Q: Why is Early Learning no longer part of the Pacific Northwest initiative?

A: The foundation made organizational changes in April 2006 to maximize our impact on our focus issues. Early Learning is now part of the larger Education initiative, which allows us to better align our overall strategy for education investments in Washington state. Our Pacific Northwest initiative continues to invest in regional non-profit organizations serving at-risk families and children.

Q: How does the foundation's early learning strategy differ from Thrive by Five's?

A: Our early learning investments complement Thrive by Five Washington grants. Sometimes our investments will be aligned to support specific projects, including new programs being developed in White Center and Yakima. Both the foundation and Thrive by Five Washington will make grants to support high-quality early learning throughout Washington, but our review process and grant-making decisions will remain separate.

Q: How were the Yakima and White Center demonstration communities selected?

A: We chose Yakima in rural eastern Washington and South King County's urban White Center neighborhood after careful consideration and extensive community consultation. Both communities possess the right mix of strong infrastructure and public support that is needed to create dynamic, community-driven partnerships and to expand existing high-quality early learning programs. We believe both communities can build successful early learning choices and programs for all families of young children.

Q: How will the foundation evaluate the progress of its early learning strategy?

A: One reason we are investing heavily in White Center and Yakima is to better understand what programs work best for young children and families. Only then will we be able to share best practices with other public and private funders and to expand and extend similar grants to Washington state as a whole. We are partnering with Mathematica, a national leader in evaluating early learning investments, to develop a rigorous and culturally relevant evaluation in both communities.

Q: What are the foundation's early learning grantmaking priorities in communities outside of White Center and Yakima?

A: Our grantmaking will focus on four priorities for early learning in Washington state:

• Demonstration communities in White Center and Yakima
• Promising early learning models in other parts of the state
• Efforts to boost our state's early learning infrastructure
• Community and parenting education

Examples may include the development of a Quality Rating and Improvement System, assisting the state in creating early learning standards and accountability systems, and other community outreach programs. Our staff will identify potential grantees that support parents and provide families with opportunities for high-quality early learning. We are interested in supporting evidence-based and replicable programs so that more of our state's children begin kindergarten prepared to succeed.