The Early Learning Action Alliance retreat took place Monday, September 17th through Tuesday, September 18th at Cedarbrook Lodge in SeaTac.
The Early Learning Action Alliance (ELAA) collaboratively convenes a range of nonprofits which all support children ages 0-5 years of age. These nonprofits work on behalf of many distinct issues including, but not limited to, mental health, after-school care, home visiting, childcare and family home education, and racial equity.
WFIS is an ELAA member to ensure that the issues which face private K12 programs and students are recognized within the broader conversations about how best to support youth and families. The decision-making personnel of nonprofits, legislators and the Department of Children, Youth and Families need to always consider the programs that currently exist. WFIS is at the table to consistently convey private, K12, mission-based programs have a unique place in the discussions on high quality, equity, diversity, teacher credentialing, and all of the other topics ELAA covers in Olympia.
At the retreat, the members discussed the upcoming legislative session. The alliance members began to create a legislative agenda that will guide the work done together to move early learning education and connected issues to the forefront of the minds of legislators as they make determinations on the state budget, the regulations that guide the early learning providers, and the formation of agencies.
The retreat included a Legislative Luncheon where early learning proponents Representatives Kristine Reeves, Ruth Kagi, Noel Frame, Tana Senn, Carolyn Eslick and Senators Lisa Wellman, Rebecca Saldaña, and Sam Hunt attended and spoke about why they pay attention and care about the issues affecting young children.
