About 80,000 children enter kindergarten in Washington each year, and many lack basic language and behavioral skills--such as knowing letters and colors, following directions, getting along with others, and exhibiting impulse-control. In 2006, based on the recommendation of the Washington Learns Commission, Governor Christine Gregoire created the Department of Early Learning to bring the state's early learning programs together under one agency. Together with Thrive by Five Washington, a public-private partnership, the Department of Early Learning is working to provide resources and support for families, child care providers, and communities to ensure that every child in Washington state has access to high-quality, safe, and healthy early education. The Gates Foundation has supported several key projects to create a strong, coordinated early learning system that measures and improves the quality of services for children. These projects are: (1) WaKIDS; (2) Seeds to Success; (3) Preschool Through Third Grade Alignment; and (4) Home Visiting. The Gates foundation is committed to working with a broad range of partners to increase school readiness.