2,676 children on ECEAP waiting list

The Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP (Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program) will convene its top leaders in Tukwila to discuss the upcoming legislative session and talk to key early learning leaders. The group will call for expanding ECEAP by 1,000 children next fall in order to reduce the number of children on the waiting list and to take steps towards meeting the legislative entitlement scheduled to hit in 2020.

No expansion of ECEAP is scheduled to take place next fall despite the fact that there are 2,676 children on the active waitlist. Of those, 641 children are considered to be in the highest priority category by the Department of Early Learning, meaning that they are homeless, have been abused or neglected, are living in extreme poverty or have other major risk factors. Additionally, the department estimates that the total universe of 3- and 4-year-old children who qualify for the program and would likely be interested in receiving services if offered tops more than 10,000.

Last year, an evaluation of ECEAP was completed which showed that children who attended the program made impressive gains, and these gains were sustained throughout elementary school. The study found that “children who attended ECEAP had significantly higher math and reading scores in the third, fourth and fifth grades compared to children who did not attend the program,” with effects twice as good as the average pre-K program nationwide.

Joel Ryan, Executive Director of WSA said, “Unfortunately, more than 2,600 children are already lined up at ECEAP’s door and no one is answering their call for help. We have contacted our providers and they are ready to go. Over the next few years the state will need to address the very real facility needs across the state, but right now we have commitments from current providers to serve at least 1,000 additional children starting next fall. While we are delighted with the incredible achievements accomplished last year to improve early learning quality, we urge the governor and legislature not to take a year off from funding the promised expansion of ECEAP. These kids can’t wait – once they’re behind, it’s too late. It’s irresponsible to let 1,000 children come unprepared for kindergarten when we know we can do something about it for a relatively small investment of tax dollars.”

The Washington State Association of Head Start/ECEAP is a statewide organization composed of representatives from ECEAP, Head Start, Early Head Start, Migrant/Seasonal Head Start, and Native American Head Start. The association has been in existence since the late 1960s and was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1986. The organization advocates for Head Start and for ECEAP in Olympia and in Washington DC. Visit the website at http://www.wsaheadstarteceap.com.