I-1098: Dedicated Funding & Tax Cuts
Vote YES on Initiative 1098 in November.  At their July meeting, the Governing Board decided WAEYC would support this initiative.  I-1098 is a tax initiative designed to reduce the burden on middle income families and increase funding for education and health.  The initiative would reduce the state property tax by 20% and decrease the tax burden on small businesses.  New revenue would be raised by adding an income tax on the wealthiest 3% of households in Washington.  70% of the new revenue will go to the Education Legacy Trust Fund for K-12 class-size reductions, extended learning options, pre-kindergarten, and expanding access to higher education.  30% of the new revenue will go to the Basic Health Plan, public health services, and long-term care services for people with disabilities. 

Other Initiatives Impacting Children & Families
On the ballet this fall, there likely will be several state initiatives that affect programs children and families count on.  Initiatives are laws proposed by non-legislators - either individuals or groups of individuals.

I-1053: Requiring 2/3 majority vote to raise revenue in the state legislature.  Impact: Severely restrict the government's ability to raise new revenue to increase spending on various programs that impact children and families in Washington.

I-1106 and 1107: Eliminate new revenues gained from extending the sales tax to candy, end the temporary sales tax on all ("some in 1107) bottled water, end the temporary excise tax on carbonated beverages and beer (1007 would keep beer tax), and reduce the tax rates for certain food processors.  Impact: Repeal new revenues identified and passed during 2010 legislative session, and result in budget gap due to loss of projected revenues.  

Click here to read about Children's Alliance's position on these initiatives and how they will affect kids. 

Early Learning Plan
The Department of Early Learning, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Thrive by Five Washington are nearing adoption of the statewide Early Learning Plan.  Public input on the draft plan closed on June 18 and is currently being considered.  WAEYC provided input on the professional development and child care licensing strategies.  The plan includes many important strategies, some of which can and will be implemented immediately. Others will require more planning time or funding. A three-year action plan, available here, prioritizes strategies that can be implemented in the coming three years. One of the three-year strategies - implement comprehensive professional development and compensation system – aligns with WAEYC’s vision.  Another strategy - align prekindergarten and K-3 instructional and programmatic practices – is directly related to an action in WAEYC’s three-year strategic plan.  

Kindergarten Readiness
Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (WaKIDS) is a pilot kindergarten readiness assessment process being implemented by the Department of Early Learning, Thrive by Five Washington, and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction during the 2010-2011 school year.   The WaKIDS pilot includes 

• family engagement to welcome families and gather information about their children to inform and smooth the transition into kindergarten,
• early learning provider/kindergarten teacher collaboration to discuss what information will be most useful to exchange and how that process will happen, and
• a comprehensive assessment that gathers information about the domains identified in the Early Learning and Development Benchmarks.  Three different “bundles” of assessment tools will be used and evaluated.

Child Care Subsidy Changes
A new state law changes Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) eligibility from up to six months to twelve months for families with children enrolled in Head Start, Early Head Start, or ECEAP.  Recently, the Department of Early Learning held hearings to listen to feedback from parents, child care providers, community members, and legislators on related proposed rule changes.  To learn more, click here.

After taking public comments into consideration, DEL made initial changes to the Washington Administrative Code (WAC). Initial changes, effective August 15^th, include: 

• Families who experience a loss in employment will receive clearer information about their eligibility to receive child care subsidy for up to 56 days, during two 28-day employment search periods
• Families can receive subsidized child care while attending parent education classes offered by DEL-approved providers
• Siblings of children in Head Start, Early Head Start, or ECEAP will also be eligible for subsidy for twelve months

Page updated July 2010