This section modifies existing section 43.216.505. Here is the modified chapter for context.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 43.216.500 through 43.216.559, 43.216.900, and 43.216.901.
"Advisory committee" means the advisory committee under RCW 43.216.520.
"Approved programs" means those state-supported education and special assistance programs which are recognized by the department as meeting the minimum program rules adopted by the department to qualify under RCW 43.216.500 through 43.216.550, 43.216.900, and 43.216.901 and are designated as eligible for funding by the department under RCW 43.216.530 and 43.216.540.
"Comprehensive" means an assistance program that focuses on the needs of the child and includes education, health, and family support services.
"Eligible child" means a three to five-year old child who is not age-eligible for kindergarten, is not a participant in a federal or state program providing comprehensive services, and who:
Has a family income at or below 110 percent of the federal poverty level, as published annually by the federal department of health and human services;
Is eligible for special education due to disability under RCW 28A.155.020; or
Meets criteria under rules adopted by the department if the number of such children equals not more than 10 percent of the total enrollment in the early childhood program. Preference for enrollment in this group shall be given to children from families with the lowest income, children in foster care, or to eligible children from families with multiple needs.
"Family support services" means providing opportunities for parents to:
Actively participate in their child's early childhood program;
Increase their knowledge of child development and parenting skills;
Further their education and training;
Increase their ability to use needed services in the community;
Increase their self-reliance.
"Instructional hours" means those hours children are provided the opportunity to engage in educational activities planned by and under the direction of staff in approved programs, as defined in subsection (2) of this section, inclusive of intermissions for class changes, recess, and teacher/parent-guardian conferences that are planned and scheduled by the approved program for the purpose of discussing students' educational needs or progress, and time spent for meals or rest.
This section modifies existing section 43.216.525. Here is the modified chapter for context.
The department shall adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW for the administration of the early childhood education and assistance program. Approved early childhood education and assistance programs shall conduct needs assessments of their service area and identify any targeted groups of children, to include but not be limited to children of seasonal and migrant farmworkers and native American populations living either on or off reservation. Approved early childhood education and assistance programs shall provide to the department a service delivery plan, to the extent practicable, that addresses these targeted populations.
The department, in developing rules for the early childhood education and assistance program, shall consult with the early learning advisory council, and shall consider such factors as coordination with existing head start and other early childhood programs, the preparation necessary for instructors, qualifications of instructors, adequate space and equipment, and special transportation needs. The rules shall specifically require the early childhood programs to provide for parental involvement in participation with their child's program, in local program policy decisions, in development and revision of service delivery systems, and in parent education and training.
By January 1, 2016, the department shall adopt rules requiring early childhood education and assistance program employees who have access to children to submit to a fingerprint background check. Fingerprint background check procedures for the early childhood education and assistance program shall be the same as the background check procedures in RCW 43.216.270.
By January 1, 2023, the department shall adopt rules outlining the requirements related to educational activities and comprehensive services required to meet the entitlement defined in RCW 43.216.556.
This section modifies existing section 43.216.556. Here is the modified chapter for context.
Funding for the program of early learning established under this chapter must be appropriated to the department. The department shall distribute funding to approved early childhood education and assistance program contractors on the basis of eligible children enrolled.
The program shall be implemented in phases, so that full implementation is achieved in the 2026-27 school year.
Funding shall continue to be phased in until full statewide implementation of the early learning program is achieved in the 2026-27 school year, at which time any eligible child is entitled to be enrolled in the program. Entitlement under this section is voluntary enrollment in a full day program.
School districts and approved community‑based early learning providers may contract with the department to provide services under the program. The department shall collaborate with school districts, community‑based providers, and educational service districts to promote an adequate supply of approved providers.
By September 1, 2022, the department of children, youth, and families must submit a report to the governor and appropriate committees of the legislature, pursuant to RCW 43.01.036. The report must include an implementation plan to meet the early childhood education and assistance program entitlement under RCW 43.216.556. The implementation plan shall include the following:
Details for how all eligible children as defined in RCW 43.216.505 and entitled to the program under RCW 43.216.510 and 43.216.556 will access a full day program by the 2026-27 school year;
In collaboration with the office of the superintendent of public instruction, a description of how the early childhood education and assistance program, and transitional kindergarten funding streams, may be braided to create high-quality integrated preschool classrooms;
(A) The working connections child care subsidy;
(B) Head start;
(C) Developmental preschool programs;
(D) Early childhood intervention and prevention services;
(E) Local government funded preschool programs; and
(F) Title I.
ii. The plan must describe how, when braided or otherwise combined program funding streams can build high-quality, inclusive preschool programs that can be delivered in a variety of public or private settings including, but not limited to:
(A) School districts;
(B) Educational service districts;
(C) Community and technical colleges;
(D) Local governments;
(E) Nonprofit organizations;
(F) Agencies as defined in RCW 43.216.010; and
(G) Other community-based and school-based settings;
c. An outline of how the department of children, youth, and families will maintain or increase the diversity of program workforce and maintain an emphasis on eliminating racial and ethnic disproportionality and disparities in early childhood education;
d. By geographic location across the state, a description of future program resource needs, costs, and phase-in timelines including workforce development and salary and benefit needs to successfully recruit and retain providers, capital and facilities expansion, native language and dual language access, rural access, the impact on infant and toddler child care, and availability of combined or braided programs in (b) of this subsection. Multiple recommendations on how these future needs may be met must be included, as well as a description of how comprehensive services may be delivered in a combined or braided preschool model, recognizing that not all children or families will need the same suite of comprehensive services;
e. Estimates of unmet need by geographic location, by age and by type of program, including part day, full day, and extended day;
f. Cost and recommended timelines to convert part day programs to full day programs, including recommendations for optional, part-day participation in the program in order to support parental choice;
g. Identification of the need for and a phase-in approach to providing voluntary summer school options;
h. Recommendation for income eligibility including but not limited to income eligibility for free and reduced-price lunch granted under 7 C.F.R. Sec. 245.6; and
i. A tool kit for potential preschool program operators to implement a high-quality, inclusive preschool program serving three and four-year old children, as outlined in this section. This tool kit must be made available on the department of children, youth, and families' public website, in a consumer-friendly format and translated to support dual-language communities.