Read first time 04/09/13.   Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

     AN ACT Relating to high quality early learning; reenacting and amending RCW 43.215.405; adding new sections to chapter 43.215 RCW; creating new sections; recodifying RCW 43.215.141, 43.215.142, and 43.215.143; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that high quality early learning opportunities are an important factor in lifelong success. The legislature is committed to expanding high quality evidence-based early learning opportunities in order to improve educational outcomes. The legislature further finds that moving toward effective and research-based practices are critical in achieving educational and societal outcomes from early learning investments. The legislature intends to continue improvements in early learning through ongoing evaluation, application of emerging research, and enhanced quality assurance. It is the intent of the legislature that additional investments in early learning will be based on current information regarding the most efficient, research-based, and cost-effective investments.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) During the 2013-2015 biennium, the department of early learning shall increase enrollments in the early learning program established in RCW 43.215.400 by ten percent from the 2011-2013 biennium enrollments, subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose. Rates paid for early learning program enrollments must also be increased by ten percent from the 2011-2013 biennium during the 2013-2015 biennium, subject to availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose. The department of early learning shall continue to review and evaluate the contracts used to provide the early learning program to ensure the contractors are operating research-based programs in a cost-effective manner.
     (2) The department of early learning, along with the office of financial management, shall develop an implementation plan for expanding the early learning program established in RCW 43.215.400, which will include, at a minimum, the number of new enrollments to be requested for each year, a detailed proposal for recruiting the necessary contractors, and an oversight and evaluation design. The department of early learning must deliver this implementation plan to the appropriate committees of the legislature by September 30, 2013.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) During the 2013-2015 biennium, the Washington state institute for public policy shall conduct a comprehensive retrospective outcome evaluation and return on investment analysis of the early childhood program established in RCW 43.215.400. To the extent possible based on data availability, the evaluation must:
     (a) Assess both short-term and long-term outcomes for participants in the program, including educational and social outcomes;
     (b) Examine the impact of variables including, but not limited to, program fiscal support, staff salaries, staff retention, education level of staff, full-day programming, half-day programming, and classroom size on short-term and long-term outcomes for program participants;
     (c) Report findings from a review of the research evidence on components of successful early education program strategies;
     (d) Examine characteristics of parents participating in the early childhood and education assistance program; and
     (e) Examine family support services provided through early childhood programs.
     (2) The institute shall submit a report to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 15, 2014.
     (3) This section expires on December 31, 2014.

Sec. 4   RCW 43.215.405 and 2010 c 231 s 7 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 43.215.400 through 43.215.450, 43.215.141 (as recodified by this act), 43.215.142 (as recodified by this act), 43.215.143 (as recodified by this act), and 43.215.900 through 43.215.903.
     (1) "Advisory committee" means the advisory committee under RCW 43.215.420.
     (2) "Approved programs" means those state-supported education and special assistance programs which are recognized by the department as meeting the minimum program rules adopted by the department to qualify under RCW 43.215.400 through 43.215.450 and 43.215.900 through 43.215.903 and are designated as eligible for funding by the department under RCW 43.215.430 and 43.215.440.
     (3) "Comprehensive" means an assistance program that focuses on the needs of the child and includes education, health, and family support services.
     (4) "Department" means the department of early learning.
     (5) "Eligible child" means a child not eligible for kindergarten whose family income is at or below one hundred ten percent of the federal poverty level, as published annually by the federal department of health and human services, and includes a child whose family is eligible for public assistance, and who is not a participant in a federal or state program providing comprehensive services; a child eligible for special education due to disability under RCW 28A.155.020; and may include children who are eligible under rules adopted by the department if the number of such children equals not more than ten percent of the total enrollment in the early childhood program. Priority for enrollment shall be given to children from families with the lowest income, children in foster care, or to eligible children from families with multiple needs.
     (6) "Family support services" means providing opportunities for parents to:
     (a) Actively participate in their child's early childhood program;
     (b) Increase their knowledge of child development and parenting skills;
     (c) Further their education and training;
     (d) Increase their ability to use needed services in the community;
     (e) Increase their self-reliance.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   RCW 43.215.141, 43.215.142, and 43.215.143 are each recodified as sections under the subchapter heading "early childhood education and assistance program" in chapter 43.215 RCW.