Early Achievers Offers Quality Improvement Awards

Beginning July 1, 2016, the Early Achievers Quality Improvement Awards policy will change to reflect requirements outlined in the Early Start Act of 2015.Under the new guidelines, these awards will offer recognition and support to qualifying facilities that serve families receiving state child care subsidy.

To be eligible for these awards, participants must:

• Serve an enrollment population of which at least 5% of total licensed capacity consists of non-school-age children receiving state subsidy.* 
• Be an active Early Achievers participant with a rating of Level 3 or higher (family home providers may qualify at a Level 2). 
• Register as a vendor of Washington State by submitting the Statewide Payee Registration form and W-9 to the Department of Early Learning. Registration should be completed in the facility name, as funds will not be awarded to individuals. All facilities must submit their payee registration and W-9 prior to receiving a monetary award. 

Quality Improvement Awards will be distributed approximately 90 days after the facility’s rating release date. 

Those who qualify will be eligible for the new Quality Improvement Award amounts, as follows:

Family Home Child Care QI Awards:

• Level 2 - $1000 
• Level 3 - $2250 
• Level 4 - $2500 
• Level 5 - $2750 

Child Care Center QI Awards:

• Level 3 - $5000 
• Level 4 - $7500 
• Level 5 - $9000 

More information about the awards and how to qualify can be found in Early Achievers Quality Improvement Awards--Frequently Asked Questions document on the DEL website.

*The Department of Early Learning (DEL) calculates the percentage of children receiving subsidies by adding the number of non-school-age children on subsidy served each month for the 12 months preceding the rating release date. The total will be divided by the number of months children were present in the facility to determine the average number of children on subsidy served per month. This average will then be divided by the total licensed capacity of the provider to receive the final percentage of children on subsidy served. Invoices should be submitted promptly to ensure an accurate calculation. See more information here: Early Achievers Quality Improvement Awards--Frequently Asked Questions.

For questions regarding Early Achievers, contact qris@del.wa.gov.

Early Learning Center Bounces Back after Disaster

This past winter, at a well-known child care center in Vancouver, a disaster happened. A larger portion of KIDSPACE child enrichment center’s roof caught fire and quickly spread to a large part of KIDSPACE’s gymnasium and classroom area. Check out the original report from The Columbian here: Fire empties day care center near Vancouver Mall. 

“The smoke just started billowing and getting bigger,” said KIDSPACE Director, Kathy Stanley. “The kids evacuated with no shoes, because that is what they learned—take nothing with.” 

KIDSPACE staff and children followed their emergency preparedness plan, and were in compliance with the State’s licensed child care emergency preparedness requirements.

Kathy Stanley, KIDSPACE Director thanks community and friends for support in unfinished gymnasium. Stanley is standing in front of a scrap-book board/collage of important lessons learned and milestones achieved following the fire.

Due in part to the responsiveness of the Vancouver fire department, the willingness of nearby businesses to shelter children and fast-acting KIDSPACE staff, not one person was hurt.

“When I got the call that this fire had happened, I wasn’t expecting that the biggest problem would be that a bunch of 3- and 4-year-olds were excited about seeing fire engines,” said DEL Director, Ross Hunter. Hunter and DEL administration were notified of the fire, and the successful evacuation the same day it took place.

DEL Director, Ross Hunter and KIDSPACE Director, Kathy Stanley

To celebrate KIDSPACE’s resilience and “grace under fire,” the Department of Early Learning spent time at the center this past week. Hunter and area licensing staff toured the facility, and learned from the children about fire safety, demolition, architecture and the science behind fire.

Following the emergency, KIDSPACE staff brainstormed how to create an entire unit and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) activities to accompany their lessons. A friend to the Center also created a large-scale scrap-book wall to showcase the activities and the timeline of the center’s recovery following the emergency. 

“The damage done to this place, it looks like a disaster,” said Hunter. Currently, KIDSPACE’s gym is under construction to repair the damage done by the fire. “The real disaster would be if any one of those children were hurt. But they weren’t. And that’s because this center had their stuff together. Thank you for running a high-quality early learning program and for letting us learn about what you do here.”

DEL Director, Ross Hunter learns about circuitry from KIDSPACE kids.

KIDSPACE is still undergoing renovation, but was able to open at full-capacity about a month following the fire.

Want to know more about some of the cool things happening at KIDSPACE? Follow them on Facebook here: KIDSPACE Child Enrichment Center.

Uplifting ECEAP: Debi's Story and the Future of State-funded PreK

ECEAP is Washington’s state-funded prekindergarten program that prepares some of the state’s most vulnerable 3- and 4-year-old children for success in school and in life. DEL oversees the program which, since 1985, has focused on the well-being of the whole child by providing comprehensive nutrition, health, education and family support services to Washington’s most at-risk children. 

Debi, an ECEAP mom

To get an idea of the impact ECEAP has on families, experience Debi's story. 

During a time in Debi's life when money and stability were scarce, she found a state-funded program that helped her children thrive. 

Her son's experience in quality pre-K have started them on a positive trajectory that will hopefully lead to bright futures--and her boys have big plans!

See the full story here: Uplifting ECEAP. *Please note there is a transcript in the comments section of the YouTube video.

The future of ECEAP:

DEL recently released a new ECEAP caseload forecast that highlights the number of children who are eligible to participate in, and the number of children actually served by, the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP).

This report is provided by the Department of Early Learning to describe the February 2016 ECEAP caseload forecast. 

By the 2020-21 school year, all eligible children shall be entitled to enroll in ECEAP, per Washington Legislature.

Added slots:

• 3,300 slots were added to ECEAP in the 2013-15 and 2015-17 bienniums. 
• For the 2015-16 and 2016-17 school years, ECEAP has 11,691 enrollment slots. 

Eligible kids:

• In 2015-16, there are 11,955 children eligible for ECEAP who are not served by ECEAP or Head Start. 
• Based on the February 2016 CFC forecast, 6,260 of these would likely participate if space were available. 
• DEL serves 66 percent of eligible children and 79 percent of children likely to participate. 
• By the 2020-21 school year, an additional 7,377 would participate if space is available.

Check out the full report here: ECEAP Caseload Forecast.

Exciting Changes for WA Early Learning Providers

Beginning July 1, Washington’s early learning providers will receive higher pay and benefit from greater stability in the subsidized care system. As we build a statewide system of high-quality early learning, we know that providers are at the core of this work. We’re working hard to provide them with better supports and resources for their early learning small businesses.

Base Rate Increases:
For early learning providers who are being asked to provide high-quality, outcome-driven instruction, higher pay will give them the needed investment to continue their critical work.

• All providers authorized to accept subsidy payments will see increases to their base rates. 
• For licensed centers and Family, Friends, and Neighbors the rate will increase a flat 2%.
• Base rates for Licensed Family Homes will increase by an average of 8%, based on geographic region and child age group. 
• Providers with authorization rates less than the state maximum will not be affected by this change.
• These increases will be effective for care provided in July of this year. 
• See the subsidy base rates divided by region here: Subsidy Map.

12 Month Eligibility:
This will give providers a better sense of the number of children they’ll be serving over a longer, and more consistent period of time, and means a more predictable source of income.

• Families who qualify for WCCC or SCC will automatically receive 12-months of eligibility.
• Families will not be terminated during the 12-month eligibility period for loss of approved activities or for increases in income that don’t exceed federal limits.
• Families will only be terminated during the 12 month certification period under limited circumstances including the following:
• Family income exceeds federal limit of 85% State Median Income (around 300% FPL)
• Parent requests termination of benefits
• Consumer does not pay copay and provider expects payment
• Total number of eligible children in the household reaches zero
• Families will be required to report only changes in provider and changes in circumstances described above.

We are all working together to get every child ready for Kindergarten. The Department of Early Learning is excited to be able to offer to providers these increased supports so that we can continue building on our shared success.

Meet the Lymans: Early Intervention Services in Washington State

Meet the Lymans!

The Lymans are a Washington family that benefits from Early Intervention Services for their daughter, Phoebe. Hear their story and find out about the kind of high-quality early learning the Lymans experience. Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) is a Washington State program that serves thousands of children each year.

Early intervention services during the first three years can make a big difference in a child’s life. According to the Lymans, their daughter Pheobe has had consistent support and has made developmental progress since her birth!

The Department of Early Learning's (DEL) Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) program provides services to children birth to age 3 who have disabilities or developmental delays. Eligible infants and toddlers and their families are entitled to individualized, quality early intervention services in accordance with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part C.

Early intervention services are designed to enable young children to be active, independent and successful participants in a variety of settings—in their homes*, in child care, in preschool programs and in their communities--*you can see this in Phoebe's play time with her parents and with her dog, Pepper :). 

Fast Facts about ESIT:

• 6,529 infants/toddlers and their families served at any one time 
• 13,686 eligible infants/toddlers and their families received services 
• 29% of toddlers exiting early intervention did not qualify for special education at age 3 
• 94% of infants/toddlers and families received services in the natural environment 
• 82% of families surveyed reported knowing their rights to the program 
• 89% of families surveyed reported early intervention helped them effectively communicate their child’s needs 
• 86% of families surveyed reported early intervention helped them to help their child develop and learn

Statistics based on early intervention service delivery in Washington, July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015.

For more information about Early Intervention in Washington State, go here: http://www.del.wa.gov/development/esit/Default.aspx.

Special thanks to the Lymans for letting DEL share your inspirational story and optimism!

State Welcomes New Statewide Licensing Administrator

The Washington State Department of Early Learning (DEL) is pleased to announce that Travis Hansen has accepted the Early Learning Statewide Licensing Administrator position. Hansen is currently the Regional Administrator for DEL’s North Central region, which includes counties from Okanogan in the north to southern Klickitat.

Travis comes to this position with a wealth of experience and dedication to early learning. He has devoted his passion and energy to Washington State social and early learning services for over 10 years. Travis’s professional history and his vision for licensing services as a foundation to a quality early learning system will be a great asset to the DEL administration team. 

Travis Hansen, Statewide Licensing Administrator

“I believe quality child care starts with a healthy and safe child,” said Hansen. “It is a true honor to be able to work in such a great early learning system in Washington State.”

For the last four years Travis has successfully lead licensing services in 13 counties of the North Central region, supporting children, families, early learning providers, and communities from the Canada to Oregon borders.

Prior to that, Hansen was DEL’s Licensing Supervisor for the Yakima Office, Travis also worked as a program manager, therapist, and a supervisor for various agencies, including the Department of Social and Health Services, Crest Counseling Services and EPIC Youth Services. 

“Travis brings many skills and talents that are transferrable and highly desirable to this new role,” said Luba Bezborodnikova, DEL Assistant Director.

More about Travis: 
Travis earned his Master’s degree in Social Work with a specialization in Counseling as well as Public Administration from Eastern Washington University. Hansen and his wife have five children of their own, Riley, Cooper, Chase, Brady, and Hunter—all boys.

Favorite children's book: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Best childhood memory: spending the summers at Priest Lake in Idaho. 

"I remember running around all over the lake as a kid. We would camping, fishing, hiking, swimming, and have campfires every night."

WA Makes Gains in Pre-K Funding and Enrollment

Many 3- and 4-year olds across the nation still lack access to high-quality preschool education despite modest gains in enrollment, quality, and funding, according to an annual report by the nonpartisan National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) at Rutgers University.

In Washington, the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) enrolled 10,091 children, up 1350 in 2014-2015, serving eight percent of the state’s 4-year-olds. Washington maintained consistent progress in terms of quality standards– meeting nine of NIEER’s minimum quality standards benchmarks. As of 2014-2015, ECEAP was required to participate in the state’ quality rating and improvement system, called Early Achievers. In 2014-2105, the state invested a total of $83 million in ECEAP, with approximately $76 million of these funds coming from state dollars from the state general fund and the “opportunity pathways account,” which is derived from lottery revenue.

“NIEER’s findings support our need for more high-quality programs and importantly, the inclusion of full-day models into our early learning settings,” said Department of Early Learning Director, Ross Hunter. “As we near our state’s milestone of making preschool an entitlement for low-income families, we need to ensure expansion of programs that prove success in child outcomes.”

More about ECEAP:

• 60% of ECEAP children are ready the spring before entering Kindergarten.
• There are 11,955 children eligible for ECEAP who are not served by ECEAP or Head Start. According to the February 2016 Caseload Forecast Council, 6,260 of these would likely participate if space were available. 
• By fall 2020’s entitlement milestone*, Washington will need 7,377 more slots for children than Washington currently has, based on the children likely to participate. 
• This requires adding 1,844 more slots each year for the next four years, beginning with the 2017-18 school years. 



Inside an ECEAP classroom.

• To add the 7,377 by fall 2020, Washington will need 266 more classrooms, 266 more trained lead teachers, and 266 more assistant teachers.

*The Legislature has made preschool a statutory entitlement for families with incomes at or below 110% of federal poverty level, or FPL, by fall 2020.

The State of Preschool report for the 2014-2015 school year, which includes objective state-by-state profiles and rankings, indicates that urgent action is needed from lawmakers at all levels of government to ensure that every child – particularly those from low-income families – have access to high-quality early education. For the first year, NIEER also analyzed states’ early education workforce and Dual Language Learner policies, which reveal that Washington is one of 14 states that can report the home language of every pre-K student. However, Washington does not require pre-K teachers to have a Bachelor’s degree, nor does it provide salary parity between pre-K and K-3 teachers.

The report finds that total state spending on pre-K programs for the nation as a whole increased by 10 percent, or $553 million, since the previous year, bringing state spending in 2014-2015 to over $6.2 billion. The number of children served by state-funded pre-K served increased by 37,167 in 2014-2015, bringing the total to almost 1.4 million children – the largest number of children ever served by state-funded pre-K. With an average rate of $4,489, states also made one of the most significant increases in spending per child in recent history.

For more information on The State of Preschool 2015 yearbook and detailed state-by-state breakdowns on quality benchmarks, enrollment, and funding, please click here.

More about DEL and NIEER:The Department of Early Learning was created in 2006 to help all Washington children reach their full potential. DEL oversees the state-funded preschool program, child care licensing and subsidies, early intervention services, and other initiatives and programs to support parents as children’s first and most important teachers. For more information, go to www.del.wa.gov.

The National Institute for Early Education Research (www.nieer.org) at the Graduate School of Education, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, supports early childhood education policy and practice through independent, objective research.