State slashes pre-kindergarten program for low-income families

Early learning opportunities for low-income families at Bellingham and Ferndale school districts may see more reductions next year, after state cuts to the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP). 

Bellingham and Ferndale are offering 49 ECEAP slots this academic year, down from 70 between the two districts in 2024-25. The two districts work with the Northwest Educational Service District 189, which carries the contract with the state.  

But next year, the NWESD will no longer be a contractor for the program due to financial constraints and the drop in state-appropriated slots, as first reported by the Seattle Times.  

ECEAP is the state’s pre-kindergarten program for 3- and 4-year-olds who are low-income, struggling with homelessness, receiving government assistance and navigating other environmental factors. Children with disabilities or developmental delays can also qualify. 

The program doesn’t just provide preschool: it provides “wraparound services,” said Maureen Hodge, early learning program manager at NWESD. That includes home visits by family liaisons, support in getting to appointments and more. 

For Bellingham’s Early Learning Center at the District Office, it’s unclear what will continue in place of ECEAP. Those slots make up 30 of the 40 children served at the center. District spokesperson Dana Smith said they are not sure what program will take ECEAP’s place, and said it was “unfortunate that it won’t be continuing as is.” 

In Ferndale, ECEAP students make up 19 of the 114 served at Mountain View Early Learning Center this year. Celina Rodriguez, district director of communications, said Ferndale is hoping to become an ECEAP contractor itself now that the NWESD will no longer be carrying the contract. 

“We believe a school-based model, one that blends ECEAP with other funding sources, is both feasible and effective,” Rodriguez said. “However, we are only early in the process of seeing if this is possible, and we will monitor state and federal funding in the coming months.” 

The cut in slots is a reversal from an expected growth in the program. Originally, ECEAP was to become an entitlement for eligible families starting in the 2026-27 school year. But lawmakers delayed this requirement until the 2030-31 school year earlier this year due to budget challenges.  

Reductions in slots hit ECEAP contractors around the state this year, as the Legislature cut $60 million from the program, according to the Times. 

Ismael Vivanco, superintendent of the NWESD, said when the service district took on this contract two years ago, it knew it needed about 100 slots to make it a successful and financially viable program. Seventy was a stretch, and 49 is too far from the target to make financial sense, NWESD staff said.

“It is really an impressive, comprehensive program, and it’s high-quality services,” said Tamara Shoup, director of development, strategy and innovations at NWESD. “And I know that it pains a lot of people from the state all the way down to our service providers to see this program shrinking.” 

As for the direct impact in Whatcom, Hodge detailed the work of NWESD staff who met families outside of work hours at places they felt comfortable to enroll them. Hodge spoke of one mother they were able to help get into English classes, while her child was enrolled in ECEAP. 

“There is a shortage of child care in our community,” Hodge said. “Losing these 49 slots feels so unnecessary.” 

Ferndale Superintendent Kristi Dominguez said investments in early childhood education “consistently yield the highest return of any public investment economically and socially.” She said it’s her hope that the state reconsiders its decisions to cut early learning access.

“A lot of people put a lot of love into this project,” Shoup said.  “We do hope that we can come together with more early learning programming in our region.” 

Charlotte Alden is CDN’s general assignment/enterprise reporter; reach her at [email protected]; 360-922-3090 ext. 123.