BrightSpark Early Learning Services

Today is Indigenous People's Day! Take time to learn about, honor, and celebrate the people, culture, and stories native to North America.

BrightSpark Early Learning Services will also be closed today as we commemorate . Normal business hours will resume on Tuesday, October 13.

Meet Bhavini.

⭐She cares for 10 children in her home.
⭐She teaches. She cooks. She manages a business.
⭐And she advocates for the future of early learning.

Over the next few months, we're sharing Bhavini's story and exploring what can happen when people doing the work have opportunities to shape the systems around them.

Every voice creates a ripple.

You can read Bhavini's story here: https://bit.ly/4B2n6vQ

Help us continue to support providers by donating today: https://bit.ly/4rTHWJB

Are you registered to vote in Washington? If not, don't worry - there's still time!

You can register to vote or update your registration here: https://olvr.votewa.gov/OLVR2024/landing.aspx.

You can also register by mail before October 26, 2026, or day-of in-person at your local County Elections Office.

Get registered, grab your friends, and make a plan to vote!

Your voice is a powerful tool for change. Join an Advocacy Pod today!

BrightSpark’s Advocacy Pods are a place to learn about and connect with district legislators at the state, county, and local levels, as well as with fellow advocates, to share and support the needs of children in our communities.

Our Advocacy Team will provide information, resources, and training to make it easier to know what is happening and how you can be a part of the decision-making process at all levels. Bring your knowledge and experiences - let's make community-based change together!

Sign up here: https://ow.ly/abxq50ZaInR

Today is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day). This day recognizes the cruelty and generational effects of the Indian residential school system.

Wearing an orange shirt is a way to recognize those who went to these schools, to honor them, and show commitment to ensure that Every Child Matters.

Earn your STARS!

Join this quarter's professional development opportunities! Registration is still open for a variety of classes.

For more information, click here: https://ow.ly/jJw450WQ3VJ

Take Action to Preserve the National Head Start and Early Head Start Program by September 30!!

The current federal administration released a series of proposed negative changes to the national Head Start and Early Head Start program, and we need you to TAKE ACTION to keep them from going into effect.

These changes would:

⭐ drastically reduce funding for the program
⭐remove research-based best practices for supporting children’s school readiness
⭐eliminate families’ access to health screenings and services provided by the program,
⭐reduce parental oversight of the program, and
⭐so much more.

You can help stop these proposed changes from taking effect! Take action today by submitting a public comment about how Head Start/Early Head Start has made a difference in your lives or in the lives of those in your community.

To submit a comment, click here: https://bit.ly/ehs-comment

The Seattle Department of Education & Early Learning and BrightSpark Early Learning Services are partnering to distribute up to $2.5 million in Seattle Childcare Workforce Payments funded by the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise levy. This funding is awarded to childcare providers to supplement wages for childcare workers to support staff retention for our critical, yet underpaid, childcare workforce.

To check eligibility and to apply, click here: https://ow.ly/OaBG50ZL2e0



Please note, this post is translated in six different languages.

Our King County Early Learning Coalition consultant, Tristen, was recently featured on the podcast Weaving Our Future: Stories for a Fair Economy by A City Cast Partner Studios Series! This episode is titled "What It Takes to Raise a Kid in King County Right Now" and you can listen to it on apple podcasts! https://ow.ly/wm3N50ZRSSp

Every day, child care providers make hundreds of decisions that shape how children learn, grow, and feel in the world. But providers shouldn't have to do that work alone.

They need opportunities to learn. They need people to learn alongside. They need resources to keep growing.

BrightSpark helps provide that support. And you help make it possible.

A gift to BrightSpark helps sustain the training, coaching, learning communities, and resources providers can count on throughout the year. Give today to help more providers—and more children—thrive: https://bit.ly/bsels-summer-donate