On May 20, 2025, Gov. Bob Ferguson signed into law the 2025–27 state operating budget that included challenging, responsive choices addressing the $16 billion deficit.
Though this approach includes service and program delays, reductions, and eliminations, Washington stays committed to goals set by the Fair Start for Kids Act (FSKA), to make child care and early learning more affordable for families, by including necessary new investments and revenue generation.
DCYF is beginning to implement these budget changes. We have communicated our understanding of the impacts with affected families and providers and will continue to share information to address your questions in these uncertain times.
The following is a summary of budget items related to Early Learning and their impacts to providers and families:
- The 2025-27 family child care Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) was fully funded.
- Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) subsidy rate increase for center-based providers was delayed to July 1, 2026.
- WCCC income eligibility expansion and ECEAP entitlement for families was delayed.
- WCCC eligibility expansion for child care employees and registered apprenticeships was removed for new applicants and reauthorizations starting July 1, 2025.
- Reduction in the number of ECEAP slots.
- 5% slot rate increase for school-day slots beginning July 1, 2025. To achieve these savings, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) implemented reductions across all slot types. The approach spreads the mandated reductions across contractors to preserve ECEAP’s statewide presence.
- Funding for Early ECEAP was eliminated.
- Reduced funding for programs, grants and enhancements:
- Trauma Informed Care Enhancements – only available for Licensed Family Homes that accept subsidy and license exempt Family, Friend, and Neighbor providers
- Dual Language Designations
- Early Childhood Equity Grants
- Child Care Complex Needs Fund
- Facilitated Play and Learn Groups
- Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation
- Tribal Mental Health Consultation
- Washington Communities for Children (WCFC) services to connect local and statewide efforts to support children, families, and communities were funded.
- The Department of Commerce Early Learning Facilities (ELF) grant and loan program, including funding for DCYF Pre-Licensing technical assistance, was funded.
*Please note that this is a shortened, high level budget summary. For a detailed overview of budget and policy changes, see the DCYF External End-of-Session Legislative Update Webinar on the DCYF Government Affairs Webpage.
We will continue to communicate our understanding of the impacts and implementation steps as they become available.