The Greater Federal Way Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of the Federal Way Public Schools Uptown Square Early Learning Center on Jan. 24.

The learning center opened in October 2017 to provide Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program preschool education and support. It offers part- and full-day preschool to 100 students.

More than 40 community members attended the ribbon cutting, including city of Federal Way officials, FWPS board members, Greater Federal Way Chamber of Commerce ambassadors, local business owners and learning center families.

FWPS serves 815 preschoolers through ECEAP/Head Start and developmental pre-kindergarten.

The district’s strategic plan goal one is The Early Years: Building the Foundation, which focuses on every scholar entering kindergarten ready to learn with the social-emotional skills to propel him/her to meet or exceed grade level standards in English Language Arts and mathematics by the end of third grade.

“Early learning partnerships are essential, so we can close the achievement gap for our scholars,” FWPS Superintendent Dr. Tammy Campbell said in a media release. “Early learning changes outcomes, and helps support every child arriving ready to succeed in kindergarten and beyond.”

Every year, over 1,700 students start kindergarten in FWPS, and early learning programs help them arrive ready to succeed when they enter kindergarten.

“Our school district is working to ensure children are given every opportunity to achieve success,” chamber CEO Rebecca Martin said in the release. “A thriving business community like ours knows a prepared workforce, one with the tools to compete in a global marketplace, is the direct result of programs throughout the Federal Way Public School District.”

Learn more about early learning opportunities in FWPS at fwps.org/Page/335.