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Bill would let eligible children enroll in ECAP when they turn 3 to fill underused slots (HB 1351)
Summary
House Bill 1351 would allow Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) programs to enroll children who are two but will turn three during the school year, subject to space and funding, so qualifying children can access services sooner without expanding the ECAP entitlement.
The Early Learning and Human Services Committee heard testimony on House Bill 1351, which would allow the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to enroll certain children in the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECAP) as soon as they turn 3 years old if a program has space, sponsor Rep. Amy Birnbaum said in her first bill presentation to the committee.
Background and problem: ECAP provides no‑cost preschool and wraparound services for eligible children who are not yet age‑eligible for kindergarten, and — beginning with the 2026‑27 school year — some ECAP eligibility will be an entitlement for children who meet the standard criteria. Staff briefed the committee that, subject to available funding and space,…
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