The 2025 Washington Legislative Session is just a few short weeks away. This means that our state’s senators and representatives (legislators) will come together for 105 days in Olympia starting on January 13 to update and create state laws and decide on a budget that will guide the state’s work for the next two years. At BrightSpark Early Learning Services, we are working hard to make sure the early learning community is ready to mobilize and advocate.
Right now, Washington state is facing a big budget shortfall. Governor Inslee’s recently released budget proposal speaks to the shortfall. Written with an assumption that his revenue proposal is approved by the Legislature, the budget proposes the following new or reduced investments for early learning and child care:
- $510 million to increase Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) provider subsidy base rate to the 85th percentile based on the 2024 Market Rate Survey.
- $66 million to comply with the new federal Child Care Development Fund rules, which align subsidy child care with the private market (required to maintain access to federal funds).
- $50 million to increase the Early Learning Facilities (ELF) Fund along with $8.63 million to support school district early learning facilities.
- $48 million to increase Early Childhood Education Assistance Program (ECEAP) school day slots by 18% in 2025 plus an additional 750 slots in 2026.
- $4.8 million for eligible family outreach.
The hardest news to receive includes the proposal to delay WCCC the family income eligibility increase (from 60% to 75% of the State Median Income (SMI)) until 2031. BrightSpark Early Learning Services joined other early learning organizations to send this response letter sharing our thoughts.
Despite these challenges, we are even more focused on ensuring that our community is organized, mobilized, and ready to advocate for the changes we so desperately need! As such, we’d like to ask that you:
- Consider a donation to support our critical work. Your donation is needed now more than ever, and it will allow us to work towards building the advocates of tomorrow while shortening the distance between our elected officials and the communities they serve.
- Engage with us in an ongoing manner during the legislative session, share your perspective where you can, and encourage your friends and colleagues to join BrightSpark’s Advocacy Pods and RSVP for our Capitol Connections & Education Day on February 11, 2025.
BrightSpark’s 2025 State Legislative Priorities
This session, BrightSpark’s advocacy will focus on these key priorities:
- Maintain their commitments to funding the Fair Start for Kids Act
- Adopt the Cost of Quality Care Rate Model to replace the Market Rate Survey (MRS)
- Address Early Learning System and Facilities Needs
These priorities were determined with input from child care providers, families, and BrightSpark staff and board members. Even in the midst of a massive budget shortfall, we still believe it is important to ask for what we need. It’s important to note that we consider our legislative priorities as a living document, meaning we may make changes to our specific asks throughout the upcoming session. We plan to release more information, including talking points and resources, soon!
Post-Election Debrief
With Washington state’s election results finalized, here are some updates important to early learning:
- Funding Initiatives: Initiative 2109 was DEFEATED! This is good news! This is great news because the Capital Gains Tax will stay in place, continuing to fund early learning and education.
- State Legislature: Laurie Jinkins (Tacoma) will remain Speaker of the House and Jamie Pedersen (Seattle) will be the new Senate Majority Leader. This is important because legislative leadership will be representative of the two counties we represent. Across these counties, we have 5 new legislators and one who changed positions, meaning we have new relationships to build.
- Statewide Elected Officials: Bob Ferguson is Governor-elect. His campaign platform included early learning and child care. He will appoint a new leader for the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) since Ross Hunger is not seeking reappointment. BrightSpark joined the Early Learning Action Alliance (ELAA) in sending this letter recommending criteria for the new leader.
Mobilization Corner: Sign up for BrightSpark’s Advocacy Pods!
What are Advocacy Pods? The Advocacy Pods are groups of community members who are interested in developing their knowledge and skills to influence change for their communities. Advocates connect with your elected officials and speak up for community-led solutions.
Who can participate? BrightSpark’s Advocacy Pods are for everyone; and that means you! Advocacy Pods are made up with individuals who live in the same legislative district and want to make change in the early learning system. Each Pod will have an opportunity to meet virtually with their state senators and representatives lawmakers to discuss challenges and solutions in the early learning sector.
What else should I know about Advocacy Pods? Pod members are now able to benefit from our new statewide Advocacy Pod Network. The network and its monthly meetings are open to all Advocacy Pod members and will foster relationships to ensure early learning policy is guided by our community. The next network meeting will occur on December 12 and will be focused on preparing for and engaging in the legislative session. All Advocacy Pod members will receive the invitation to the December 12 Network meeting.
Interested? Sign up for an Advocacy Pod today!
Child Care for Washington Campaign Updates
The Child Care for Washington Campaign recently released its 2025 priorities and overall policy platform. This is the campaign’s long-term vision for how Washington can build on the major progress of recent years to address the child care crisis. Our campaign cohorts, comprised of parents and families from across our region, are actively preparing for the upcoming legislative session with these points in mind.
What’s Up Next?
The 2025 Washington State Legislative Session starts on Monday, January 13, 2025. During that time, we will release more frequent Capitol Courier updates plus action alerts for items that need urgent response. Additionally, we hope you will follow along with progress during the session through our BrightSpark Bill Tracker.
Get in touch!
Don’t hesitate to contact us at advocacy@childcare.org if you have any questions or want to get involved.
Did you know that Brightspark’s advocacy work is almost entirely funded by donors? Help us continue to organize, mobilize, and advocate for a more equitable early learning system by supporting our Bloom Together Fundraiser today!