Dual Language Learning

Dual language learning is where children learn literacy, culture, and content in two languages, typically English and a partner language spoken in the community. It is the most effective model for closing opportunity gaps, especially for children who speak a first language other than English and historically marginalized populations.

Dual Language Designation

The Fair Start for Kids Act directs DCYF to establish a Dual Language Designation for licensed or certified providers who participate in Early Achievers, ECEAP, and/or Early ECEAP.

  • The Dual Language Designation is an acknowledgment of practices that meet the needs of multilingual children and families.
  • Providers who request a designation in the first year will be considered “early adopters” and will have the opportunity to inform future system improvements.

Dual Language Designation Funding Award

The following Early Achievers program types are eligible for Dual Language Designation Funding Awards while funding is available:

  • Licensed, Certified, or Certified for Payment Only providers serving children on subsidy.
    • Program must have claimed and received a subsidy payment in the 12 months prior to the designation request due date.
  • Sites offering Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) services or Early ECEAP services

Funding will be prioritized using the Child Care Stabilization Zip Code Factors.

Request a Dual Language Designation

Dual language programs and tribal revitalization programs may request the designation through the Quality Recognition process in Early Achievers.

To be eligible for a Dual Language Designation, programs must:

  • Participate in Early Achievers.
  • Serve multilingual children and families.
  • Have at least one bilingual staff providing instruction in English and a partner language or are a tribal language revitalization program.
  • Submit a request for designation in Washington’s Coach and Educator Community Interface, CeCi (formerly Coaching Companion).

Providers are encouraged to work with their coach on the application process. Policy handbooks do not need to be updated or changed to apply. Providers will be notified when it is time to update their handbooks to reflect the Dual Language Standards.

Dual Language Designation Frequently Asked Questions

All Early Achievers programs can request the Dual Language Designation. The Early Achievers Dual Language Designation recognizes programs supporting multilingual children and families in dual language learning environments to meet their specific strengths and needs.

The Early Achievers Dual Language Designation Funding Award provides funding for eligible providers to enhance linguistic support in learning environments. As funding is available, licensed or certified providers who accept state child care subsidy and Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) and/or Early ECEAP contractors are eligible for a funding award.

Due to limited funding, providers who are eligible for an award will be prioritized based on the Child Care Stabilization Zip Code Factors.

All programs participating in Early Achievers can submit a request for a Dual Language Designation in Washington’s Coach and Educator Community Interface, CeCi (formerly Coaching Companion).

Programs do not need to request the Dual Language Designation funding award separately.

To be considered for the first round of funding awards, providers had to submit their request in CeCI by May 26, 2023. At this time, provider policy handbooks do not need to be updated or changed to apply for the Designation. Providers will be notified when it is time to update their handbooks to reflect the Dual Languages best practices as part of their quality recognition cycle. Providers are encouraged to work with their coach in updating their policy handbooks.

$2.8  million is available to establish and/or enhance Dual Language Designation programs through June 30, 2023.

DCYF continues to work on next steps for the designation, including a second round of funding awards. Once more information is available, we will update this website and communicate through our partners.

While funding permits, all awards are per classroom or learning environment. For tribal programs, awards are per language revitalization learning environment.

Facilities may be awarded for up to 10 classrooms or learning environments while funding permits.

Type Award
Per dual language learning environment/classroom $2,700
Per language revitalization learning environment/classroom $4,100

 

The funding is for building and/or enhancing learning environments for multilingual children. Funding can be used for:

  • Wages for staff providing bilingual instruction
  • Professional development and staff training
    • Professional development can include PLCs, job-embedded planning, substitute coverage for planning time, and/or paid time to attend PD
  • Culturally and linguistically appropriate curricula and accompanying training programs
  • Instructional materials
  • Other related expenses

Terms and Conditions:

By accepting a funding award, I (the Early Achievers facility/site) agree to the following:

  1. Should my facility be awarded a Dual Language Designation award, I will only spend the funds on what is allowable.
  2. I will keep receipts from purchases made with the Dual Language Designation award funds for seven (7) years.
  3. I understand that DCYF may ask me to provide receipts for purchases made with money from dual language award, and if I cannot provide receipts and documentation when asked, I will be required to repay part or all of the award to the State of Washington.

As funding is available, licensed or certified providers who accept state child care subsidy and Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) and/or Early ECEAP contractors are eligible for a funding award. 

Due to limited funding, providers who are eligible for an award will be prioritized based on the Child Care Stabilization Zip Code Factors.

DCYF will look at the following factors when distributing funding:

  • Tribal Language
  • Zip Code
    • Extreme child care access deserts
    • Marginalized low-income
      • High child maltreatment
      • High childhood poverty
      • Rural counties
    • Communities of Color
      • Over 50% children of color under age 15

For more information, visit Child Care Stabilization Zip Code Factors.

  • If you applied in April 2023: You have already received an email from the QRIS inbox providing information on the designation and funding award, if you were eligible to receive one.
  • If you applied in May 2023: As of August 1, 2023, applications received during May 2023 are still being reviewed. Providers can expect to receive an email from the QRIS inbox by the end of August 2023.
  • If you applied after May 31, 2023: DCYF continues to work on award cycles and timelines. Providers can expect to hear from the QRIS inbox within 60 days of the next designation request due date (September 30, 2023).

All questions related to the Dual Language Designation and Funding Award should be sent to QRIS@dcyf.wa.gov. You are also encouraged to contact your Coach.

The Early Achievers Dual Language Designation is a one-time commitment level funding award of $2,700 per classroom, as funding is available.

For tribal programs, it is a one-time commitment level funding award of $4,100 per language revitalization classroom.

DCYF continues to work on next steps for the Early Achievers Dual Language Designation. Once more information is available, we will communicate it on our website and through our partners.

To be eligible to receive a Dual Language Designation funding award your program must:  

  1. Have claimed and received a subsidy payment in the 12 months prior to the designation request due date and/or provide ECEAP or Early ECEAP services at the time of the request.
    Please keep in mind, funding is limited.
  2. The second step is for DCYF to prioritize financial awards based on the following:
    • Priority 1: Tribal Language
      Using the Child Care Stabilization Zip Code Factors, prioritization was based on the following:
    • Priority 2: Licensed or Certified programs meeting 3+ prioritization factors
      • Programs in priority 2 will be prioritized based on the number of factors they meet.
    • Priority 3: Licensed or Certified programs meeting 2 prioritization factors.
    • Priority 4: Licensed or Certified programs meeting 1 prioritization factor.

Currently, and due to limited funding, awards are available to programs who meet Priority 1 (Tribal Language) and Priority 2 (Licensed or Certified programs meeting 3+ prioritization factors) requirements.