Early Childhood Assistance (ECAP) ...

The Early Childhood Assistance Program (ECAP) provides comprehensive preschool services for Delaware's four year old children to ensure their success in kindergarten and beyond.

Funded by Department of Education, ECAP serves 108 four year olds whose families are low income in four classes in the Capital School District and two in the Cape Henlopen School District. Ten percent of enrollments is offered to children with disabilities.

ECAP is modeled after the Head Start model, addressing four areas of need: Education Services, Health Services, Parent Involvement, and Social Services. Geared toward low-income children and their families, ECAP focuses on:

• Language and literacy
• Social, emotiona and physical development
• Health andnutrition
• Mental wellness

Eligibility

Children are eligible if:

• They are four years old by August 31.
• Their families either fall under federal poverty guidelines (see http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/05poverty.shtml) or receive public assistance (TANF or SSI).
• A child is in foster care (in this case, family income is not considered)

Note that children who come from families with incomes slightly higher than guidelines may participate in ECAP when space is available, if approved by a supervisor.