I believe in the power of a well-done video, and this week a new one makes a compelling case for a larger investment in early learning.

The video doesn’t feature smiling babies or stark images of poverty. Instead, it relies on simple graphics and messages in block lettering to explain how improving education during the first five years of a child’s life reduces everything from special education costs to smoking and creates a better workforce for tomorrow. All of this is explained with an upbeat soundtrack in less than two minutes. 

The First Five Years Fund didn’t just dump its new video on YouTube and post it on its website. The Chicago-based group is running the video on a Times Square Jumbotron in New York City through July 8. Check it out and pass it on. You can watch both the long and short versions.

It reminds me of the great short film The New School Foundation produced a couple of years ago on the power of PreK-3rd. Watch.

A Win for WaKIDS

Big Step for Kindergarten Readiness in Washington: Gov. Christine Gregoire signed another important early education bill into law last week: the WAKids act.

The new law makes WaKIDS -- Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills --  the kindergarten transition process for all state-funded full-day kindergarten, DEL Connects reports. The goal of WaKIDS is to better integrate early learning and kindergarten through three primary strategies, according to the Department of Early Learning:

• Teachers meet with families of incoming students.
• Students are assessed in social/emotional, literacy and physical skills.
• Teachers and early learning educators are encouraged to collaborate to improve kindergarten readiness.

There is one major caveat. The program still needs funding from the final 2011-2013 state operating budget and there is not much money to spare this year.