Washington, like all states, has a unique early childhood policy landscape that is shaped by economics, demographics, political history, coalitions, and other factors that create a state-specific environment for policy advocacy.
State early childhood policy progress is dependent both on the state’s environment and the numerous efforts—by the organizations listed on this page, other organizations, parents, policymakers, practitioners, and more—who work both independently and collaboratively to achieve wins for young children.
Research shows that family economic security is foundational to children’s overall wellbeing. Research also shows that widespread disparities in opportunity (especially by race) drive wide disparities in outcomes. States with policies that offer strong support to young children and their families are more likely to see 1) declining numbers of children in low-income households and 2) low racial disparity among those children.
Young Children in Low-Income Households: Declining
Approximately 29% (222,000) of the state’s children 0-8 live in households below 200% FPL (2022). This number represents a decrease from 33% (271,000) in 2017.1
Racial Disparity Among Young Children Living in Low-Income Households: High
Black, Hispanic/Latino, and/or Native children aged 0-8 are significantly more likely to be living in households below 200% FPL than are Asian and non-Hispanic White children.2
State General Fund Appropriations: Growing
In 2023, Washington enacted a biennial budget for fiscal 2024-2025, and in March 2024 enacted a supplemental operating budget that provides for two-year total fund spending of $140.9 billion, and general fund spending (subject to outlook) of $71.9 billion. This includes supplemental changes of $7.3 billion in additional total budgeted funds and $2.1 billion in additional near-general funds. The supplemental budget is based on a February 2024 baseline revenue forecast for the biennium of $67.0 billion, including general fund-state, Education Legacy Trust Account, Washington Opportunity Pathways Account, Workforce Education Investment Account, and Fair Start for Kids Account. Revenues for fiscal 2025 are estimated at $34.1 billion, a 3.5 percent increase from the fiscal 2024 estimate. As of the February forecast, the state was projecting an ending balance at the end of the biennium of $3.74 billion. Additionally, after transfers, the state projected a Budget Stabilization Account ending balance of $1.35 billion and a Washington Rescue Plan Transition Account of $798 million, resulting in projected total balances (before supplemental budget changes) of $5.88 billion.3
Key Revenue Sources (after federal transfers):4
Charges are public payments connected with a specific government service, such as tuition paid to a state university, payments to a public hospital, or highway tolls.
State Budget Rules:4
Washington uses a biennial budget. The legislature must pass a balanced budget, but it can carry a deficit over into the following year. Washington further limits spending growth with a budget rule based on inflation and population growth. The rule is binding and requires a legislative supermajority to override it. Washington also limits total authorized debt incurred by the state but does not limit debt service.
Political Alignment: Aligned
During the 2024 session, the state’s Senate and House were both Democrat controlled. The state’s Governor was also a Democrat.5
Washington has a capital gains tax dedicated to early childhood — a 7-percent tax on profits of more than $250,000 that result from the sale of stocks and bonds, excluding revenue from real estate and retirement accounts, among other exceptions. The tax raises hundreds of millions of dollars for crucial early childhood programs through 2021’s Fair Start for Kids Act (FSK).
Types of Ballot Measures Available:5 Five
Early Childhood Policy Advocacy Organizations Include:
Early Childhood Policy Advocacy Multi-State Initiatives Include:6
Highlights from the state’s early childhood policy advocacy community include:7
HB 1945 was a major win for advocates during the 2024 session. As of November 1, 2024, a child who meets the age requirements for our state-funded/public child care will be eligible for this care if they are part of a family that is eligible for or receiving state (Basic Food) or federal (SNAP) food assistance. Until August 1, 2030, a child who is eligible for state-funded child care solely because they are eligible for or receiving state food assistance may enroll in the program subject to program slots being available. After August 1, 2023, a child who is eligible for or receiving state food assistance is categorically eligible for, and entitled to, a spot in the state-funded child care program. In other words, there must be sufficient capacity to support all children who qualify. Beginning November 1, 2024, families qualify for subsidized child care through the state if they are eligible for or receiving state or federal food assistance. This bill reduces the need for families to navigate yet another tedious administrative process and potentially miss out on access to programs for which they qualify.
HB 2124 qualifies families participating in Birth-To-Three Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (Early ECEAP) and Early Head Start to access Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) when they meet other requirements. It also extends WCCC eligibility for all employees of licensed or certified child care providers, and child care providers who work in ECEAP and Early ECEAP, Head Start and Early Head Start, which helps providers afford to enroll their own children in high-quality early learning
HB 1916 adjusts the way monthly services are counted for Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT). ESIT is a program that helps very young children achieve healthy development by identifying early support needs and providing customized intervention. The first month of services sets an important foundation for early intervention success, and this bill incorporates that effort into funding formulas
SB 5774 increases the number of locations available for prospective child care providers to complete their background checks by offering fingerprinting at a minimum of seven Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) offices. When candidates must travel long distances to complete their background checks, it can delay or even prevent caring staff from serving children and families in early learning classrooms.
SB 5950, the state’s enacted supplemental budget bill, requires the state Medicaid program to cover doula services. In January 2025, the total reimbursement rate for doula services will be up to $3,500—the highest in the nation. The bill also allocates funding to support effective policy implementation through a doula hub, which is an organization tasked with identifying ways to increase access to doula services, provide workforce development and support, and assist with Medicaid billing processes.
Our grantee in the state of Washington, Children’s Alliance, is a multi-issue advocacy organization working to place racial justice at the heart of Washington’s laws and budget priorities. Children’s Alliance leads the Early Learning Action Alliance (ELAA), a coalition of 50 organizations representing a diverse array of Washington nonprofits, professional associations, businesses, and industries. ELAA is united by the belief that all children in Washington state deserve to have the opportunities and support they need in their first five years of life to be prepared for school and a bright future.
Children’s Alliance is working to advance early childhood policies in several areas that align with the Alliance’s birth-through-eight policy framework:
Child Care
Child Care Workforce
Preschool and Pre-K
Maternal Health
Infant & Child Health
Home Visiting
Family Economic Security
Financing
Click here for more information on advocates’ policy agenda.
The Washington Supreme Court ruled on March 25, 2023, that the state’s new capital gains tax is constitutional—a decision that upholds a powerful new revenue stream that is expected to raise hundreds of millions of dollars for crucial early childhood programs through the state’s recently enacted Fair Start for Kids Act.
NOTES:
1 Kids Count Data Center, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Children Ages 0 to 8 Below 200 Percent Poverty, January, 2024.
2 National Center for Children in Poverty, Children Ages 0 to 8 Below 200 Percent Poverty, March 2023, NCCP analysis of ACS 1-Year Estimates – Public Use Microdata Sample 2021.
3 National Association of State Budget Officers, Proposed and Enacted Budgets, FY 2025.
4 Urban Institute, State Fiscal Briefs, June 2024.
5 National Conference of State Legislatures, 2024 State & Legislative Partisan Composition, April 29, 2024.
6 Ballotpedia, Ballot Measures by State, Kids Count Data Center, retrieved July, 2024.
7 Alliance for Early Success, Multi-State Initiatives for Early Childhood Policy Advocacy, July, 2024.
8 Alliance for Early Success, State-Wide Advocacy Highlights Survey, April-October, 2024; and 2024 Prenatal-to-3 Legislative Highlights, Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center, July, 2024.
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© 2024 Alliance for Early Success
The Alliance for Early Success does not endorse or advocate for specific legislation or candidates.
