Washington State's Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) provides a comprehensive, family-focused preschool program designed to help low-income children succeed in the public school system and help families support and participate in their children's success. Findings from an ongoing longitudinal study of the ECEAP program indicate that the cognitive and motor skills of children involved in ECEAP have improved significantly, in many cases surpassing the national norms for their age group. In addition, parental expectations and involvement are found to be positively related to children's improvements in measurements of cognitive and physical development. This report documents the first 3 years of an 8-year study of ECEAP. The first section of the report presents an overview of the ECEAP Program and discusses the ECEAP philosophy, program components, state leadership and local implementation, the characteristics of ECEAP children and families, program attrition, highlights of the 1990-91 program year, and anticipated challenges. The next section explains the study design and assesses program outcomes in the areas of child cognitive and physical development, child social and emotional well-being, child health and nutrition, and family well-being and empowerment. Finally, plans for the coming year are outlined. (AC)