State early childhood programs score well

In 2011 the state of Washington was awarded a four year federal grant to implement our state’s Quality Rating and Improvement System called Early Achievers.

Much like a hotel or restaurant rating, Early Achievers is meant to inform parents shopping for child care where they can find a quality provider for their child based on an objective set of measurements. Funds from the federal grant go to support the rigorous and evidence based evaluation process conducted by the University of Washington. Providers are then rated from 1 to 5. Providers also receive coaching, mentoring, and professional development to raise their scores through Child Care Aware of WA and current state pre-k contractors. Some additional funds are also available for providers to purchase classroom materials to support quality.

More than 2,400 sites, including St. James Family Center's preschool program, are participating in Early Achievers, impacting over 67,000 children.

This week, the Department of Early Learning reported that almost every Head Start program and Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) programs rated near the very top on the Early Achievers ratings scale. Of the 59 sites that are rated 55 of them scored a 4—and one site received the highest score of 5.

The federal grant will run out at the end of 2015 and with it the funding to support Early Achievers.