Earlier this week, Puget Sound was hit with a high-wind, low-pressure “bomb cyclone,” which knocked out power in neighborhoods across King County and damaged some homes and buildings.
Just a few days later, the Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP (WSA) forecasted another potentially devastating event: A “budget bomb cyclone” that could have a significant impact on very low-income preschool-aged children and their families.
The bomb would drop in the form of more than 1,800 children and 200 at-risk babies and toddlers being cut from state-funded early childhood education programs and services during the 2025-26 biennium. This would result from budget cuts proposed by the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) this week following Gov. Jay Inslee’s call for cuts in all state departments to address the state’s projected $10 billion budget deficit.
A hit for high-risk kids
In a release sent by Katy Warren, WSA deputy director, the association condemned the proposed cuts: “DCYF is proposing that 1,800 high-needs 3- and 4-year-old slots be dropped from ECEAP, more than 10% of the children served. Further, they recommend eliminating all services provided by Birth-to-Three ECEAP. Targeting some of the most vulnerable children of Washington for budget cuts is unacceptable and inequitable – more than two-thirds of ECEAP children are children of color.” WSA is a statewide non-profit organization composed of representatives from Head Start, Early Head Start, Migrant/Seasonal Head Start, Native American Head Start, and the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP).
The association called on the Governor to reject DCYF’s proposed cuts, stressing that ECEAP not only gets kids ready for school but also saves taxpayers money. The program serves 17,000 kids in Washington using a blend of classroom, health, nutrition, medical, and family support. That support includes job coaching, parenting support, and connection to emergency services such as housing and food.
“Data from DCYF shows that children enter ECEAP developmentally behind but show up in kindergarten ready to learn and prepared for school,” an association statement said. “Studies have found that the benefits of programs like ECEAP do not end at kindergarten. Children who attended the federal sister program of ECEAP, Head Start, were found to be more likely to do better in school, graduate from high school at higher rates, attend college, and much less likely to utilize public benefits like disability payments.”
A spokesperson at DCYF responded to WSA’s concerns, saying that the department was able to allocate approximately 16,400 of the 17, 278 slots noting that ECEAP is currently underenrolled.
“[The] total enrolled as of today is closer to 14,000,” said DCYF Communications Administrator Nancy Gutierrez. “So, the proposed reduction would have no impact at this time. The assignment agencies were asked to complete was not easy. All options DCYF put forward are difficult. When we considered options to potential reductions, we looked at places to minimize client impact and services. Currently not all ECEAP slots are contracted or enrolled with children being served.”
ECEAP serves children furthest from opportunity
Here’s a snapshot of who ECEAP serves, provided by the Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP:
- 11.3% of the children enrolled in ECEAP are experiencing homelessness
- 90% of the families are living in poverty (under 200% Federal Poverty Level)
- 11.3% of the families experienced domestic violence
- 17.9% of the children are on an IEP (Individual Education Plan) for special education services
- 8.2% are engaged in the child welfare system/CPS
- 68% of the children served in ECEAP are BIPOC
Making it harder for parents to work
WSA officials say that balancing the budget by targeting these families is “short-sighted and wrong” and that eliminating education and service slots for kids will further exacerbate the access and affordability issues parents face. In Washington:
- Turnover, absenteeism, and lost family income due to childcare issues resulted in a $6 billion reduction in the state’s economy in 2023
- 39% of parents have quit or were fired due to childcare issues since their children 12 or younger were born
- 63% of parents have experienced a reduction in income because of childcare access issues
Cutting ECEAP, the association warms, will mean fewer parents with young children being able to work.
“We should not be creating additional barriers to employment or making parents choose between working and caring for their children. But that’s exactly what DCYF is proposing to do,” the association said.
Read more:
Is $3 billion education increase possible? Inslee calls for cuts
