The Washington state legislature made progress on two early learning initiatives during the last week, as a bill to expand a kindergarten transition and assessment program and another to streamline child care subsidies both moved forward.

• A bill to expand WaKIDs, Washington’s school readiness pilot program, moved over to the Senate. There had been concerns the bill was getting held up, but it looks like it is back on track.
• The House also passed a plan to streamline child care subsidies by requiring a review of a recipient’s eligibility every 12 months. Currently, the vast majority of families who rely on this aid are reviewed every six months or more frequently.

Two other early education bills stalled for the year:

• Legislation to create a universal voluntary pre-kindergarten system has stopped moving.
• Legislation that would expand the quality rating and improvement system for child care centers around the state also stalled, though advocates felt they made progress educating legislators and the public about why this next step is important.

Despite the fact that the bills didn’t progress this year, there are hopeful signs for the future. Both measures enjoyed strong support from Democrats and Republicans according to Joel Ryan, head of the Washington State Association of Head Start & ECEAP.

Federal Budget Update: On the federal budget, President Barack Obama proposed a $20 million increase for programs that support infants and toddlers with special needs. The Obama administration’s fiscal 2013 budget would increase funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Part C to $462.7 million, On Special Education reports.

Check out the whole story over at Education Week.