Champion for Children Award
Rep. Ruth Kagi recognized for her significant leadership role in passage of the Early Start Act
Seattle – The Children’s Alliance has named Representative Ruth Kagi (D-Seattle) as a 2015 “Champion for Children.” This award recognizes Rep. Kagi for her leadership in shaping and passing the Early Start Act. As the chair of the House Early Learning and Human Services committee and as a member of the House Appropriations committee, Rep. Kagi was able to bring together advocates, legislators, and staff in the Governor’s office to craft the Early Start Act and get it passed and funded.
“I am honored to be chosen as a Champion for Children by the Children’s Alliance,” said Kagi. “We know that half of Washington’s children show up to kindergarten unprepared. They are behind before they even start, and most never catch up,” continued Kagi. “Reaching children early in their lives through quality early learning has a profound impact on their future chances of success.”
“Quality early learning is the best investment we can make in our youngest Washingtonians and in the future of our state,” said Kagi. “I couldn’t be prouder of the accomplishments we made with the passage of the Early Start Act.”
The Early Start Act puts the state’s quality rating and improvement system, Early Achievers, into law. The Early Achievers program implements quality standards and provides scholarships, coaching, funding and other supports for providers to improve quality. For the first time, parents will be able to get reliable information on the quality of early learning programs in their community.