Signing of Early Learning Legislation (As Written)

March 28, 2006

Governor Gregoire: We�re gathered this morning to both sign and celebrate the enactment of 2SHB 2964. This bill creates a new cabinet-level agency, the Department of Early Learning.

Currently, our early learning programs are scattered throughout a number of state agencies. This new Department will consolidate and integrate these programs to strengthen early learning in Washington.

Parents are a child's first and best teacher - when they need help, we will help them; only 50% of Washington children are ready for Kindergarten�that�s unacceptable. We want all children prepared for school and for life.

I know we have some childcare providers with us today. I want to thank each of you for your dedication and hard work offering a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment for our young children.

As a working mom, I had to search out a credible childcare provider. I didn�t know where to look or turn at first. When I finally found one, I was amazed at the level of professionalism and care. The Gregoire family was blessed.

A lot of people have worked for many years to get us here today: they include Rep. Ruth Kagi, prime sponsor in the House; Sen. Jeanne Kohl Welles, prime sponsor in the Senate; Sen. Gigi Talcott, Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, Rep. Jan Shabro and so many others who have worked on this bill.

There�s such a thing as �first among equals,� and so I want to take a minute to single out Rep. Ruth Kagi. Ruth has worked this issue for years and sponsored HB 1152, creating the Early Learning Council. The Early Learning Council became the early learning advisory group for Washington Learns.

A key strategy for improving early learning opportunities is our new private-public partnership, The Thrive By Five Partnership.

Ten partners signed an initial Memorandum of Understanding in January�and the promise of a centralized, cabinet-level department was a critical factor.

The partnership has moved ahead in preparation for its work with the new Department of Early Learning.

The ten founding partners are: the Ackerley Foundation, Boeing Company, Foundation for Early Learning, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Clear Channel Radio Seattle, the Kirlin Foundation, Lockheed Martin Information Technology, Social Venture Partners, Talaris Research Institute, and the State of Washington.

Since January, five new business and philanthropic organizations have been participating. They are: the Russell Company, Annie E Casey Foundation, Paul G. Allen Foundation, the Buffet Foundation and the Medina Foundation.

The Early Learning Council is a very special leadership team that brought us the recommendation for a new department. Some of the Council members are here today (raise hands); and a very special thanks to the Council's Co-chair, Bob Watt of Boeing, for his commitment to early learning.

I want to thank our current agency staff members who are going to make up this new Department of Early Learning. Change can be difficult and scary, and we have a transition team in place to make sure that we do this right. The success of the new Department of Early Learning revolves around bringing everyone together to create a new vision for early learning�and build upon the successes you have achieved in your current agencies.

We have worked together, in a bipartisan way, to create the opportunity to provide leadership in early learning. I appreciate your work, and I admire your tenacity. We are creating a better world for our young children.


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