-delivery and transitional care program and update the current Maternity Support Services (MSS) program, has a vote scheduled Feb. 23.

One bill that did not receive a hearing is House Bill 1511, which would remove certain forms of income, such as Social Security benefits and child support, from income considerations related to child care subsidy and ECEAP. However, there are other avenues for priorities to move forward without a bill, including amendments onto other bills or as a proviso in the operating budget.

Legislative Lowdown

What is the state's four-year balanced budget requirement? While much of the budgeting focus is on the upcoming two-year biennial budget cycle, 2012 legislation required the Legislature to pass four-year balanced budgets beginning in 2013. This means that our current budget writers must ensure both the 2023-25 and 2025-27 biennial budgets are balanced with a positive ending fund balance.

The Budget Outlook Workgroup holds a key role in this process by preparing an official state budget outlook for state revenues and expenditures. This outlook must include costs forecasted in the upcoming four years for continuing existing programs, projecting for future growth as well as implementation costs of various laws. The Economic and Revenue Forecast Council then approves this budget outlook and the Legislature uses this information to craft and pass a budget ensuring the state's expenditures do not exceed projected revenues for the following four years.

Proponents of the bill establishing the four-year balanced budget requirement argued that a four-year balanced budget would move the state from reactionary, short-term budgeting to a more long-term view, resulting in more sustainable budgets that reduce out-year expenditure commitments that cannot be supported with existing revenues.

The requirement for a balanced four-year budget means that budget writers are keeping both a keen eye on the state's recent and projected revenues (what they will have to spend) and its current spending commitments to ensure the final budget is balanced not just for the 2023-25 biennium, but also for 2025-27. As a result, it is not uncommon to see the strategy of "pushing a cost outside of the four-year" to mitigate projected costs. This can result in extending implementation dates for expanding services, so the law is on the books, but the costs do not hit the four-year budget.

To learn more about the budget process and related terminology, check out this helpful guide from the Office of Financial Management at the Governor's Office which is updated annually.

Bill Tracker: Key Early Learning Bills

As the legislative session progresses, our resource page will update with a weekly bill tracker. Please note that legislation changes quickly, so the version on our website may not represent a bill's latest version as it is published the Thursday of each week.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
NEW: Notes From Olympia: Feb. 24, Week 7 of the 2023 Legislative Session

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
(Photo Credit: Erica Hallock) When Washington state legalized marriage equality in 2012, it joined how many other states in recognizing same-sex marriages? The excitement was palpable as the Washington Potato Commission held the first in-person "Potato Day" since 2020.

# data[].attributes.headline
Executive Committee (as of February 2023)

# data[].attributes.subject
Executive Committee (as of February 2023)

# data[].attributes.body
For more information please see the Executive Committee section of our website (linked above)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Executive Committee | Investing in Children Coalition

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
2 Minute Re-Centering Mindfulness Meditation for De-stressing

# data[].attributes.body
Start at the 34:45 minute mark for the TTK section of this hearing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Public Hearing: SHB 1479: Concerning restraint or isolation of students in public schools and educational programs. SHB 1550: Assisting eligible children in

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Start Early's Blog and News About Early Childhood and Development

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Support Start Early and change the future for generations. Read stories about great need and triumph. Stories that will inform and inspire you.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
News > Health
Sun., Feb. 26, 2023

Shannon Edwards, of Journey Discovery Center, is photographed at the center in Spokane on Thursday. (Kathy Plonka/The Spokesman-Review) Buy this photo

OLYMPIA - When Andrea Estes moved from Seattle to Spokane two years ago, finding child care was almost impossible.

There were zero spots for her son, who was younger than 1 at the time, giving her no choice but to leave her full-time job and stay at home to take care of her kids.

A few months later, after weekly phone calls to centers nearby, she found part-time availability for her son, and a three-week program for her daughter.

"It was pure luck," she said.

Now, she pays what she calls "mortgage rates" for both of her children.

State and federal support for child care centers have increased access to many families and kept a number of providers open, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

But even historic state investments into the system have not been enough to support the child care workers, who often leave the profession for higher paying jobs with better benefits.

Fewer staff means fewer children who can be served by them.

According to the Department of Children, Youth and Families, more than 317,000 children across the state need child care, and only about 105,000 are enrolled in a licensed child care program or preschool. In Spokane County, only 38% of children who need child care are being served.

"The way our systems are set up are not subsidized for staff who do amazing work and are fundamentally our co-parents," Estes said. "They deserve quality wages and benefits."

The Legislature this year will decide how to fund statewide programs in all sectors, such as housing, education and health care, but child care advocates are pushing for additional funding to assist their workforce - something they deem essential for getting the state's economy back on track after the pandemic.

Historic investments in recent years still not enough

Two years ago, the state Legislature passed a historic investment into child care and early learning with the Fair Start for Kids Act.

The investment over the past two years, funded in part by the controversial capital gains tax, brought access for more than 8,200 new families, and offered some supports for providers through increased rates for state subsidies and implementing a health care program.

The new investment was a huge amount of money, said Rep. Tana Senn, D-Mercer Island, but it's still a drop in the bucket.

Since 2021, providers in Washington also received more than $386 million in federal and state grants, including almost $98 million in Eastern Washington alone.

Still, child care deserts, where there are no centers, exist throughout the state, and centers that do exist have open classrooms as they can't hire or retain staff.

"We need to make sure folks don't get complacent and think Fair Start for Kids fixed it all, because it didn't," said Rep. Kristine Reeves, D-Federal Way.

Previous investments into child care have been great for access, said Ryan Pricco, director of policy and advocacy at Child Care Aware, but it has not done enough for the workforce, which is primarily women of color.

"We should be investing in them just as much, if not more, than families," he said. "But instead, our reality is the vice versa of that."

Child care is experiencing a "really profound workforce issue and workforce stabilization crisis," said Maggie Humphreys, senior campaign director at advocacy group MomsRising.

A lack of staff has led to a number of closures and classrooms taking fewer children than they actually have the space for, Humphreys said.

Legislature looks to address workforce this year

Pricco said the Legislature should think about funding child care in three main buckets: improving wages and access to health care and benefits; making pathways to professional development more equitable; and increasing resources, such as substitutes or extra staff.

"Teachers are leaving because they don't have the supports they need," said Kerra Bower, who runs Little Scholars Development Center in Spokane. "They don't have the opportunities to train and get the help they need."

One bill the Legislature is looking at this year focuses on the access piece, allowing families with children who have had a parent or guardian in the past six months in therapeutic court to be eligible for state subsidies. It also eliminates immigration status as part of applications for subsidies when determining a child's eligibility.

But the bill also helps providers by increasing eligibility for state subsidies to include child care employees who have incomes up to 85% of the state median income, and waives their copays.

Pricco said this is a big recruitment tool, because educators who have young children themselves would be able to get back to work.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Claire Wilson, D-Auburn, is awaiting a vote on the Senate floor.

Another bill would prohibit homeowners' associations from banning child care programs in homes in their neighborhoods. The bill passed unanimously in the House and is awaiting a committee vote in the Senate.

The Legislature is also looking at a bill to provide permanent background check and license fee waivers for providers, something that started during the COVID-19 pandemic .

The bill is awaiting a vote on the Senate floor.

Another proposal would require the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to establish a child care worker pilot program for students who want to work in early childhood development. It also would establish a grant program to create new child care and early learning programs.

The proposal, sponsored by Senn, would attempt to build a pipeline for child care providers from high school.

Shannon Edwards, who has taught at Journey Discovery Center in Spokane for two years after graduating college, said many young people view child care and early learning as a temporary career, partly because of the low compensation and few benefits.

She said turnover is a huge issue, but consistency in teachers is important for children.

"Children are so impressionable," she said. "Any experience they have will impact how they learn and the way they view life."

Senn's bill was awaiting a vote out of the Appropriations Committee but did not receive one by Friday's deadline. That means it likely won't be considered again this year, although parts of it could end up funded in the final budget.

Most of the bills still making their way through this year are backed by Democrats and have received some pushback from Republicans.

There were a number of Republican-sponsored bills this session, including one that would waive requirements for obtaining an Early Childhood Education certificate if a person reads a new handbook. But most GOP-backed bills focused on child care did not make it past the most recent bill cutoff, meaning they are likely dead this year.

Republican leaders in both the House and the Senate agree that child care is one of the biggest issues this year, but say the state needs to do less over-regulating of the system and more investing in accessibility.

The best thing the state can do this year is make sure it is paying its fair share for child care, Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, said.

"We've had some good intentions to improve quality, but those have made it less and less accessible to the average Washington family," Braun said.

House Minority Leader J.T. Wilcox said the current regulations and fees for providers make it more expensive for everyone and cause problems across the board.

Bower said providers need support for teacher retention and those already in the classroom more than anything.

Allowing for professional development, mental health resources and better pay and benefits are essential to keeping teachers in the field, she said.

Advocates push for long-term solution

Pricco said he is trying to work toward a reality in which the state invests more of its budget into providers, but that could take years.

Advocates are pushing this year for funding in the budget that would allow the Department of Children, Youth and Families to work with advocates, providers and families to come up with a long-term funding plan to have "a truly thriving system," Pricco said.

The money, which Reeves is championing, would require the department to recommend a plan to provide living wages and benefits for providers, and provide that plan to the Legislature, which would make the final call.

Reeves' long-term goal is universal child care in Washington and an early -learning model by 2040, but she recognizes that's a big ask and could cost a lot of money.

A long-term plan likely will take a new revenue source, which is one of the hardest things to do politically, Pricco said.

"Once we have a plan, we robustly advocate for it," Pricco said. "We need to make the case that finding that revenue ... in the long term could make the state much more financially solvent and be a huge boost."

Reeves said the state could look at reallocating resources from "back-end issues" such as juvenile justice, behavioral health or K-12 education into child care and early learning on the front end. In the end, helping children with brain development early on could help the state save money, she said.

"We can either prevent and provide resources to families early and get a better return on investment, or we can wait until families struggle," Wilson said. "The outcome is we're helping kids and families on the other side, and it's always costing us money."

Current funding for the Fair Start investments remains in question as the constitutionality of the capital gains tax is awaiting a decision from the state Supreme Court. If it is deemed unconstitutional, the state will have to find a way to make up for that revenue.

Child care essential for economic recovery

Unless the state is finally willing to pay child care educators a living wage, they will continue to lose talented and credible staff to higher-paying jobs at places like McDonald's or Starbucks, Humphreys said.

If the state wants to fully recover from COVID-19 and sustainably grow, child care needs to be a priority, she said.

"Child care is at the core of our workforce infrastructure, but it is very seldomly recognized as such," she said.

Families need access to safe, quality child care near their homes, Estes said, and that will only come from the state prioritizing its funding.

"It's really disheartening when you hear people debate whether or not there's value in investing in child care," Estes said.

But the importance of funding child care is gaining traction.

For too long, child care was a "silent issue" for families who didn't feel like they could openly talk about it with their employers, Senn said. But the pandemic put the need for accessible, safe child care on top of everyone's minds.

"It just became this a-ha moment," she said. "I really think there's just been a huge shift in understanding."

For the providers who choose to stay in the field, relief can't come fast enough.

Edwards said she got into child care because she watched her mom, who owns a center, make a difference in children's lives. But she's also seen her mom provide quality care at the expense of her own income.

"I do hope to stay in early learning, so I can continue to be an advocate," she said.

Despite the struggles the child care sector is facing, Bower wants to stay in the field because she knows the importance of helping kids, especially children of color and those from disadvantaged backgrounds, become ready for kindergarten .

"Education is the one thing that no one can take away from you," she said. "I believe I've found my life calling, and I want to nurture that in others."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Despite recent historic investments into child care, workforce is still struggling in Washington

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
News > Health Sun., Feb. 26, 2023 OLYMPIA - When Andrea Estes moved from Seattle to Spokane two years ago, finding child care was almost impossible. There were zero spots for her son, who was younger than 1 at the time, giving her no choice but to leave her full-time job and stay at home to take care of her kids.

# data[].attributes.body
borrowed from ESD 105

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.yakimamemorial.org/services/childrens-village/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Wandering Prevention Toolkit

Wandering, also known as elopement, describes an individual's behavior of leaving an area without permission or supervision. Elopement puts an individual, especially one with autism or related developmental disabilities, at risk for harm.
Click Here to View Information
Deambular, también conocido como fuga, describe el comportamiento de un individuo de abandonar un área sin permiso o supervisión. La fuga pone a una persona, especialmente a una con autismo o discapacidades del desarrollo relacionadas, en riesgo de sufrir daños.
Haga clic aquí para ver información

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Children's Village - MultiCare Yakima Memorial

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Wandering, also known as elopement, describes an individual's behavior of leaving an area without permission or supervision. Elopement puts an individual, especially one with autism or related developmental disabilities, at risk for harm. Click Here to View Information Deambular, también conocido como fuga, describe el comportamiento de un individuo de abandonar un área sin permiso o supervisión.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Working Families Tax Credit will put up to $1,200 per year back in the pockets of those who need it most. The Working Families Tax Credit is a new annual tax refund for Washington residents worth $50-$1,200 depending on your income level and how many qualifying children you have in your household.

# data[].attributes.headline
Community Partners Toolkit: multiple languages available!

# data[].attributes.subject
Community Partners Toolkit: multiple languages available!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Community Partners Toolkit | Washington State Working Families Tax Credit

# data[].attributes.headline
La Casa Hogar Spring programs information.

# data[].attributes.subject
La Casa Hogar Spring programs information.

# data[].attributes.headline
Funding OpportunitiesThe Strengthening Families Washington team at Department of Children, Youth & Families is pleased to offer funding opportunities to provide to support to families in Washington.

# data[].attributes.subject
Funding OpportunitiesThe Strengthening Families Washington team at Department of Children, Youth & Families is pleased to offer funding opportunities to provide to support to families in Washington.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Discover the Washington Family Relief Fund, a $5 million initiative to help vulnerable low-income families with children affected by the COVID-19 crisis in Washington State. Get the support you need today.

# data[].attributes.headline
WA State Budget and Policy Center: Working Families Tax Credit resources

# data[].attributes.subject
WA State Budget and Policy Center: Working Families Tax Credit resources

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Working Families Tax Credit is now open for applications! - Budget and Policy Center

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Check out our new resources to support the launch of the groundbreaking new Working Families Tax Credit on February 1!

# data[].attributes.headline
ITIN Filers Fact Sheet: Working Families Tax Credit

# data[].attributes.subject
ITIN Filers Fact Sheet: Working Families Tax Credit

# data[].attributes.headline
NOTE: Date of April Coalition meeting may change! 

# data[].attributes.subject
NOTE: Date of April Coalition meeting may change! 

# data[].attributes.headline
Preschool Creative Curriculum Training Opportunity 

# data[].attributes.subject
Preschool Creative Curriculum Training Opportunity 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Check out this design designed by Maggie Mendoza.

# data[].attributes.headline
EPIC is recruiting new Board members to replace a few wonderful Board Members who have met their maximum terms of service.  We are specifically looking for expertise in the Early Learning, K-12, Medical, Legal, and Political arenas.  If you or someone you know is interested in joining a fabulous group of dedicated community members to guide a wonderful non-profit focused on serving young children and their families, please let me know or send them my way:  mamieb@epicnet.org

# data[].attributes.subject
EPIC is recruiting new Board members to replace a few wonderful Board Members who have met their maximum terms of service.  We are specifically looking for expertise in the Early Learning, K-12, Medical, Legal, and Political arenas.  If you or someone you know is interested in joining a fabulous group of dedicated community members to guide a wonderful non-profit focused on serving young children and their families, please let me know or send them my way:  mamieb@epicnet.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
WV Early Learning Workshop April 20 2023 registration form

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
WV Early Learning Workshop April 20 2023 registration form IN SPANISH

# data[].attributes.body
Link to registration forms for Early Learning workshops hosted at Wide Hollow Elementary

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We strive to provide children preschool through 3rd grade with access to high quality instruction, family engagement, and other supports related to physical and emotional well-being.

Please see the following opportunities provided by the West Valley School District below.
West Valley Early Learning Workshop April 20, 2023 West Valley Early Learning Workshop April 20, 2023-Spanish West Valley Early Learning Official Partners West Valley Early Learning Resources

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Early Learning Initiatives - West Valley School District 208

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We strive to provide children preschool through 3rd grade with access to high quality instruction, family engagement, and other supports related to physical and emotional well-being. Please see the following opportunities provided by the West Valley School District below.

# data[].attributes.body
Le escribo para solicitar que su organización apoye la Estipulación sobre acceso a cuidado infantil y salarios dignos en el presupuesto operativo 2023-2025 bienal del estado. Esta estipulación solo costaría un poco más de un millón de dólares y haría que el Departamento de Niños, Juventud y Familias (DCYF, por sus siglas en inglés) desarrolle, en alianza con los educadores de la primera infancia y las familias, planes de implementación para:

·  Hacer que el cuidado infantil esté disponible para todas las familias sin pagar más de 7% de sus ingresos familiares.

·  Asegurar que la fuerza laboral del cuidado infantil reciba salarios dignos y beneficios.

Por favor confirme el apoyo de su organización firmando esta carta que enviaremos a quienes están negociando el presupuesto de nuestro estado antes del jueves 2 de marzo: https://bit.ly/SupportChildCareProviso_ES

La Estipulación sobre acceso a cuidado infantil y salarios dignos produciría planes accionables para adoptar un cuidado infantil universal, incluyendo salarios dignos y beneficios para la fuerza laboral del estado de Washington. Estos planes aprovechan los logros de la  Ley Comienzo Justo para los Niños, incluye recomendaciones clave del Informe del Costo del Cuidado Infantil de Calidad del Grupo de Trabajo Colaborativo del Cuidado Infantil y usaría el marco propuesto por Build Back Better (Reconstruir Mejor).

La Estipulación sobre acceso a cuidado infantil y salarios dignos es una prioridad para el Equipo de Diseño de Educadores de la Primera Infancia que está formado por 33 miembros de la fuerza laboral del cuidado infantil de Washington que firmaron individualmente esta carta como líderes de esta misión. Usando un diseño liberador, el Equipo de Diseño de Educadores de la Primera Infancia creó una plataforma política secuencial y multianual para hacer frente a la crisis de cuidado infantil a través de políticas que promueven el reclutamiento y la retención de la fuerza laboral. La Estipulación sobre acceso a cuidado infantil y salarios dignos es un vehículo esencial para promover esta plataforma y, en última instancia, para financiar el cuidado infantil como un bien común.

Gracias por apoyar al Equipo de Diseño de Educadores de la Primera Infancia. ¡Por favor compartan esta oportunidad con los socios de su organización!