Preschool Expansion

Walla Walla Public Schools’ youngest learners in the Head Start/Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) Preschool are getting a boost in their educational services thanks to a state grant and new partnership with Educational Service District (ESD) 123. The recently announced ECEAP award will add 30 preschool slots and expand most services to full day, five-days-per-week programming beginning next fall. Currently the district’s 234 preschool students only receive ½ day, four-days-per-week programming through a blended state (ECEAP) and federal (Head Start) funding model due to financial limitations. The expanded preschool program will now be able to serve 264 qualifying students at Blue Ridge Elementary, with a majority now receiving full-day services.

“Many qualifying families are unable to participate in the current program due to their inability to find morning or afternoon daycare and Friday coverage,” said Superintendent Wade Smith. “The full-day, five-days-per-week program will relieve that challenge, provide enhanced learning opportunities, and also make it cost effective to ensure busing is available to all of our families.”

Analysis and outreach from local organizations including the Walla Walla Valley Early Learning Coalition, Community Council and Walla Walla Early Learning Taskforce reveal a need for more early learning services based on the lack of sufficient preschool opportunities and limited access to related services. As identified in the 2018 Walla Walla County Community Health Report, four of Walla Walla’s six elementary schools fell below the statewide average for kindergarten readiness, pointing to a need for the increased services.  

ESD 123 will serve as the primary service provider for the ECEAP Program at Blue Ridge. The ESD 123 partnership has also opened up the opportunity for WWPS to apply for a recently announced Head Start Duration grant to provide supplemental funds to increase program hours as well for qualifying students. This funding opportunity will allow the district to further expand and improve services for preschool students. The district will learn in the coming weeks if it will receive the additional Duration funding, but early indication reveals the award is likely, according to Smith.

“The Duration Grant, if awarded, will ensure long-term funding and solvency for the Head Start program for current and future students,” said Smith. “Our goal is to serve all qualifying families and ensure our preschool students are kindergarten ready when they enter our Walla Walla Public Schools system.”