The Washington Department of Early Learning (DEL) has published the Early Learning and Development Guidelines (guidelines) for children from birth through third grade. The guidelines replace the Early Learning and Development Benchmarks, which were first created in 2005 to outline what children know and are able to do at different stages of their development. DEL, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and Thrive by Five Washington led the recent revision of the guidelines in close partnership with a 51-member work group that included statewide representatives from Head Start, the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP), parents, Tribes, child care providers, special needs experts, K-12 staff and our state's ethnic commissions. The guidelines are a resource for child care providers and families to help recognize what children ages birth through third grade should be doing and learning at different stages of their development. The guidelines have pages for each age group to use as a quick reference and are written in a clear, easy-to-understand way.

• View the guidelines: http://www.del.wa.gov/development/guidelines/default.aspx
• Read the press release: http://www.del.wa.gov/resources/newsroom/032012.aspx
• View DEL’s blog post about the guidelines: http://delconnect.blogspot.com/
• Read Thrive by Five Washington’s blog post about the guidelines: http://t.co/dl9s5bbP

Child care center rules comment period extended until April 30 DEL has extended the comment period for input on existing child care center WAC 170-295.  We are asking for your input on the current rules and suggestions for changes. Read more at:  http://www.del.wa.gov/laws/development/center.aspx     The DEL Communications Team Kids’ Potential, Our Purpose