wa-law.org > bill > 2025-26 > HB 1351 > Original Bill

HB 1351 - ECEAP age requirements

Source

Section 1

  1. The department shall adopt rules that allow the enrollment of children who meet one or more of the following criteria in the early childhood education and assistance program, as space is available if the number of such children equals not more than twenty-five percent of total statewide enrollment:

    1. The child's family income is above one hundred ten percent but less than or equal to one hundred thirty percent of the federal poverty level;

    2. The child's family income is above one hundred thirty percent but less than or equal to two hundred percent of the federal poverty level if the child meets at least one of the risk factor criterion described in subsection (2) of this section; or

    3. Beginning November 1, 2024, the child is not eligible under RCW 43.216.505 and is a member of an assistance unit that is eligible for or is receiving basic food benefits under the federal supplemental nutrition assistance program or the state food assistance program.

  2. Children enrolled in the early childhood education and assistance program pursuant to subsection (1)(b) of this section must be prioritized for available funded slots according to a prioritization system adopted in rule by the department that considers risk factors that have a disproportionate effect on kindergarten readiness and school performance, including:

    1. Family income as a percent of the federal poverty level;

    2. Homelessness;

    3. Child welfare system involvement;

    4. Developmental delay or disability that does not meet the eligibility criteria for special education described in RCW 28A.155.020;

    5. Domestic violence;

    6. English as a second language;

    7. Expulsion from an early learning setting;

    8. A parent who is incarcerated;

      1. A parent with a substance use disorder or mental health treatment need; and

    9. Other risk factors determined by the department to be linked by research to school performance.

  3. The department shall adopt rules that allow a child to enroll in the early childhood education and assistance program, as space is available, when the child is not eligible under RCW 43.216.505 and the child turns three years old at any time during the school year when the child:

    1. [Empty]

      1. Has a family income at or below two hundred percent of the federal poverty level or meets at least one risk factor criterion adopted by the department in rule; and

      2. Has received services from or participated in:

(A) The early support for infants and toddlers program;

(B) The early head start or a successor federal program providing comprehensive services for children from birth through two years of age; or

(C) The birth to three early childhood education and assistance program, if such a program is established; or

b. Meets the definition of eligible child under RCW 43.216.505 aside from age criteria under that definition.
  1. Children enrolled in the early childhood education and assistance program under this section are not considered eligible children as defined in RCW 43.216.505 and are not considered to be part of the state-funded entitlement required in RCW 43.216.556.

Section 2

  1. The department shall adopt rules that allow a child to enroll in the early childhood education and assistance program, as space is available and subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, when the child is not eligible under RCW 43.216.505 and the child turns three years old at any time during the school year when the child:

    1. [Empty]

      1. Has a family income at or below 50 percent of the state median income or meets at least one risk factor criterion adopted by the department in rule; and

      2. Has received services from or participated in:

(A) The early head start or a successor federal program providing comprehensive services for children from birth through two years of age;

(B) The early support for infants and toddlers program or received class C developmental services;

(C) The birth to three early childhood education and assistance program; or

(D) The early childhood intervention and prevention services program; or

b. Meets the definition of eligible child under RCW 43.216.505 aside from age criteria under that definition.
  1. Children enrolled in the early childhood education and assistance program under this section are not eligible children as defined in RCW 43.216.505 and are not part of the state-funded entitlement required in RCW 43.216.556.

Section 3

Section 1 of this act expires July 1, 2026.

Section 4

Section 2 of this act takes effect July 1, 2026.

Created by @tannewt. Contribute on GitHub.