Thrive by Five - The Washington Early Learning Fund En Español
A public-private partnership working to help ensure that all Washington children succeed in school and life
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Today we know more than ever about how the first five years shape a child's life...

ost educational, economic, and neurological experts now agree that the first five years lay the groundwork for children's emotional, social, language, cognitive, and physical development—all critical elements for school readiness and life success.

In Washington State, less than half of all children begin kindergarten with the skills necessary to succeed in school, and just 25 percent of the lowest-income students are considered ready. In recent years we have learned that school readiness, as well as long-term life success, is dependent on the child’s learning environment during the first few years of his or her life. Children need positive early learning opportunities during this time because they are growing faster – in every way – than they will at any other time in their life.

Help us change the course for the next generation of Washington state children. Join us in our statewide partnership with parents, communities, philanthropic organizations, businesses and government to develop a sustainable system for statewide, early learning improvement.

Thrive by Five Washington champions positive early learning opportunities for every child, from birth to age five, so that they are ready to succeed in school and thrive in life. Thrive by Five partners with parents, early learning professionals, communities, philanthropic organizations, businesses and government to develop a sustainable system for statewide early learning improvement—strengthening families and ensuring that all children in Washington experience positive, early learning environments.

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NEWS
Thrive by Five and the Gates Foundation announce $5 million in first-round funding for Ready by Five–a community partnership that will significantly expand early learning services in East Yakima:

Click here to read the current edition of Thrive by Five's eNewsletter   

Read the briefing on a comprehensive opinion research program sponsored by Thrive by Five during summer and fall 2007 to gauge the perceptions of parents and child care providers across Washington state on child care, early learning and school readiness:

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Thrive by Five Washington is working hard to help enhance parent education and support, child care, preschool, and other early learning environments throughout Washington state. We are a new and growing organization dedicated to excellence and innovation in the supports that help young children's development. Kids who start school behind have a hard time catching up. And helping these kids is costly for schools and communities. Thrive by Five Washington is working to close this "preparation gap" so that all children in Washington get a strong start. Parents, families, child care providers, policymakers, educators, and businesses can help build sustained support for high-quality early learning in Washington state.
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Thrive by 5THRIVE BY FIVE is a trademark of Credit Union National Association, Inc. ("CUNA") and is used by Washington Early Learning Fund ("WELF") under license from CUNA. CUNA's Thrive by 5 Program provides materials for financial education to preschool-age children and their families and is not affiliated with WELF.

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