EVERETT—The Snohomish County Council heard from leading childcare experts during Administrative Session Tuesday, March 18, a day before considering an ordinance that aims to reduce local regulatory barriers for childcare providers while allowing more childcare facilities to operate throughout Snohomish County.
The ordinance being considered for tomorrow, 25-015, was introduced by County Council members Nate Nehring and Jared Mead who said the legislation, if passed, would allow a more simplified and cohesive permit process for daycare centers in various zoning areas. By allowing childcare centers in more circumstances through flexible zoning requirements, they continued, the ordinance would help address a documented shortage of childcare services.
“As Snohomish County continues to grow at a rapid rate and families continue to move here, our childcare industry has not been able to keep up with demand,” noted Councilmember Mead. “In fact, we’re referred to as a childcare desert by the State. If we want Snohomish County to be able to continue attracting the incredible workforce that we are known for, we need to ensure our community is one that encourages and supports working families and a large part of that is growing our childcare capacity.”
Councilmember Mead informed the Lynnwood Times that Tuesday’s panel reinforced many of the concerns that drew him and fellow councilmember Nehring to introduce the ordinance in the first place. Issues like a shortage of workforce – with most childcare educators competing with K-12 jobs which typically pay more and have better benefits, and zoning codes restricting where childcare facilities can open and operate.
According to Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) data, Snohomish County lost 25 percent of its childcare workforce during the pandemic, which represents more than 1,100 providers.
Three years ago, the Snohomish County Council approved allocating $7.5 million of the County’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars for childcare and early learning facilities across the county.
Councilman Mead took that one step further by requesting to fund a program at Sno-Isle Tech that would prepare high school aged students the necessary training, certifications, and experience to enter the childcare workforce.
“Sno-Isle TECH is so excited to partner with Snohomish County to create a program that addresses the shortage of early childhood educators in our county,” said Wes Allen, Director, Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center. “Through this partnership, we look to prepare our graduating students to address the deficit while getting them to college with the high school credits and industry recognized credentials that will positively impact their future.”
The program focuses on preparing high school students for careers in Early Childhood Education and Para Educator roles. Students complete 120 classroom hours in courses aligned with Everett Community College Early Childhood Education Initial Certification curriculum to support dual enrollment and ensure that students are meeting the requirements for the Washington State Early Childhood Education Initial Certificate. Students in this first cohort get in-classroom experience at Pathfinder Kindergarten Center, which is part of the Mukilteo School District.
That program will be seeing its first set of graduates soon. Mead informed the Lynnwood Times that he is expecting an update from Sno-Isle Tech tomorrow on how the program worked and what the future holds in regard to supporting it.
“Early Childhood Education is a high priority of mine,” said Mead. “This program will go a long way to address the dire shortage of early childhood education providers, which was exacerbated during the pandemic. Reaching out to high school students interested in this career while investing in their futures with the Pathways program is a win-win for everyone.”
Snohomish County is one of the worst areas for childcare access in Washington State, comparative to the number of children who need them, according to County Executive Dave Somers. An estimated 80% of residents live in an extreme “childcare desert,” Somers said during Thursday’s presser. According to Child Care Aware, there are 62 slots of childcare in the county for every 100 infants, toddlers, or preschoolers which is far below the state average of 79 slots per 100 children.
“Access to quality childcare is one of the most significant challenges our communities face,” said Councilmember Nehring, who serves as Chair of the County Council. “By reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens, this ordinance makes it easier for providers to open and operate childcare facilities, which are desperately needed in Snohomish County.”
At Tuesday’s panel discussion four leading experts in the childcare sector discussed some of these roadblocks including Snohomish County YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club, Debbie Carlson, Representative for the Snohmish County Early Learning Council, and Jason Turner with Mill Creek Preschool.
The Snohomish County Council is scheduled to vote on Council members’ Mead and Nehring’s ordinance at a Public Hearing tomorrow, Wednesday, March 18. Members of the public can attend in-person at the Snohomish County Campus, Jackson Board Room – 8th Floor Robert J. Drewel Building & Remote Meeting, or virtually by clicking the below link:
Virtual attendance link: https://zoom.us/j/94846850772
Author: Kienan Briscoe
