Programs and Services

We offer free Birth to 5 programs in school districts, college campuses, community

agencies, child care centers, and homes throughout King, Pierce, and Thurston County.

Explore our services, models, and eligibility requirements below.

Please keep in mind that each of our centers/sites has different options
available and may have additional requirements. Use our Find a Classroom map
to find contact information for centers/sites near you.

Preschool (3 to 4 Years Old)

Click each panel to learn about our preschool programs:

ECEAP - State-Funded Preschool

Services for ECEAP Children and Families

The Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP, pronounced E-CAP) is a preschool program funded by the Washington State

Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). Below are some of the services provided for your child and family:

Quality indoor and outdoor learning experiences that promote school readiness

Illustration of a hand holding people, symbolizing support

Family support resources, including parent education

and leadership opportunities

Nutritious classroom

meals served family-style

Health and development

screenings and assessments

Models

ECEAP has 3 models, each with different hours and calendar days. Please call a center/site to learn what they have available.

Part Day

Minimum 3 hours per class session
Minimum 360 hours of direct service in no less than 30 calendar weeks

School Day

Minimum 5.5 hours per class session
4-5 days per week
Minimum 1,000 hours of direct service in no less than 30 calendar weeks

Working Day

Open at least 10 hours per day, 5 days per week
Minimum 2,370 hours of direct service per year
Parents/guardians must meet child care, employment, and/or training requirements

Eligibility

Your child and family can be eligible for ECEAP in many ways. Below are the typical eligibility requirements.

Children must be 3 or 4 years old by August 31 and one or more of the following should apply:

Living on limited income, based on Federal Poverty Guidelines

Child(ren) has an active Individualized Education Plan (IEP)

Call a center/site to learn more!

If interested in ECEAP Working Day, parents must meet one or more of the following:

Single Parent Family

Parent is employed
Parent is in formal training program
Family is approved for CPS childcare
Parent is in WorkFirst activities
Combination of the above for minimum of 25 hrs./week

Two Parent Family

Both parents employed
Both parents in formal training program
Family is approved for CPS childcare
Both parents in WorkFirst activities
Combination of the above for minimum of 55 hrs./week

Head Start (HS) - Federal-Funded Preschool

Services for Head Start Children and Families

Head Start is a preschool program funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Head Start.

Below are some of the services provided for your child and family:

Quality indoor and outdoor learning experiences that promote school readiness

Family support resources, including parent education

and leadership opportunities

Nutritious classroom

meals served family-style

Health and development

screenings and assessments

Models

Head Start has 3 models, each with different hours and calendar days. Please call a center/site to learn what they have available.

Part Day

3-5 hours per day, 4 or 5 days per week
128 (4-day) to 160 (5-day) days per year of planned class operations

School Day

6 hours per day, 4 or 5 days per week
128 (4-day) to 160 (5-day) days per year of planned class operations

Working Day

Maximum 10 hours per day, 4-5 days per week
128 (4-day) to 160 (5-day) days per year of planned class operations

Eligibility

Your child and family can be eligible for Head Start in many ways. Below are the typical eligibility requirements.

Children must be 3 or 4 years old by August 31 and one or more of the following should apply:

Living on limited income, based on Federal Poverty Guidelines

Currently experiencing homelessness, or in the last 12 months

Receiving public assistance (TANF, SSI for disability)

Child is in foster care or kinship care

Call a center/site to learn more!

If interested in Head Start Working Day, parents should also receive Working Connections Child Care (WCCC).

Family Child Care (FCC)

Services for Family Child Care Children and Families

Family Child Care (FCC) follows any Head Start or ECEAP model (see panels above for more information).

Services are provided inside a licensed family child care provider's home or similar setting.

Illustration of a child care center surrounded by trees, an adult, and a child

For more information about Family Child Care, please call, text or email:

Tess Foy:

(425) 917-7760

(253) 778-7760

tfoy@psesd.org

Infants and Toddlers (Zero up to 36 Months)

Click each panel to learn about our infant-toddler programs:

Early Head Start

Services for Early Head Start Children and Families

Early Head Start (EHS) programs provide similar services as preschool Head Start programs, but they are tailored for

the unique needs of infants and toddlers. Below are some of the services provided for your child and family:

Quality learning experiences that promote transition to preschool

Family support resources, including enhanced bonding and attachment

Illustration of a cereal box, milk, and a banana

Nutritious meals

Illustration of a heart with a check mark

Health and development

screenings and assessments

Models

Early Head Start has 2 classroom models, each with different hours and calendar days. Please call a center/site to learn what they have available.

EHS Child Care Partnership (CCP)

1,380 annual hours of planned class operations for all enrolled children
Provides quality licensed child care that allows for flexible and convenient full-day and full-year services

EHS Center-Based

1,380 annual hours of planned class operations for all enrolled children

Eligibility

Your child and family can be eligible for Early Head Start in many ways. Below are the typical eligibility requirements.

Children must be age 0 up to 36 months and one or more of the following should apply:

Living on limited income, based on Federal Poverty Guidelines

Currently experiencing homelessness, or in the last 12 months

Receiving public assistance (TANF, SSI for disability)

Child is in foster care or kinship care

Call a center/site to learn more!

If interested in EHS CCP, parents should also receive childcare subsidy (a form of public assistance), including Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) or other source directed specifically to the child care center.

Early Head Start Home-Based

Services for Early Head Start Home-Based Children and Families

Early Head Start (EHS) Home-Based provides similar services as preschool Head Start programs, but they take place

in your home and are tailored for the unique needs of pregnant/postpartum families and families of infants/toddlers.

Below are some of the services provided for your child and family:

Weekly home visits supporting the parent-child relationship

Family support resources, including parent education and leadership opportunities

Illustration of a person with a health sign and a heart

Child development, health, and nutrition education

Infant/toddler and parent playgroups, and family activities

One home visit per week per family, for at least 1.5 hours each,

minimum 46 visits per year

Minimum 22 group socialization activities (playgroup) per year

Eligibility

Your child and family can be eligible for EHS Home-Based in many ways. Below are the typical eligibility requirements.

Children must be age 0 up to 36 months and one or more of the following should apply:

Living on limited income, based on Federal Poverty Guidelines

Currently experiencing homelessness, or in the last 12 months

Receiving public assistance (TANF, SSI for disability)

Child is in foster care or kinship care

Learn more about EHS Home-Based on their website

Family Child Care (FCC)

Services for Family Child Care Children and Families

Family Child Care (FCC) follows any center-based Early Head Start model (see panels above for more information).

Services are provided inside a licensed family child care provider's home or similar setting.

For more information about Family Child Care, please call, text or email:

Tess Foy:

(425) 917-7760

(253) 778-7760

tfoy@psesd.org

Pregnant Families

Services for Early Head Start Home-Based Pregnant Families

Early Head Start (EHS) Home-Based provides similar services as preschool Head Start programs, but they take place

in your home and are tailored for the unique needs of pregnant/postpartum families and families of infants/toddlers.

Below are some of the services provided for you and your family:

Weekly home visits supporting the pregnancy and post-partum period

Family support resources, including parent education and leadership opportunities

Child development, health, and nutrition education

Infant/toddler and parent playgroups, and family activities

One home visit per week per family, for at least 1.5 hours each,

minimum 46 visits per year

Minimum 22 group socialization activities (playgroup) per year

Eligibility

You and your family can be eligible for EHS Home-Based in many ways. Below are the typical eligibility requirements.

Living on limited income, based on Federal Poverty Guidelines

Currently experiencing homelessness, or in the last 12 months

Receiving public assistance (TANF, SSI for disability)

Child is in foster care or kinship care

Learn more about EHS Home-Based on their website

Ready to find a program near you?

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USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

PSESD Early Learning works with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) to provide nutritious meals and snacks to children, improve and maintain their health and nutritional status, and promote the development of good eating habits. Please contact the center/site you are applying to if they have a PSESD USDA CACFP Agreement.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

Fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442

Email:
Program.Intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

If you need this information in another language, please click the "Translate" button in the upper right corner of this window and select a language.

Amharic: ይህ መረጃ በሌላ ቋንቋ ከፈለጉ፣ እባክዎ በዚህ መስኮት በላይኛው ቀኝ ጥግ ላይ ያለውን የትርጉም ቁልፍን ጠቅ ያድርጉ እና ቋንቋዎን ይምረጡ።

Arabic:

إذا كنت بحاجة إلى هذه المعلومات بلغة أخرى ، فالرجاء النقر فوق الزر "ترجمة" في الزاوية اليمنى العليا من هذه النافذة واختيار لغتك.

Chinese (simp): 如果您需要其他语言的此信息，请单击此窗口右上角的翻译按钮并选择您的语言。

Chinese (trad): 如果您需要其他語言的此信息，請單擊此窗口右上角的翻譯按鈕並選擇您的語言。

Dari:

اگر به این اطلاعات به زبان دیگری نیاز دارید، لطفاً روی دکمه "ترجمه" در گوشه سمت راست بالای این پنجره کلیک کنید و یک زبان را انتخاب کنید

French: Si vous avez besoin de ces informations dans une autre langue, veuillez cliquer sur le bouton Traduire dans le coin supérieur droit de cette fenêtre et choisissez votre langue.

Punjabi: ਜੇਕਰ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਕਿਸੇ ਹੋਰ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਸ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਦੀ ਲੋੜ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰਕੇ ਇਸ ਵਿੰਡੋ ਦੇ ਉੱਪਰ ਸੱਜੇ ਕੋਨੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਨੁਵਾਦ ਬਟਨ 'ਤੇ ਕਲਿੱਕ ਕਰੋ ਅਤੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ ਚੁਣੋ।

Russian: Если вам нужна эта информация на другом языке, нажмите кнопку «Перевести» в правом верхнем углу этого окна и выберите язык.

Somali: Haddii aad macluumaadkan ugu baahan tahay luqad kale, fadlan guji badhanka Turjumaada ee ku yaal geeska sare ee midig ee daaqadan oo dooro luqadaada.

Spanish: Si necesita esta información en otro idioma, haga clic en el botón Traducir en la esquina superior derecha de esta ventana y elija su idioma.

Ukrainian: Якщо вам потрібна ця інформація іншою мовою, натисніть кнопку «Перекласти» у верхньому правому куті цього вікна та виберіть свою мову.

Vietnamese: Nếu bạn cần thông tin này bằng ngôn ngữ khác, vui lòng nhấp vào nút Dịch ở góc trên bên phải của cửa sổ này và chọn ngôn ngữ của bạn.