AN ACT Relating to transferring early literacy programs from the department of children, youth, and families to the office of the superintendent of public instruction;
SB 5961 reorganizes Washington’s early literacy efforts by moving program administration from the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The bill creates or recodifies statutory authority for the “Imagination Library of Washington” program, which is designed to provide age-appropriate, high-quality books each month at no cost to eligible children from birth through age five. It directs OSPI, in coordination with the department, to select and work with a Washington-based qualified nonprofit to manage daily operations, establish affiliate programs across the state, promote enrollment, and conduct public outreach to donors and families.
The bill also authorizes the selected nonprofit to contract with a national nonprofit foundation to supply books and to support the statewide program structure. It requires annual reporting to the Legislature and Governor on affiliate programs and enrollment, and it allows the program to be funded through gifts, grants, endowments, and other public or private sources. A separate new section directs OSPI, subject to appropriations, to contract with a nonprofit experienced in promoting early literacy through pediatric office visits, indicating a broader early-literacy outreach component beyond book distribution alone.
The bill would amend and recodify provisions in Washington law governing early literacy programming, shifting administrative responsibility from DCYF to OSPI and adding new statutory sections in Chapter 28A RCW. It affects state agencies, selected nonprofit operators, affiliate program partners, and eligible families with young children. The measure also establishes reporting requirements and clarifies that state funding is not required except as specifically appropriated, while preserving the ability to use private and public donations to support the program.
The bill appears to have generally favorable support, as reflected by passage through the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee, the Senate Ways & Means Committee, and final Senate passage. The committee and floor votes show broad but not unanimous approval, suggesting the concept of expanding and reorganizing early literacy services was well received overall. The absence of transcript discussion limits insight into detailed debate, but the vote margins indicate the bill was not highly controversial in principle.
The main points of contention likely centered on the transfer of program oversight from DCYF to OSPI, the use of a nonprofit model to run the program, and the extent of state financial commitment. The bill’s structure relies on a Washington-based nonprofit and a national foundation, with funding expected largely from gifts, grants, and affiliate contributions rather than direct ongoing state appropriations. Any concerns would likely have involved agency jurisdiction, administrative complexity, and whether the program should be expanded or funded more directly by the state.