The White Center Early Learning Initiative, a first-of-its-kind public-private community based partnership, will significantly expand early learning opportunities to children from birth to age 5.

Funded by two grants-$4.7 million from Thrive by Five Washington and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for expanded early learning options for families with young children, and $7 million from the Gates Foundation for the construction of an early learning community center, the White Center Early Learning Initiative aims to provide parents and caregivers with education and support to ensure that all children in the community begin school ready to succeed.

Created in 2006, Thrive by Five Washington campaigns for early learning improvement and is supported by a diverse group of public, private, and philanthropic partners.

The early learning initiative has spent more than 18 months convening local stakeholder groups and developing business plans to make positive early learning opportunities - whether at home or in child care centers - available to families in their community.

The process has involved numerous focus groups with multiple language translations taking place in real time through "e-polling," projecting information and answers on screens during the groups.

"I want to commend the hard work and dedication exhibited by the White Center community," said Graciela Italiano-Thomas, president and chief executive officer of the public-private partnership Thrive by Five Washington.

"The partnership between the community, public agencies and private caregivers will be critical to meeting the unique needs of families in White Center and sustaining this groundbreaking model," she said. "Your efforts will enrich the lives of thousands of children and prepare them for success in school and life."

Existing Head Start centers will receive grants to improve teacher qualifications and program quality. In addition, grant funds will enhance the learning environments of licensed child care centers, preschools and family child care homes in the White Center and Boulevard Park neighborhoods through professional development for staff and a quality rating and improvement system that will make better information available to parents.

The planned Greenbridge Early Learning Center will serve as a headquarters for education and outreach services in the community. Funds for construction will come from Thrive by Five, federal tax credits and other public and private sources, including $2 million in state support. The center will include space for parenting classes and preschool programs taught by credentialed instructors who will demonstrate how partnerships and links between early learning and K-12 create an environment that supports school readiness for all children.

The Greenbridge center also will be a learning and training hub for early learning staff and caregivers in the White Center community. More than 200 White Center childcare staff and informal care providers in the community will be able to access hands-on training there. Staff can take college classes and earn college credit for their learning experiences at the center.

As the hub of the White Center Early Learning Initiative, the goal is to make Greenbridge a place that can impact all children in the community; a place where parents, caregivers, teachers, neighbors and local business people can learn more about early learning, parenting and school readiness support.

Approximately 3,000 children under age 6 live in White Center. The Greenbridge center will directly serve 134 children and their families, including 32 infants and toddlers and 102 preschoolers.

Construction on the Greenbridge Early Learning Center is expected to cost $19 million and will begin by the middle of the year at Eighth Avenue Southwest, adjacent to the existing Greenbridge housing and north of White Center Heights Elementary.

Patrick Robinson may be reached at patr@robinsonnews.com