Early learning advocacy: Transitional kindergarten

 This is part of a series of legislative updates on the state's 2022 General Session. See also:

• No childcare for kids with disabilities
• Growing ECEAP
  

At the state level, lots of people are talking about transitional kindergarten. This is a newer service offered by some local school districts. It opts in kids to 2 years of kindergarten.

THE THINKING: Some kids need more preparation to succeed and they would benefit from enrollment in two years of kindergarten, starting at age 4.

• Schools identify which students would benefit and enroll them as kindergartners
• Kindergarten curriculum and standards apply
• Teachers are certificated, but not necessarily in early childhood education

YES, KINDERGARTEN, NOT PRESCHOOL: Preschool, or pre-K, is not part of basic education and is not included in state funding for school districts. For school districts to collect basic education funding for transitional kindergarten, these programs must use kindergarten, and not preschool, standards. This means they do not align with curriculum or standards used by Head Start or the state’s Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP).

Historical note: In 2009 the legislature voted to make preschool part of the state’s program of basic education, but the governor at the time vetoed it. Since then, separate licensing and quality ratings have been built and implemented by the Department of Early Learning and its successor, the Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF). Also, Head Start and ECEAP oversight is housed in DCYF and not in the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).

POSSIBLE BUDGET IMPACT: Four-year-olds with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) enrolled in kindergarten would count towards the “cap” in special education funding. This is important because the state cuts off a district's K-12 special education funding once students with IEPs hit 13.5% of full-time enrolled students. So, adding 4-year-olds with IEPs to kindergarten enrollment could mean funds overall are spread more thinly, depending on how close to the cap they are. Nationwide, rural areas have higher incidence rates of developmental disabilities and learning disorders, so this could impact rural areas more.

STAFF TRAINING: While teachers of transitional kindergarten must be certificated, they do not need to be certificated in early childhood education. They may or may not have the expertise in very young children that staff in ECEAP and Head Start must demonstrate.

Concerns raised

• Is Washington’s take on transitional kindergarten developmentally appropriate? Wouldn’t preschool be a better placement for most 4-year-olds?
• What curriculum is being used? Is it play-based, or is it aligned to academic kindergarten?
• Do parents understand the differences between kindergarten and preschool? (Is there a difference?)
• Do parents who also qualify for ECEAP or Head Start understand that they would lose access to the family support and child health aspects of ECEAP and Head Start?
• Will special education funding caps be a disincentive for school districts to include students with IEPs in transitional kindergarten? 
  

DISABILITY TIE-IN: There aren’t many inclusive options in Washington for preschool-age children with disabilities. Most school districts do not take, or push in, special education services to where the preschoolers are, but instead enroll them in developmental preschools where they may have little or no access to peers without disabilities.

In the 2021 IDEA report to Congress, Washington is bottom 4 among states, DC, and territories when it comes to placing students with IEPs in regular early learning classes, alongside kids without disabilities, with support pushed in. We are top 4 for placing preschoolers with IEPS in separate classes or schools.

Some see promising options with transitional kindergarten.

But if IEP teams fail to review with parents the pro’s and con’s of early kindergarten, students with IEPs may be diverted into a program that might not be the best fit. Or if districts are concerned about funding, they could direct children with IEPs away from transitional kindergarten.

Advocacy for 2022:

Advocates are asking the state to gather information about transitional kindergarten before it expands further. As a state, we collect a lot about our preschool system, but very little from transitional kindergarten. The Early Learning Action Alliance (ELAA) is asking for funding in the state budget to collect the following information:

• What early learning curriculum, assessment, teacher credentials and competencies are required?
• How are children selected and prioritized for enrollment?
• How are school districts cooperating and communicating with local early learning providers?
• How are school districts using transitional kindergarten to improve inclusive services to children with disabilities?
• What family supports, connections and language supports are provided in transitional kindergarten?

You can read the all of the ELAA's legislative agenda here.

If you want to engage on this issue, write or call to your legislators and let them know about the request for a budget proviso for transitional kindergarte.

• You can find your legislative district and state legislators here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/
• You can find contact information for all legislators and see who is on the budget writing committees here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rosters/
  

Early learning advocacy: Growing ECEAP

 This is part of a series of legislative updates on the state's 2022 General Session. See also:

• No childcare for kids with disabilities
• Transitional kindergarten  

BACKGROUND: The Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) is Washington’s state-funded pre-kindergarten program for 3- and 4-year-old children from families furthest from opportunity. All children enrolled in special education services are eligible for ECEAP, but the state doesn’t fund enough slots to give everyone eligible a spot and uses a priority points system to weight applicants. 

The program is modeled after the federal Head Start program, which includes standards for program quality, family support, and classroom structure.

Most ECEAP slots are for part-day preschool, which can run 3 to 4 hours a day, for 4 or 5 days a week; some are school-day (6 hours) and others are working day.

In recent years, advocates won big victories and got state legislators to agree that every child who is eligible for ECEAP – and whose families want to participate in the program – should get a spot. This means growth from 15,077 slots this year to 27,500 slots by the 2026-27 school year.

DISABILITY TIE-IN: ECEAP and Head Start are some of the few inclusive preschool options for children with developmental delay or disabilities. As the state builds capacity, children with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) will have more options to learn alongside peers without disabilities.

ADVOCACY FOR 2022: The Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP has several 2022 advocacy goals to address expansion and other issues:

• Quality curriculum – Ask: $1.3 million to pay for curriculum and assessment
• Summer ECEAP – Ask: $9.3 million to provide 9 weeks of needed extra services for 2,000 children
• School-day and working-day slots – Ask: $9.3 million to convert part-day slots to longer school- and working-day slots for 2,777 children
• Expansion & flexibility – Ask: Funding for 350 additional ECEAP slots in 2022 and 40 flexible slots for families with emergent need
• Pandemic impact – Ask: $5 million for hazard pay/retention bonuses to address staff shortages and other pandemic impacts
• Complex support – Ask: $1.8 million to fund greater demand for trauma services and staffing during the pandemic

The Early Learning Action Alliance, and statewide coalition that The Arc of King County is a member of, also has several policy priorities that would benefit ECEAP:

• Reduce barriers to workforce recruitment: Reform the background check process with a long-term investment to ensure a 72-hour turnaround for early learning applicants. Support funding background check application and fingerprint processing fees for early learning workers. 
• Maintain an enhanced rate for providers: Fund a per-slot, quality support rate for DCYF to provide curriculum and assessment supports to Early Childhood Education and Assistance program providers. ($1.3 million)
• Minimize learning loss among our youngest learners: Fund nearly nine weeks of ECEAP during summer 2022. ($5.9 million)
• Improve educational availability for children: The budget will increase affordable, high-quality, early learning programs by converting a portion of the part day Early Childhood Education Assistance Program slots to school and working-day slots. ($9.3 million)

If you want to engage on this issue, write or call to your legislators and let them know about the budget requests.

• You can find your legislative district and state legislators here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/
• You can find contact information for all legislators and see who is on the budget writing committees here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rosters/

Talking points shared by advocates:

• COVID-19 has hit ECEAP and Head Start families especially hard and providers have stepped up with both in-person and remote education services; helped families secure food and supplies; connected families and kids with mental health supports; and helped families navigate through lost jobs and health challenges.
  
  
• ECEAP is one of our state’s most effective tools to eliminate racial disparities for our youngest children, and 66% of ECEAP children are children of color.  There continue to be large disparities in health and education outcomes for white students and children of color, and ECEAP helps close the readiness gap.
  
  
• Research shows that ECEAP works, and the benefits extend well beyond kindergarten. A Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) concluded the impact of ECEAP on later student test scores is nearly twice the average effect of pre-K programs in other states.

Wanted: Family advisors from the developmental disabilities community

Do you have a young child with a developmental disability? Positions are open on the Early Learning Advisory Council

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The state’s Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC) is accepting applications. The council helps ensure the early learning work of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is informed by the community.

Applications are due August 31.

Open positions include two charged with representing children and families from the developmental disabilities community:

• Developmental disabilities – infants and toddlers.

Representative from the developmental disabilities community representing children and families involved in Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Part C covers birth to 3 supports, also called early supports for infants and toddlers (ESIT). If you are a parent of child who uses 0-3 supports, please consider applying.

• Developmental disabilities – preschoolers

Representative from the developmental disabilities community representing children and families involved in Part B of IDEA.

Part B covers special education services for children ages 3 to 21. If you are a parent of a preschooler using special education services, please consider applying.

Other open positions for community members include:

•  An infant or early childhood mental health expert
• A family, friend or neighbor caregiver
• A pediatrician

There are also open positions that represent advocacy groups, businesses, and other organizations. The full list of openings is on the application.

To apply: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JCN2YTC

 

BACKGROUND

ELAC representatives from around the state meet regularly to provide input and recommendations to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) so the department's strategies and actions are well informed and broadly supported by parents, child care providers, health and safety experts, and interested members of the public.

Governor Jay Inslee holds final authority for policy decisions.

The council has adopted a Racial Equity Framework through which it conducts its business as an advisory board to DCYF.

The council was created by the state legislature in 2007. Earlier this year the legislature expanded membership as part of the Fair Starts for Kids Act.

More about the Early Learning Advisory Council: https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/about/community-engagement/elac

You can also access meeting agendas and minutes from the ELAC webpage. All meetings are open to the public.

KNOW SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED? Please share this opportunity!

QUESTIONS? TRANSLATION? If you have questions about this recruitment or would like to request translation, please contact dcyf.communityengagement@dcyf.wa.gov

 

Apply today! Fall 2020 cohort starts in September

Applications are due September 12:
https://forms.gle/NXv1q6qwdQZgSHSA7

 

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Are you interested in promoting inclusive early learning and disability equity? Join us as we launch our third cohort of The Inclusion Academy. This one will be all online, with a mix of live Zoom video conferencing and independent study through a private, closed website.

Applications are due September 12, 2020, for the fall 2020 cohort. 

To apply, please click here

 

If you prefer to apply by phone or require interpretation or support, you may also contact Bridget: bnickol@arcofkingcounty.org, 206-829-7016.

 

ABOUT THE INCLUSION ACADEMY

"They aren't ready for us" is something we hear often. This opportunity is about changing that.

OUR GOAL: Give you the information you need to support and advocate for young children AND a structure to practice and pursue disability activism.

OUR PHILOSOPHY: Disability is a type of diversity, and whether children with disabilities or developmental delay reach their potential is linked to how society responds to and nurtures them. So let's change society.

The Inclusion Academy is grounded in the science of early childhood development and the legal and research basis for inclusive learning. It is a Best Starts for Kids Innovation Fund pilot and a portfolio project of Frontiers of Innovation, the research and development arm of Harvard's Center on the Developing Child.

WHO SHOULD APPLY: Parents (and allies!) of young children ages 2 to 5 navigating early child care, preschool, and kindergarten transitions. While we will absolutely cover material that you can apply to your child/situation, the academy is fundamentally about shifting systems to be inclusive.

CLASS TOPICS: The developing brain and what children need to thrive; disability is diversity; the case for inclusion; barriers; your child's rights; access and the local early learning landscape; defining quality; Universal Design for Learning and next gen teaching; how change happens; and more! This time, we're leaving space to let the cohort define areas of interest.

ADVOCACY SKILLS: Listening, analysis, communications; vision planning; policy development; data mining; collaboration; community building, and other skills the cohort identifies as priorities.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Collaborative learning through presentations, small group discussion, independent reflection, and resource sharing, paired with skill building and support to advocate within your community. Once the class lineup concludes, we will support inclusion projects, host continued learning opportunities, and create space for a community of advocates.

TIME COMMITMENT: Six to nine months. The first three to four will be focused on regular classes. Some will occur live (via Zoom), others will involve independent study. You should plan on two hours a week from late September into mid-January, with a break over the winter holidays. After that depends on how you want to apply your learning. We anticipate Saturday classes alternating with some independent study, but will finalize the schedule based on the interest and availability of applicants. All live video conferences will be taped and available via private website

Once classes conclude, we will support you with community projects that promote inclusive early learning or disability equity.

COST: This class is free, thanks to a grant from King County's Best Starts for Kids. Participants will also get a small stipend to help offset costs related to their community projects.

LOCATION: Classes will be held online using Zoom video conferencing as well as a private website where materials will be compiled and where participants can share with each other in a closed setting. Live meetings will be recorded for participants to access later.

CAN I APPLY IF MY CHILDREN AREN'T AGE 2-5? Absolutely. Parents with children slightly younger or older will benefit from classes and advocacy skills development. But the focus will be on early development for children ages 2 to 5.

DO I HAVE TO BE A PARENT? No! Professionals, other family, and other allies are welcome to apply.

QUESTIONS? Please contact Bridget Nickol, early learning initiatives coordinator at The Arc of King County, bnickol@arcofkingcounty.org, 206-829-7016.

2019 Inclusion Awards

… because we believe all people have the right to thrive in their communities

• Please join us in celebrating this year's inclusion champions on Tuesday, July 16, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, at the Renton Community Center

It is our pleasure to announce the 2019 Inclusion Awards, honoring eight leaders for their impact on the lives of people with developmental disabilities.

For promoting the rights of people with developmental disabilities:

 Representative Eileen Cody, 34th Legislative District/West Seattle

For protecting the rights of people with developmental disabilities:

• Representative Noel Frame, 36th Legislative District/Seattle
• Senator Patty Kuderer, 48th Legislative District/Bellevue

For ensuring the needs of people with developmental disabilities are reflected in the budget:

• Senator David Frockt, 46th Legislative District/North Seattle

For commitment to inclusion/MVP freshmen: 

• Senator Claire Wilson, 30th Legislative District/Federal Way
• Senator Joe Nguyen, 34th Legislative District/West Seattle

Community honorees

We will also be honoring two community members:

• Community Change Champion: Joey Wilson, for his work to lift the income cap on Healthcare for Workers with Disabilities (HB 1199)

• Lifetime Award: Ed Holen, for his steadfast leadership of the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council

The honorees will be celebrated at our annual potluck picnic for the King County Parent and Family Coalition on Tuesday, July 16, 5:30 to 7:30 pm, at the Renton Community Center, 1715 Maple Valley Highway, Renton, WA 98057.

Collectively, this year’s recipients drove efforts to promote the interests of people with developmental disabilities in the areas of funding, health care, early learning, affordable housing, employment, juvenile justice, and legal rights.

Please continue reading for details on the specific work being recognized.

For promoting the rights of people with DD

Representative Eileen Cody
Chair of the House Health Care & Wellness Committee

We are honoring Rep. Cody for her work to improve access to health care for working individuals with disabilities. Rep. Cody sponsored HB 1199, which ended income and age limits on the state’s Healthcare for Workers with Disabilities program. Prior to this legislation, individuals with disabilities often faced the very difficult decision to work less or risk losing their Medicaid long-term supports. Rep. Cody of West Seattle represents the 34th Legislative District.

• You can view all of the bills Rep. Cody sponsored here

For protecting the rights of people with DD

Representative Noel Frame

Vice chair of the House Human Services and Early Learning Committee

We are honoring Rep. Frame for a body of work that included:

• Efforts to end the state practice of allowing people with disabilities to be paid subminimum wages (HB 1706)
• Work on behalf of families and individuals accessing adolescent and children’s mental health care (HB 1874, and HB 1876, companion to SB 5903)
• Work to end noncriminal youth detention and to expand juvenile rehabilitation (HB 1434, companion to SB 5290)

Rep. Frame of Seattle represents the 36th Legislative District.

• You can view all of the bills Rep. Frame sponsored here

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Senator Patty Kuderer

Majority assistant floor leader and chair of the Senate Housing Stability and Affordability Committee

We are honoring Senator Kuderer for her work on affordable housing and homelessness prevention that included:

• Work to help stabilize housing for vulnerable populations by increasing from 3- to 14-days’ eviction notice to pay overdue rent or vacate (SB 5600)
• Work to allow cities and counties to use real estate taxes to support affordable housing and homelessness projects (SB 5195, companion to HB 1219)
• Work to allow a local set aside of the sales tax to fund affordable or supportive housing (SB 5646, companion to HB 1406)
• A work session to help educate senators on the intersection of disability and housing instability

Senator Kuderer of Bellevue represents the 48th legislative district.

• You can view all of the bills Senator Kuderer sponsored here

For ensuring the needs of people with DD are reflected in the budget

Senator David Frockt

Vice chair for the operating budget and lead on the capital budget on the Senate Ways and Means Committee

We are honoring Senator Frockt's work to help stabilize community residential supports and other services administered through the state Developmental Disability Administration and to protect the financial integrity of the Developmental Disabilities Land Trust.

Senator Frockt also sponsored legislation to enhance educational opportunities for vulnerable youth. (SB 5851)

Senator Frockt of North Seattle represents the 46th Legislative District.

• You can view all of the bills Senator Frockt sponsored here.

MVP freshmen – Commitment to Inclusion

Two freshman senators from King County stood out for "getting it" when it came to how people with disabilities experience the world and the type of public policies that will promote inclusion.

Senator Claire Wilson

Vice chair of the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee 

We are honoring Senator Wilson for a body of work that includes:

• Expanding high quality, inclusive early learning opportunities (SB 5437)
• Establishment of a developmental disability-inclusive LGBTQ commission (SB 5356) 
• Work to affirm the rights of clients of the state Developmental Disabilities Administration (SB 5843)

Senator Wilson of Federal Way represents the 30th Legislative District.

• You can view all of the bills Senator Wilson sponsored here

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Senator Joe Nguyen

Vice chair of the Senate Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation Committee

We are honoring Senator Nguyen for his steadfast support and behind-the scenes assistance in promoting bills that benefit individuals with disabilities. This includes pulling bills like HB 1706/subminimum wages out of the Rules Committee for consideration by the full Senate, and for co-sponsoring a body of bills that collectively promote the interests of people with developmental disabilities, including:

• Required school resource officer training (SB 5141)
• Wrongful injury or death of adult children (SB 5163)
• Lifting the income cap on Healthcare for Workers with Disabilities (SB 5754)
• Language access for families of public school students (SB 5606)
• Rights of DDA clients (SB 5843)

Senator Nguyen also led on a body bills addressing juvenile justice diversion and support that will benefit youth with disabilities, who as a class are disproportionately incarcerated.

• You can view all of the bills Senator Nguyen sponsored here

Lifetime Award

If you ever made the trip to Olympia for an Advocacy Day, chances are Ed Holen greeted you and helped explain pending legislation. For years, Ed Holen has led the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council, a federal-state partnership working to plan for and with individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Ed is retiring this year and we are honoring him for his steadfast leadership and support of people with developmental disabilities.

Community Change Champion

Each year we honor an individual with disabilities for their leadership and work in the community. This year we are honoring Joey Wilson for his work to help pass HB 1199, the bill that lifts the income cap on our state's Healthcare for Workers with Disabilities (HWD) program. Joey attended an advocacy training with us and shared one thing he would like to change: He wanted to work more; he wanted a career, but he was limited by our state's restrictions on HWD. He couldn't risk losing his Medicaid coverage.

He went on to meet his legislator, and convince her of the importance of his cause. That led to another legislator taking up the issue and introducing a bill to address it. Joey kept up his advocacy, traveling to Olympia several times to support and to lend a face and voice to the cause.

To the joy of many adults in Joey's shoes, HB 1199 passed. When she first heard the bill in committee, the chair of the Senate Ways and Means spontaneously called it a great bill. We agree, and we thank Joey for pushing the issue and sticking with it.