Early Learning

Have a Heart for Kids Day: 2011 Special Session

Adam — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:50:37 -0400

Children's Alliance 2011 Special Session Have a Heart for Kids day is Friday, December 2, 2011. This is your opportunity to bring your voice directly to your legislators as they return to Olympia to balance the budget.

The budget cuts’ impact on kids

Adam — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:54:22 -0400

It’s the worst we’ve seen.

That’s our assessment of new cuts to state services. The across-the-board budget reductions are more severe than anything we’ve experienced recently. They’re also being made in an extremely challenging context.

The budget that was finalized this spring, during the last legislative session, did not anticipate the persistently slow economy. And, rather than our elected representatives deliberating in public over cuts, these decisions are being made by the Governor in consultation with agency secretaries and assistant secretaries. They are decisions as momentous as any made during the last legislative session, only without legislators convening to hear and represent their constituents’ concerns.

WA could win up to $1.3 million for home visiting

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:41:06 -0400

The federal government has finally released the guidelines states need to apply for their slice of $1.5 billion in new grant funding for home visiting programs, which connect new and expectant parents with trained nursing and early learning professionals.

The new guidelines issued late last week by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will allow Washington to apply for up to $1.3 million this year.

The first wave of these grants, part of federal health care reform that became law in March, will go to states this summer.

Over the next few weeks and months, we and our allies on the Washington Home Visiting Coalition will be working with state agencies and stakeholders on a plan for how Washington will use these home visiting funds.

2009 Legislative Agenda

mjennings — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 20:28:17 -0500

The Children's Alliance 2009 Legislative Agenda lays out our top priorities in this tough legislative session.

ADVISORY: Hundreds Gather in Olympia Tomorrow for Have a Heart for Kids Day

Adam — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:53:23 -0500

For Have a Heart for Kids Day, hundreds of adults and children are coming from all over the state to tell lawmakers to “Protect Kids, Protect Our Future!”

Read our press advisory.

Frequently asked questions about the High Quality Early Learning Act of 2012

Christina — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:38:28 -0500

Two bills will establish a voluntary early learning program for 3- and 4-year-olds in Washington, with a concurrent focus on services in the first three years of life.

Learn more about substitute House Bill 2448 and substitute Senate Bill 6449.

Prime time to close the opportunity gap

Adam — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:40:48 -0500

The State Supreme Court earlier this month based a key decision on our state’s constitutional responsibility to provide a basic education to every child residing in Washington. During this legislative session, lawmakers can pass one bill that’s key to upholding that responsibility.

The High Quality Early Learning Act would establish universally accessible early learning programs for Washington 3- and 4-year-olds, while also strengthening programs that ensure the healthy development of infants and toddlers.

Quality early learning from birth to age 5

Adam — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:05:56 -0500

House Bill 2448 would establish a voluntary early learning program for three- and four-year-olds in Washington, with additional support for children from birth to age three. Read a two-page fact sheet about the bill by the Early Learning Action Alliance.

Washington 1 of 4 states to shine on children’s health and early learning

Christina — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:54:33 -0500

A new year for Washington begins with a new milestone for kids. The last two weeks of 2011 brought our state tens of millions of federal dollars, positioning Washington as a national leader in both children’s health and early learning.

In fact, our state was just one of four in the country to win national competitions for health and early learning, along with Ohio, Maryland and North Carolina.

Legislative Agenda: 2012 session

Adam — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:15:02 -0500

Our 2012 legislative agenda calls on lawmakers to:

Protect Apple Health for Kids and State Food Assistance;
Reject further budget cuts that hurt low-income families and children of color;
Improve health with a licensed dental practitioner;
Close the opportunity gap with early learning;
Raise revenue to protect our future.

Download and print our 2012 legislative agenda.