Create High Quality, Integrated B-8 System

Children who experience foster care are prepared for kindergarten at lower rates than children who do not experience foster care. Although the overall rate of kindergarten readiness has increased over the past few years, there has not been a substantial increase in kindergarten readiness for children who have experienced foster care.

READ THE ERDC REPORT ON EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN & YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE

Kindergarten Readiness by Foster Care Status, 2015-2024 School Years

Kindergarten Readiness by Foster Care Status, 2015-2024 School Years

×

Source: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (2025). Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (WaKIDS) [2015-2025]. 
Notes: Readiness is defined here as ready in all six of the domains measured by the Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (WaKIDS).

Kindergarten readiness is an outcome indicator for the DCYF priority to create a high-quality, integrated B-8 system. During the 2023-2024 school year, 88% of children who participated in the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) came from families that qualified for Free or Reduced Price Lunch (FRPL). Across the years, children who participate in ECEAP are prepared for kindergarten at higher rates than their FRPL-qualifying peers.

READ THE ECEAP ANNUAL REPORT

ECEAP Kindergarten Readiness by Domain, Relative to Income, School Years 2018-2023

ECEAP Kindergarten Readiness by Domain, Relative to Income, School Years 2018-2023

×

Source: Washington State Education Research and Data Center. (2025). Early learning feedback reports [2018-2023]. https://erdc.wa.gov/publications-and-reports/early-learning-feedback-report
Notes: A lower-income student means a student who qualifies for Free or Reduced Price Lunch (FRPL). Students qualify for FRPL when their parent/guardian annual income is equal to or less than 185% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). A higher-income student means a student who does not qualify for FRPL.
As a result of COVID-19 related obstacles to administering the Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (WaKIDS), ERDC did not publish an Early Learning Feedback Report for the 2020-2021 school year.

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) requires that by July 2026, ECEAP services be available for all eligible children. 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.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ECEAP EXPANSION

Funded ECEAP Slots, by Type, School Years 2015-2024

Funded ECEAP Slots, by Type, School Years 2015-2024

×

DCYF. (December 2025) ECEAP Site List Report [2015 - 2024].

Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) helps eligible families pay for child care. When a family qualifies for child care subsidy benefits and chooses an eligible provider, the state pays a portion of the cost of child care. DCYF works to ensure that all WCCC applications are processed in a timely manner and is monitoring the rates at which they are approved.

LEARN MORE ABOUT WORKING CONNECTIONS CHILD CARE

Number and Percent of Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) Applications Processed and Approved, SFYs 2015-2025

Number and Percent of Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) Applications Processed and Approved, SFYs 2015-2025

×

Source: DCYF. (December 2025). WCCC authorizations by month [July 2015-June 2025]. EMAPS.
Notes: This metric was previously reported by Calendar Year and has been updated to reflect State Fiscal Years.

Early Achievers is an easy-to-understand quality rating system for participating early care providers. DCYF monitors Early Achievers ratings as a balancing indicator for our priority to create a high-quality, integrated B-8 system. 

View the Early Achievers Dashboard

View the Early Start Act Supplemental Measures

Number and Percent of Early Achievers Enrolled Providers by Rating, SFY 2019-2025

Number and Percent of Early Achievers Enrolled Providers by Rating, SFY 2019-2025

×

Source: DCYF. (December 2025) Early Achievers Dashboard appendices [2019-2025]. WACompass.
Notes: Point in time data, taken the last month of the state fiscal year. 2024 data taken from August EA Dashboard, as no dashboard was published in June.