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, 2015-2020 School Years

 

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Kindergarten Readiness by Foster Care Status, 2015-2020 School Years

Source: Chen, V. W. and Hough, G. C. (2021) Education and Workforce Outcomes for Children and Youth in Foster Care. Olympia, WA: Education Research and Data Center, Office of Financial Management.  
Note: Kindergarten readiness is defined here as ready in 6/6 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 2019-2020 school year, 95% 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 2016-2019

 

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ECEAP Kindergarten Readiness by Domain, Relative to Income, School Years 2016-2019

Source: Washington State Education Research and Data Center. (September 2021). Early learning feedback reports [2016-2020]. https://erdc.wa.gov/data-dashboards/early-learning-feedback-report-0
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.

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Funded ECEAP Slots, by Type, School Years 2015-2022

 

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Funded ECEAP Slots, by Type, School Years 2015-2022

Source: DCYF. (October 2023) ECEAP Site List Report.

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 2013-2023

 

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Number and Percent of Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) Applications Processed and Approved, SFYs 2013-2023

Source: DCYF. (October 2023). WCCC authorizations by month [June 2012-June 2023]. EMAPS.

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. At the end of the 2023 state fiscal year, nearly 700 Early Achievers-enrolled providers were rated 3+ or higher, serving an estimate of over 32,000 non-school-age children.

View the Early Achievers Dashboard

Number and Percent of Early Achievers Enrolled Providers by Rating, SFY 2019-2023

 

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Number and Percent of Early Achievers Enrolled Providers by Rating, SFY 2019-2023

Source: DCYF. Early Achievers Dashboard appendices [2019-2023]. WACompass.
Notes: Point in time data, taken the last month of the state fiscal year. 2023 data taken from August EA Dashboard, as no dashboard was published in June.