Today, Gov. Chris Gregoire signed several early learning bills, showing her continued to commitment to making sure all children in Washington state get off to a great start in life.

These bills "recognize that learning starts from the moment that a little one greets the world,” Gov. Gregoire said during the signing at Auburn High School, her alma mater. "This is a defining moment in the state of Washington."

• Senate Bill 6593, which transfers the Infant Toddler Early Intervention Program to the state Department of Early Learning (DEL) from the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). It also renames the program to “Early Support for Infants and Toddlers.” This move was supported by leaders of both DEL and DSHS as a strategic way to better align early learning services under one entity.
• Preschool bills:
  • HB 2731 phases in enrollment of additional eligible children to the state-funded preschool program, Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP), starting in the 2013-14 school year. This is aligned with the phase-in of all-day kindergarten. ECEAP standards and eligibility criteria would be used to start, and DEL would work during the phase-in to adopt rules for program components. Upon full implementation in the 2018-19 school year, any eligible child will be entitled to enroll. The bill also adds children eligible for special education services, regardless of income, as a specific eligible group in ECEAP.
  • SB 6759 directs DEL and the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to pull together a work group by April 1 to develop a plan for a voluntary program of early learning. The group will review the options of a pre-k program as a part of state basic education or as an entitlement, and recommend: child and provider eligibility criteria; program standards; performance measures; governance responsibilities; ECEAP’s role; funding; and timelines for implementation. Recommendations are due in November 2011. A plan will be submitted to the Legislature by July 2012. 
• HB 2867 directs DEL, Thrive by Five Washington and Early Learning Advisory Committee to develop a plan by Dec. 1, 2010, for creating a continuum of services and support for children birth-to-3. DEL and partners started this work in December with an “Infant Toddler Think Tank.”