Delaware

Program Summary

Overview of Pre-K Program-Early Childhood Assistance Program (ECAP)

Open to four year old children from families whose income is below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level and who are identified as having medical, developmental or social risk factors.
Ninety percent of children qualifying for ECAP must meet the income eligibility standard. The other ten percent of the slots must be reserved for children with disabilities.
Modeled after the Federal Head Start Program. Programs are required to abide by Head Start Performance Standards.
ECAP funds distributed directly to public schools, private agencies, private early care and education programs and Head Start Agencies.
Funded through Delaware General Revenue.
Administered through the Delaware Department of Education, Interagency Resource Management Committee.

1994 Delaware begins funding preschool through the Early Childhood Assistance Program.
2001 Delaware Early Care and Education Council to oversee the development of Early Success: Delaware’s Early Childhood Plan.
2005 Delaware Legislature creates legislative group called Kids Caucus focused solely on the development and learning of young children.
2006 Early Success: Delaware’s Early Childhood Plan (INSERT LINK TO PDF DOC HERE)is released and defines the components of a comprehensive early childhood system. The plan outlines five goals to be achieved by 2015.
2007 Delaware Stars for Early Success, a quality rating and improvement system for Delaware’s early care and education, is implemented.
2008 Program funds slots for 843 of Delaware’s four year olds.

Childhood Longitudinal Study Follow-Up with Fifth Graders, Gamel-McCormick, Amsden and Hartranft, 2005. (Section on Children in Poverty deals with children who received services through ECAP)

Investing in Better Outcomes-The Delaware Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Gamel-McCormick and Amsden, 2002. (Section on Children in Poverty deals with children who received services through ECAP)