HB 2659 expands eligibility for the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP):
- Changes the income criterion for "eligible child" to a child not eligible for kindergarten whose family income is at or below 185% (from 110%) of the federal poverty level
- Adds children who are members of a federally recognized tribe as priority for enrollment
- Beginning in the 2019-20 school year, funding for the program must be phased-in based on the forecasted caseload of children eligible and projected to participate
- Creates rules for prioritizing eligible children for enrollment according to a system of risk factors and priority points adopted by the department
- Pushes statewide implementation of the early learning program (ECEAP) (i.e. the entitlement) out to the 2028-29 school year (from 2022-23) and identifies the timelines for achieving full implementation, which would be in place by the 2028-2029 biennium
- Increases school districts to seven (from six) who may contract with the department