Over the next 10 years, the foundation will partner with other public and private entities—primarily through Thrive by Five: The Washington Early Learning Fund—to help all Washington families access affordable, quality early learning for their children. We will begin with concentrated investments in two geographically and demographically diverse communities, Yakima and White Center. Then we will work to expand quality early learning with statewide investments.

The Challenge
Research confirms what concerned parents, educators, and social workers know from firsthand experience: Many children begin life with measurable indicators of overwhelming socioeconomic disadvantage, or "risk factors." In Washington state, 23 percent of all children age 0 to 5—more than 109,000 statewide—are born with two or more of these risk factors. The most prevalent risk factor is poverty.

Without successful interventions involving parents and caregivers, by kindergarten many of these children are in danger of falling behind other children in their social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development.

Fully 75 percent of the children in Washington's lowest-income classrooms are not school-ready, according to an assessment of kindergarten-readiness conducted by Washington State University and the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. The farther behind children are when they enter kindergarten, the lower the likelihood they will grow up to be successful young adults. The result is an enormous loss of human potential and a high cost to taxpayers.

The Hope
Today we understand better than ever how the first five years shape a child's life. Economic, education, public health, and neuroscience research clearly point to the need for increased public investment in quality early learning to prevent serious negative outcomes, such as homelessness, poverty, and incarceration. Likewise, early learning leads to positive benefits earlier in life, including higher education levels and academic achievement.

Quality early learning offers the greatest assurance that Washington children are given the opportunity to succeed. Two critical components are setting high standards and supporting childcare and pre-kindergarten programs.

Over the next 10 years, we will partner with other public and private entities to help all Washington families access affordable, quality early learning for their children.

We are optimistic about the growing early learning effort in Washington state—led by Gov. Christine Gregoire's Washington Learns initiative, businesses, private foundations, service providers, and others—to close the school-readiness gap. With increased collaboration, commitment, and investment we believe Washington state will be a leader in ensuring all children have the opportunity, from birth, to be successful in school and life.