About Coordinated Recruitment and Enrollment

What is Coordinated Recruitment and Enrollment (CRE)?

CRE is a statewide initiative to improve how families find and enroll in early learning and education programs in Washington. It supports Washington’s mixed delivery system, which includes many types of early care and education programs. 

Vision

CRE is a collaborative process across community programs centered around informed family choice. CRE partners are focused on every Washington child having equitable access to affordable, high-quality early care and education programs that support child growth and development and strengthen families’ ability to thrive.

Why CRE Matters

Families 

CRE helps families make informed choices, learn about their options and choose the program that works best for them. Families can choose programs that match their child’s strengths and needs, as well as their family’s values, culture, language and budget. 

Early Care and Education Programs

High-quality early learning programs that support children’s growth and development. They can also help reduce learning gaps early by meeting children’s needs, including: 

  • Developmental
  • Educational 
  • Social-emotional
  • Cognitive
  • Complex or Special Needs

Outcomes for Children

CRE helps improve outcomes for children and early learning programs by building stronger partnerships, connections, and community support. The goal is to help as many children as possible access services. 

Community Partners

CRE supports community partners in reaching families and identifying barriers to access. Many families may not know about available programs. Sharing information about program types, openings, and local needs helps families find the best fit for their child. It also helps communities plan where more services are needed. 

  • Coordination to Support Families - Programs that serve children want to help as many families as possible with high-quality services that meet different needs.
  • More Choices for Families - Washington offers many early. No single program can meet the needs of every family or provide enough spaces for all children who need care. 
  • Better Use of Existing Programs - Working together across programs and providers help more children and families access early learning services.

Snapshot:

  • Washington has about 1.8 million children from birth to age 5. 
  • About 362,578 children are enrolled in child care
  • About 320,000 children need care because their parents are working
  • Only about 27% of these children are currently served. 

Data provided by the Need and Supply Dashboard.

Program details: 

  • ECEAP: 15,797 funded slots across 63 contractors 
  • Head Start: 7,611 funded slots 
  • About 25,545 eligible children are not served by ECEAP or Head Start. (2022-23)
  • Transition to Kindergarten (TK): 5,805 children in 146 school districts (2023-24)
  • Developmental PreK: 10,822 children served (2022-23) 
  • Data on Child Care Programs Coming Soon

In 2020, Gov. Jay Inslee issued directed DCYF and OSPI to work together to better align early learning programs and make it easier for families to find and access services (Directive of the Governor 20-01). This work helps more children be ready for kindergarten and future success.

DCYF and OSPI work together to: 

  • Create helpful resources for families and providers
  • Connect providers to training and support 
  • Provide recommendations about:
    • Facilities and space needs
    • Data collection and sharing
    • Licensing and quality standards
    • Impacts on childcare subsidies 
    • Community and school-based programs
    • Legal issues
    • Needed changes to state law

A copy of this report is available in Aligning and Integrating Early Learning Programs.

A 2023 state law requires DCYF to better align ECEAP with other early learning and education programs for children. DCYF must report these changes to the legislature. 

The CRE work is guided by a statewide group that includes representatives from: 

  • Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCFY)
  • Child Care Aware of Washington (CCA of WA)
  • Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
  • Washington Association of Educational Service Districts (AESD)