Disproportionality in ECEAP Enrollment
Each year, around 15,000 children are enrolled in Washington's Early Childhood Education Assistance Program (ECEAP). DCYF tracks disproportionality in ECEAP enrollment using a Disproportionality Ratio. A disproportionality ratio of 1.0 would indicate that children of that race/ethnicity are enrolled in ECEAP at the same rate they exist in the underlying income-eligible population. The patterns of representation are fairly consistent over the years. Black/African American children were nearly proportionately represented in ECEAP enrollment in 2016 (.94) but since then have typically been over-represented, and by 2025 participated at 2.20 times their presence in the eligible population. The representation of other groups has varied a bit each year, but in most years has been fairly close to proportionate. In 2016, Hispanic/Latino children participated at 1.24 times their presence in the population, and in 2025 they participated at 0.92 times their population presence. In 2016, White children participated in ECEAP at 0.83 times their presence in the population, and in 2025 they participated at 1.17 times their population presence. In 2016, American Indian/Alaska Native children participated in ECEAP at 0.95 times their representation in the population, but by 2025 they participated at only 0.63 times their population presence. Their under-representation has increased in recent years. The participation of Asian/Pacific Islander children has also decreased. In 2016, Asian/Pacific Islander children participated in ECEAP at 1.29 times their representation in the population, and in 2025 Asian/Pacific Islander children participated at only 0.74 times their representation in the population.
Racial/Ethnic Disproportionality Ratios for ECEAP Enrollment, School Years 2016-2025
Racial/Ethnic Disproportionality Ratios for ECEAP Enrollment, School Years 2016-2025
