Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D—Bothell, was recently recognized for the Children’s Alliance Silver Crayon Award for her outstanding work in early learning during the 2010 legislative session.

At the Early Learning Action Alliance Crayon Awards, six state legislators joined community members and early learning stakeholders from across the Puget Sound region to celebrate the importance of early learning in the lives of Washington’s children and families and to pledge further support of early learning in the year ahead.

“Children begin learning at birth,” said McAuliffe. “We know that children who are enrolled in early education programs are less likely to fail grades, need special-education services or become involved in the criminal justice system. The message is clear, although the economic recession continues to drain our state budget, we must continue our long-term commitment to support early learning.”

Awardees were selected for demonstrating support of a broad array of early learning related issues — from advocating for a state-wide, long-term plan addressing the needs of children ages birth to 3, to protecting funding for early learning programs in times of economic hardship, to improving the child-care subsidy system and laying the next steps for a strong pre-kindergarten system in Washington.