06 Jul Outdoor Preschools – Apply to Be Licensed & Offer Full Day Classes!

In May of 2017 Governor Jay Inslee signed legislation that directs the Department of Early Learning to create licensing rules for outdoor preschools.

This bill created a 4 year pilot that starts on July 23, 2017.

Outdoor preschools participating in the pilot can become licensed and offer full day classes.

Apply now by completing the form below.

Participating schools:

Orcas Island Forest School (Eastsound, WA)
Washington Outdoor School (Roslyn, Ellensburg & Yakima, WA)
Tiny Trees Preschool (King County, WA)
Fiddleheads Forest School (Seattle, WA)

Your school can be a part of the pilot in two ways:

You can become part of the participant cohort.
This is for schools that would like to become licensed and offer full day classes for the 2018-19 school year.

Or, you can join the observation cohort.
This is for school who would like to provide data & help influence the rules making process, but would like to wait before becoming licensed or offering full day classes. Members of the observation cohort may be able to pursue licensing and full day classes in 2019 or 2020.

Schools in the participant cohort will be the advisory group for this pilot with the Department of Early Learning. Responsibilities include attending regular monthly meetings, adapting your program to meet licensing rules, and providing timely feedback on new rules and guidelines created for outdoor preschools.

APPLY NOW!

Priority Deadline July 23
Final Deadline August 7