OSPI Early Learning works closely with the Washington State Department of Early Learning and private partners Thrive by Five Washington and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to align educational opportunities for young children from birth through 3rd grade throughout our public school system.

State-Funded Full-Day Kindergarten
Currently, 200+ Washington schools are funded for full-day kindergarten.

WaKIDS—Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills
WaKIDS is a partnership paid for with state, federal and private funding, mandated for state-funded full-day kindergarten programs in the 2012-13 school year.

Full-Day Kindergarten Symposium and Starting Strong P-3 Institute
In August 2013, the Kindergarten Symposium (Aug. 5) and the Starting Strong P-3 Institute (Aug. 6-7) bring together early learning professionals and K-12 educators for discussions about innovation and alignment between systems.

Early Learning and Development Guidelines: Birth Through 3rd Grade
Released in 2012, these guidelines describe behaviors and skills that children may demonstrate birth through grade 3, and how you as a parent or early learning professional can support their healthy development.

Washington State Early Learning Plan
The Early Learning Plan is our state’s roadmap for building an early learning system.