ECEAP Funded Slot Growth
The Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) provides child-centered, individualized preschool education and health coordination services on a foundation of strengths-based family support. The Fair Start for Kids Act (FSKA) required that by July 2026, ECEAP services be available for all eligible children and in 2025 the Ballmer Group made a ten year philanthropic commitment to support ECEAP expansion. As a result, ECEAP is expanding throughout Washington State, and DCYF is monitoring its growth as part of our priority to create a high-quality, integrated B-8 system.
The number of ECEAP Working Day slots steadily increased from 492 to 916 in the 2023-2024 school year, but in the 2025 school year decreased to 769. The number of School Day slots also steadily increased until 2023, from 1,450 to 9,070, but dropped slightly to 9,002 in the 2025 school year. The number of Part Day slots rose from 9,749 to a peak of 10,387 in 2018-2019 and 2020-2021 and has been steadily decreasing since the following year, to 4,619 slots in the 2025-2026 school year.
Funded ECEAP Slots, by Type, School Years 2015-2025
Funded ECEAP Slots, by Type, School Years 2015-2025
