OLYMPIA – In recognition of his commitment to expanding access to and improving the quality of early learning programs for Washington’s children, Sen. Andy Billig, D- Spokane, has been chosen to receive the Early Learning Action Alliance’s Crayon Award.
“We know that cultivating and sustaining high quality early learning programs is an investment that pays off,” said Billig. “Regardless of your economic background, early learning better prepares our kids for school and allows them to develop the tools that lead to a bright future. Early learning is a path out of poverty.”
During the 2016 legislative session, Billig sponsored legislation that will improve accountability and effectiveness in providing services for infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities. This followed the 2015 session that saw the passage of the Early Start Act which was co-sponsored and championed by Billig.
“The first five years of a child’s life are so important for their development,” said Billig. “Robust early learning environments and opportunities have the capacity to change the trajectory of a child’s life in such a positive way.”
Billig, the Senate’s deputy minority leader, serves on the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee and is a board member for Thrive Washington, a non-profit public-private partnership that assists the state in developing a high-quality early learning system.
The Early Learning Action Alliance is a broad coalition of organizations representing a diverse array of nonprofits, professional associations and businesses united by the belief that all children deserve access to high quality early learning opportunities in their first five years of life.
