Senator John Braun draws with kids in the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program at Centralia College Tuesday evening.
Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, spent Tuesday night visiting with local preschool students in the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program at Centralia College, which heavily relies on state funding each year.
Braun sat with the youths and helped them color pictures and play games. He said ECEAP is a high priority for the state and Lewis County.
“There is a lot of work that has been done,” Braun said. “In terms of bang for your buck, this is one of the best investments for the state.”
ECEAP, a comprehensive preschool program created in 1985 for children 3 to 4 years old across the state, is geared toward children in low income families. The program helps children and families with school readiness, including the children's development and growth in physical, social, emotional, cognitive and creative areas, according to the program.
Braun was invited to the ECEAP class Tuesday night by Parent Ambassador Yolanda Hererra, who drove to Olympia to formally welcome Braun to the class.
Herrera was selected this year as one of 20 parent ambassadors across the state.
“As parent ambassador, that is part of her charge is to meet with the state Legislature,” Cristi Heitschmidt, interim associate dean of child and family studies, said.
ECEAP at Centralia College is a part of the Washington State Association of Head Start/ECEAP, a statewide organization for early learning programs.
Heitschmidt said ECEAP is free for the more than 100 students in Lewis County.
“It gives equal opportunity to everyone to get preschool,” Heitschmidt said.
A larger amount of funding for ECEAP comes from The Race to the Top — Early Learning Challenge grant, a federal grant that awarded $60 million to Washington over four years.
“(Funding) has been consistent. There is no reason to see it go away,” Heitschmidt said.
The ECEAP class meets monthly. The class on Tuesday was focused on literacy. Other classes have taught sensory skills and artwork. The next class will be in June at Fort Borst Park in Centralia.
“We feel this is a great place to invest,” Braun said.
