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Kristin Wiggins, Kristin Wiggins Consulting LLC

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Kristin Wiggins, Kristin Wiggins Consulting LLC

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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

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Department of Children, Youth & Families

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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.

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Community Reinvestment Project (CRP) - Washington State Department of Commerce

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The home page for WA Department of Commerce’s Community Reinvestment Project (CRP)

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Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

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ELAC rep needed for Investing in Children Coalition

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ELAC rep needed for Investing in Children Coalition

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$1,250 available to support participation

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Please follow this link to sign in for today's meeting!

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Please follow this link to sign in for today's meeting!

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Please stand by while Smartsheet is loading.

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@forthekidswa

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Grounding Exercise for Racing Minds: Calming Meditation with Dora Kamau

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Economic Security for All (CRP funds for Individuals and Small Businesses)

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Economic Security for All (CRP funds for Individuals and Small Businesses)

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Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, conference, huddle, and training rooms, as well as executive offices and classrooms. Founded in 2011, Zoom helps businesses and organizations bring their teams together in a frictionless environment to get more done. Zoom is a publicly traded company headquartered in San Jose, CA.

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Do this! Like right now!

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Community Reinvestment Plan - Washington Workforce Association

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In 2022, the Washington State Legislature set aside $200 million in the Community Reinvestment Account for the Department of Commerce (Commerce) to invest in communities disproportionately harmed by the historical design and enforcement of state and federal criminal laws and penalties for drug possession. Investments are guided by the community driven Community Reinvestment Plan (CRP) …

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borrowed from ESD 105

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If you had to pitch a completely ridiculous invention on Shark Tank, what would it be?

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If you had to pitch a completely ridiculous invention on Shark Tank, what would it be?

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If your pet (or favorite animal) had a job, what would it be?

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If your pet (or favorite animal) had a job, what would it be?

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Legislature Home

In 2023, the legislative session will return to an in-person format. Legislative buildings are open and capacity in legislative hearing rooms adjusted. Remote participation opportunities will continue. Please go to the House Operations and Senate Operations plans for more details. To view legislative proceedings click here for TVW. Please click here ​ for more information about testifying in a committee, submitting written testimony, getting your position noted for the legislative record, and contacting your legislator.

What's happening on the floor?

Today is Day 60 of the 2023 Regular Session

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​More Information

Get bills via web services: The Legislature makes bill, committee, and law information available via web services for developers using automated systems. For more information, see the Legislative Web Services page.

Budget Links:

Reports to the Legislature: Find reports filed by state agencies and other organizations as requested by the Legislature.

Session Laws:

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Legislature Home In 2023, the legislative session will return to an in-person format. Legislative buildings are open and capacity in legislative hearing rooms adjusted. Remote participation opportunities will continue. Please go to the House Operations and Senate Operations plans for more details. To view legislative proceedings click here for TVW.

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West Valley Early Learning Workshop, Thurs, April 17, 2025 (FREE)

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West Valley Early Learning Workshop, Thurs, April 17, 2025 (FREE)

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West Valley Early Learning Workshop, flyer in Spanish

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West Valley Early Learning Workshop, flyer in Spanish

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Student leaders visit with legislators

On Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, the School Board legislative representative, Steve Wolcott, and West Valley Superintendent, Dr. Peter Finch, took a group of students to Olympia to visit with our state legislators. In addition, in the afternoon on Feb. 5, one of our student leaders, Maya Amos, and Dr. Finch testified in support of HB 1557 which would scale-up the Guaranteed Admission Program for all students in Washington State.

Students who attended the field trip were:

-Maya Amos, High School

-Katie Champie, High School

-Zachary Farina, High School

-Pete Kegley, High School

-Cody Floren, Innovation Center

-Emiliano Jimenez, Innovation Center

Students visited with the following legislators from our legislative district (15 th District):

-Senator Nikki Torres

-Representative Jeremie Dufault

-Representative Chris Corry

Students also visited with the following legislators:

-Representative Deb Manjarrez

-Senator Drew Hansen

For the visit with Representative Dufault and Representative Corry, our students were able to visit the floor of the House of Representatives which is very unusual. The state photographer took a photo of our students and our legislators together on the House floor.

The visit on Feb. 5 was scheduled in conjunction with the Washington Communities for Children. The West Valley School District is a member of the local regional coalition for early learning which is called the Investing in Children Coalition. Staff members from West Valley have learned about many innovative programs through our membership on the regional coalition. For example, we learned about "Play and Learn" through our membership with the regional coalition. "Play and Learn" is our program to invite families with young children to each of our elementary schools on Fridays during the school day. In addition, we have a "Play and Learn" session after school on Thursdays at the Innovation Center.

At Olympia, our students were able to meet-up with other coalition members from Yakima with a group photo in front of the Capitol Building.

The meetings with legislators were a great experience for our students to learn about the legislative process and for our legislators to learn from our students about innovative work in West Valley, such as our extensive "College-in-the-High-School" program at West Valley High School and our Career Pathway program at the West Valley Innovation Center.

In addition, students were able to attend the House Committee on Post-Secondary Education and Workforce where one of our high school students, Maya Amos, testified in support of HB 1557 regarding the Guaranteed Admissions Program.

West Valley has participated in a voluntary pilot of the Guaranteed Admissions Program since the program began four years ago. Through this program, seniors in high school receive an email in October if they have a 3.0 GPA and they have completed the college entrance requirements for the CADR - the College Academic Distribution Requirements. The email informs them that they have guaranteed admission to all Washington State, public, four-year colleges and universities, except the University of Washington. However, the program does include the University of Washington - Tacoma. Students must still apply to the colleges or universities of their choice. The email informs them that if they do apply to the public college or university, they are guaranteed admission.

In his testimony, Dr. Finch shared that he often has concerns about unfunded mandates; however, with this program, there is minimal staff time required. The only requirement is to submit a data sharing agreement with the Washington Student Achievement Council and provide an upload of information from our student records system regarding our seniors. West Valley High School senior, Maya Amos, shared that this program helps students to expand their horizons and make them aware of opportunities that they might not have considered.

Her testimony included the following statement:

"My name is Maya Amos. I am a senior at West Valley High School. I will be attending Yakima Valley College next year. Recently, I spoke with a classmate who plans to attend one of our state universities from the Guaranteed Admissions Program. She shared how this program significantly broadened her horizons as she might not have considered pursuing higher education without it. When she received the email notifying her of automatic admission it gave her a sense of comfort and reassurance knowing that she already had a pathway into college. This program provided her with an invaluable opportunity for a future education she may not have gotten otherwise."

Overall, the trip to Olympia on Feb. 5 was a great experience for our student leaders from West Valley.

Student Leaders at the Senate Gallery

Student Leaders meet with Senator Nikki Torres

Student Leaders at the Capitol Building in Olympia

WVHS Senior, Maya Amos, testifies in Olympia

Student Leaders with Rep. Dufault & Rep. Corry on the House Floor

Student Leaders with Rep. Dufault & Rep. Corry on the House Floor

Student Leaders meet with Investing in Children Coalition representatives

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Student leaders visit Olympia - West Valley School District 208

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On Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, the School Board legislative representative, Steve Wolcott, and West Valley Superintendent, Dr. Peter Finch, took a group of students to Olympia to visit with our state legislators. In addition, in the afternoon on Feb.

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These 15 Congressional Districts Would See Large Medicaid Funding Losses Under Republican House Budget Resolution

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The Republican House budget resolution’s potential $880 billion in Medicaid cuts would cost these congressional districts a total of $34 billion, potentially reducing coverage for nearly 730,000 people.