The Washington state government announces a major expansion of the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program, adding 42 new sites and thousands more slots to support children from lower-income families in the upcoming school year.
Washington families looking for free preschool will have more places to turn this school year, after state officials announced 42 new Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program sites and enough funding for roughly 2,400 additional slots for 2026-27. The expansion adds to a programme designed for 3- and 4-year-olds from lower-income households and other children facing barriers to early learning.
In the Greater Seattle area, 16 of the new sites are set to open in Seattle, Federal Way, Kent, Renton, Tukwila, Lynnwood and Des Moines. Seattle will gain three locations, including two operated by the Refugee Women’s Alliance and one called Rise and Shine. Federal Way will add four sites, while Renton will get three, Kent and Tukwila two each, and Lynnwood and Des Moines one each.
The Washington Department of Children, Youth and Families said in June that the broader statewide expansion would bring about 2,500 slots across 54 new sites, alongside openings at existing providers. The latest announcement, made on September 21, narrowed that to 42 new sites and roughly 2,400 seats, reflecting the final shape of the rollout for the coming school year. State officials said the programme now serves more than 14,000 children at 463 locations across Washington.
The new investment also marks a sharp turn from last year’s budget pressure. According to a state budget-reduction document, officials had considered cutting 1,800 ECEAP slots, or about 2,000 places statewide. Instead, Washington paired with Ballmer Group Philanthropy in a public-private deal that officials say could support as many as 10,000 additional school-day seats over 10 years, with the partnership valued at about $1bn.
ECEAP remains open to families who qualify on income or through other circumstances such as homelessness, foster care, developmental delays or some disabilities. For a family of four, the state’s current income threshold is $50,152 a year. Families apply through a local provider, which checks eligibility and places children based on available space. DCYF says the sites will open during the 2026-27 school year, although it has not yet given dates for individual centres.
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