After more than two decades of operation, a vital South Whidbey preschool program has come to an end.

Skagit Valley College, which runs South Whidbey’s Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program, announced in a letter to families that the program closed its doors June 30 at its South Whidbey Elementary School South Campus location on Maxwelton Road.

South Whidbey’s Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program, known as ECEAP, is a tuition-free program funded by the state, based on enrollment numbers, serving children between the ages of 3 and 5 who come from families of modest means or who may be experiencing homelessness, among other qualifying factors.

On Whidbey Island, Skagit Valley College is the contracting agency for ECEAP, which has programs in Coupeville and Oak Harbor. The preschool programs run from September to May or June, depending on the location.

Kenneth Lawson, vice president for instruction at Skagit Valley College, said in a statement to The Record that the South Whidbey program, which began around 1999, has experienced a record number of closures this past year due to staffing shortages.

“Each week we would meet to ensure we had enough staff to safely stay open,” he said. “We had limited substitutes and were down staff members this year. We opened positions that we were not able to fill, and we were not able to maintain full enrollment.”

Three employees – two classroom teachers and one family support specialist – are affected by the closure.

Lawson said Skagit Valley College has offered opportunities for returning students to travel to programs in Coupeville or Oak Harbor. Eight returning families, which included eight children, were offered services at other sites.

“Our goal is always to work with the school district to provide an inclusive classroom,” he said. “However, the responsibility for ensuring services to children with special needs is the school district. Therefore, we encouraged the families with children with an Individual Educational Program to reach out directly to the school district.”

According to the South Whidbey School District website, families seeking preschool placement at the ECEAP Coupeville or Oak Harbor sites should reach out to Julia Sewell at Julia.Sewell@skagit.edu for more information.

A newsletter released Thursday said the district is considering operating a no-cost transitional kindergarten class beginning in the fall for kids at least 4 years old by Aug. 31. Families who meet low income eligibility will be prioritized. To be added to the list of potential candidates for this program, email Superintendent Jo Moccia at jmoccia@sw.wednet.edu or call 360-221-6808 x 2245.