On Monday, Sept. 21, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson and the state Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) released a list of 42 sites across the state adding new slots for the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) in the 2026-27 school year.
The program offers free preschool and family support to low-income children who are 2 or 4 years old.
According to a news release from the governor’s office, the new sites and expansion at existing ECEAP providers will add approximately 2,400 new ECEAP slots, funded by a public-private partnership between the state of Washington and the Ballmer Group.
The new sites include the Pacific Northwest Early Learning Center in Centralia .
In November 2025, Ferguson, DCYF Secretary Tana Senn and representatives from Ballmer Group Philanthropy announced a new grant to dramatically expand ECEAP in Washington. The Ballmer Group’s grant is expected to fund up to 10,000 additional seats for ECEAP’s school-day model over the next 10 years, totaling approximately $1 billion in support for early learning, according to the news release.
The approximately 2,400 new slots and 42 new sites are a decrease from what was previously announced.
“However, this number has successfully exceeded the state’s original goal of expanding to 2,000 new students in the first year,” the news release stated. “Some sites that previously accepted funding have since returned funds due to workforce shortages and unforeseen challenges with opening a new classroom. DCYF continues to work with applicants to address barriers to service.”
In the 2026-27 school year, state and Ballmer Group grant funds will be used to award over $251 million to early learning providers. The slots are being added at 105 current ECEAP sites and 42 new sites.
“As we’re facing budget challenges, our public-private partnership is expanding access to high-quality early education for thousands of kids across our state,” Ferguson said. “This expansion means more children, including our most vulnerable, will get the support they need to thrive in school and beyond.”
ECEAP is Washington's state-funded pre-K program for children ages 3 and 4. The program provides access to free, high-quality preschool to eligible low-income families.
More information about ECEAP, including how to locate a provider and apply, is available at https://tinyurl.com/3xxzawrc.
Information on how to become an ECEAP provider is available at https://tinyurl.com/2p9ku6yf.
