DEL has released eligibility data regarding ECEAP, Washington’s state-funded prekindergarten program that prepares some of the state’s most vulnerable 3- and 4-year-old children for their primary education. Once ECEAP eligibility is established, children are prioritized for enrollment in the available ECEAP slots using a weighted statewide priority point system.
By the 2020-21 school year, all eligible children shall be entitled to enroll in ECEAP, per RCW 43.215.456. Because of this, the Legislature added 1,700 slots to ECEAP in the 2013-15 biennium and 1,600 in 2015-17. In the 2016-17 school year, ECEAP has 11,691 enrollment slots.
- There are 23,445 children eligible for ECEAP who are not served by ECEAP or Head Start. Based on the November 2016 CFC forecast, 6,314 of these would likely participate if space were available.
- DEL is serving 50 percent of eligible children and 78 percent of children likely to participate.
- By the 2020-21 school year, an estimated 7,429 more children would participate if space is available.
Follow the link to read the 4 page report ECEAP Caseload Forecast.
