44%

of children under five do not participate in an early learning or care program in our region.

Our Goal

To provide age-appropriate, affordable, high-quality care for all children ages 0-5 in Walla Walla and Columbia Counties, WA and Milton-Freewater, OR.

Why It Matters

Early childhood experiences play a pivotal role in determining a child's long-term health and behavior, underscoring the significance of nurturing and high-quality experiences. Unfortunately, in our region, a staggering 44% of children do not have access to early learning or care programs. As a result, 54% of children begin school with vulnerabilities in crucial areas essential for their healthy development. Extensive research indicates that children who start kindergarten behind their peers tend to continue lagging throughout their educational journey, emphasizing the critical importance of addressing these disparities early on.

Early Learning Report

Early Learning Report - outline

Appendix A_Early Care and Learning Ecosystem

Appendix B_ Cost and Gap Analysis

Appendix C_Grants

Appendix D_Subsidies

Appendix E_Legislative Asks and Public Local Dedicated Funds

Appendix F_Community Foundations and Private Dedicated Funds

Appendix G_Other Funding Strategies

Appendix H_Methodology

Appendix I_The A-Zs of Creating a Voter-Approved Children’s Fund