FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Suzanne Arnold, [email protected], (609) 610-4957 (M)

Washington, D.C. (April 9, 2021) – Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) applauds the Washington State Legislature for passing the historic Fair Start for Kids Act with a bipartisan vote last night. This robust early care and education legislation will now make high-quality child care, preschool, and infant and toddler programs more accessible and affordable for thousands of Washington families. It will also provide much-needed assistance for early learning professionals. 

“While Washington State has long had high-quality early care and education programs, many Washington families face several barriers to access such as high costs, and limited availability. This has disproportionately impacted Black and Indigenous children, children of color, and children from low-income families and rural communities, resulting in thousands of children growing up without the early learning opportunities needed to thrive,” said Jessica Galvez, SCAN Washington State Manger. “But, now, with the Fair Starts for Kids Act, more children will have access to vital early learning and care programs, offering a more hopeful future to not only more Washingtonians, but also Washington as a state.”

Research overwhelmingly shows that quality early learning lays a strong foundation for a child’s cognitive, physical, and socioemotional development. Children who benefit from birth-to-five programs are more likely to enter kindergarten ready to learn, graduate high school and earn higher incomes throughout their future careers.

“Today’s passage of the Fair Start for Kids Act begins a new chapter for thousands of Washington families, which wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of SCAN’s 11,000-strong network of grassroots advocates in Washington,” continued Galvez. “Today’s victory is a testament to the power of grassroots advocacy.”

Over the last four months, SCAN advocates wrote letters to the editor, sent postcards to policymakers, engaged with every member of the Washington State Legislature, submitted testimonials to committee hearings and met with local lawmakers in support of this legislation. Moving forward, SCAN will work with our partners to continue to advocate for Washington’s kids and families, ensuring each and every Washington child has the opportunity to thrive.

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Save the Children Action Network was created in 2014 as the political advocacy arm of Save the Children, to be the political voice for kids. We work to ensure that the issues critical to children’s lives and futures are given top priority by our elected leaders, building bipartisan support to make sure every child has a strong start in life. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.