2021-2023 BIENNIAL BUDGET SUMMARY Early Childhood Education Expanding access to the

2021-2023 BIENNIAL BUDGET SUMMARY This biennial budget (Senate Bill 5092) is especially complicated given the recently passed federal legislation, ARPA, which directed billions of federal funding to Washington state that has been included. [...] Though these funds are substantial and allowed many additional programs to be supported or created, these funds are a one- time infusion of funding from the federal government. [...] This means many of these newly funded programmatic areas may not be funded in future budget cycles, unless the state finds another way to fund these programs. [...] Early Childhood Education Expanding access to the Early Childhood ECEAP: Increases the subsidy rate by 10% and adds 500 new slots in the 2021-22 school Education and year and 750 new slots in the 22-23 school year Assistance Program (ECEAP) and Working Connections WCCC: Increases income eligibility from 200% FPL ( approx. [...] 50% of SMI) to 60% SMI, Child Care increases the subsidy rate to 85% of market rate, and restructures and temporarily caps (WCCC) copayments (Federal and State funding allocated FPL = Federal Poverty Line through the Fair Start for Kids SMI = State Median Income Act and/or other investments) Emergency Assistance for +$400 million Child Care For child care stabilization grants (Federal funding) K-1.