The state of Washington took a significant step forward in October 2019 when it became the first state in the US to license preschools that operate entirely outdoors. Authorized by 2017 legislation, the program includes a limited number of pilot programs that will test licensing standards that have been adapted to better fit outdoor early childhood education programs.
View this webinar for background on the Outdoor Preschool Pilot Program, an update on the current state of the pilot, and outlooks for the future.
Featured Speaker
Aliza Yair, M.Ed., is the Program Specialist for the Outdoor Preschool Pilot Program and led the development of the pilot outdoor licensing standards for the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families.
In October 2019, Washington became the first state in the country to license outdoor preschools. Kit Harrington, former director of Fiddleheads Forest School and founder of the Washington Nature Preschool Association, helped to develop Washington's outdoor preschool licensing standards. In our latest Feature Story, Kit reflects on what this development means for the field of nature-based early learning and how what's happening in Washington can serve as a model for future advocacy. Read More
After being approached by their state licensor in 2016, the Squaxin Island Child Development Center began their journey to open their first licensed, outdoor preschool class. The outdoor program has already expanded to include two classes, with a growing waiting list. Read More
