Welcome to the Washington State Family Child Care Association's "Current News" page. Here you'll find information about what's currently happening in our State regarding family child care issues. On our "Public Policy" page you'll find a list of different panels that Sue Winn, Public Policy for WSFCCA sits on. This page will give more in depth information on current happenings and the actions that WSFCCA encourages ALL Licensed providers to partake in.

"The Department of Early Learning, the Office of Public Instruction and Thrive by Five have come together to work on Early Learning in the State of Washington.  They have drafted an area of responsibility framework that is now available on the DEL website. You can read it here too.  Please take the time to read this document and if you have questions or concerns please respond to Betty Hyde DEL Director.

Also on the website you can find the minutes from the Early Learning Plan Meetings.  This plan is the road map for Early Learning for the next 5 to 10 years in Washington.  A draft will be presented to legislators in December.  The Department wants your input. Now is the time for providers to step forward and have our say.  If we do not act now we will be living with consequences for a very long time. Sue Winn, Public Policy Chair, is an active member at these meetings, but we need a much broader voice.  There is great influence in numbers.  Betty Hyde really wants your responses to these issues.  After the draft is final it will be vetted across the state, but let's get our voice out there in the beginning - not the end."

Carol Wilson

President, WSFCCA

              

Governor Chris Gregoire has asked DEL and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to work together to bring a proposal forward that would ensure all Washington children have the benefit of early childhood education. The Governor has followed up with a more detailed letter to Superintendent Randy Dorn and DEL Director Bette Hyde outlining her expectations and timeline for this proposal. Our two agencies will be working intensively and inclusively in the coming months to fulfill the Governor’s request for a final report to be submitted to her by December 1, 2009. Read it here.

Governor Gregoire's Letter to Randy Dorn and Bette Hyde

Take Action now! We need to hear from providers!

We can not stress enough how important your participation is. Here's a letter from our President Carol Wilson.

Early Learning Plan Information

Dear Key Communicators,

As you know, we are approximately six weeks into the process for developing the early learning recommendations requested by Governor Gregoire in her recent letter to Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn and me. There are dozens of staff, stakeholders and others working to create an early learning plan that helps ensure all Washington children start school ready to succeed. Draft products will be available soon to which you as Key Communicators can respond.

Critical to this plan development is the involvement and input of all constituents.  This need is made more difficult because of the timeline to reach our December 1 deadline for submitting a draft plan and recommendations to the Governor. Consequently, I am contacting you to ask, again, that you assist us with this process. Please feel free to share the information on the DEL, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and/or Thrive by Five Washington Web sites with your constituents. Please ask them to contact us via e-mail, phone and/or letter to share their input, concerns and recommendations about what a statewide early learning plan should include and accomplish. Information on the early learning plan is available on our Web site at http://www.del.wa.gov/partnerships/elac/elp.aspx.

I am especially interested in making sure that parents and families are aware of this effort and have the ability and time to provide us feedback.  My staff and I would welcome an opportunity to meet with you and your constituents at any time throughout this process to talk about your community’s needs and strengths. To make this the powerful plan we want, we very much need the voices of families, providers and advocates.

Thank you,

Bette Hyde, Director

Washington State Family Child Care Association

Chris Gregoire, Governor