Background and context

Abstract

The Washington Early Learning Plan is a collaborative and comprehensive strategic 10-year roadmap for building the early childhood system in Washington State necessary to improve outcomes in school and in life for children. The Department of Early Learning, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Thrive by Five Washington co-sponsored this effort, but the plan was developed in close collaboration with the Department of Health, the Department of Social and Health Services, and state and local stakeholders. The outcomes and strategies that follow were developed by four work groups for this project. Each work group focused on one subject area in the Kids Matter framework: Child Health and Development; Early Care and Education; Family and Community Partnerships; and Social, Emotional and Mental Health. The efforts of each work group built upon the Kids Matter framework, including the outcomes and strategies, to identify what is needed in its subject area in order to develop the early learning system in our state. In addition, a set of indicators , otherwise known as “vital signs,” are currently in development. These were created to measure the status and progress made across the five areas of readiness. Collectively, the indicators will help describe conditions for children, families, early learning professionals, schools and the early learning system in Washington.