Welcome to the Center for District Innovation and Leadership in Early Education!

Our Mission

The Center for District Innovation and Leadership in Early Education (DIAL EE) works as a convener, facilitator, policy advocate, connector and partner, to co-create student-centered solutions from the ground up that uphold every child’s promise from the start.

We believe that through genuine collaboration, local education agencies and community partners can give children a strong foundation by creating early education strategies attuned to the needs of children and families. We exist to make this belief a reality.

The Center for District Innovation and Leadership in Early Education (DIAL EE) is part of Cultivate Learning at the University of Washington.

Blending, Braiding and Layering Funds: A Creative Approach to California’s Universal Preschool Program WEBINAR

Full implementation of California’s Universal Preschool Program began in Fall 2025. Do you have unfilled spots in state preschool? Do you have more UTK students than you expected? If you are struggling to fill spots, provide an appropriate child-driven learning environment, or remove barriers for enrollment, this webinar is for you. Watch Dr. Kelly Fountain, Director of Early Learning, Lancaster School District and Shanna Birkholz-Vasquez, Associate Director, Early Education Division, California Department of Education unpack blending, braiding, and layering to leverage funding for early education. This webinar highlighted Lancaster School District’s innovation in creating a play-based program in the mixed delivery system.

The webinar was hosted on March 9, 2026.