Early Learning | Introduction
Children with access to high-quality early learning and care (from birth to five years of age) do better in school, are more likely to graduate from high school and go on to college, and are less likely to commit crime.
Experience and evidence both highlight the importance of these early years to for a child’s emotional, social and cognitive development. The quality of these early experiences is directly related to future social and academic success.
EOI develops public policy to support expansion of high-quality early learning programs that will benefit all children in Washington, providing a foundation for academic success in school, economic security, and taxpayer savings.
We're focused on making preschool universally available to all four-year-olds, and full-day kindergarten universally available to all five-year-olds, in Washington State.
To increase accessibility, affordability, and quality of early learning programs, the Economic Opportunity Institute developed the policy behind the Washington State Early Childhood Education Career and Wage Ladder.
The Career and Wage Ladder links teacher wages to their education and experience. The state has implemented the program in 125 early learning centers, benefiting more than 15,000 children and their teachers.