by Vee Hua 華婷婷
Seattle families with 3- or 4-year-olds can now apply for free or reduced sliding-scale preschool education, based on each family's income level. Last week, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced an expansion of the Seattle Preschool Program (SPP), which will grow to serve 2,500 students citywide, across 150 classrooms. SPP aims to close opportunity gaps in kindergarten readiness, based on research that children who participate in high-quality early learning environments are more likely to succeed in kindergarten.
The award-winning program is funded by the voter-approved Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) Levy, first passed in 2014 and later expanded and reapproved in 2018. Almost 70% of families with children participating in the program do not pay tuition. In 2021—2022, 77% of SPP participants identified as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or People of Color), and 41% came from immigrant or refugee backgrounds.
"Bringing affordable preschool education to Seattle families is vital for our region. A lot of families are still recuperating from the economic hardships of the pandemic, an increase in the cost of living, and putting food on the table," Dwane Chappelle, director of the Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL), said in a press release. "If we can remove one less burden, like supporting their child's education through tuition assistance, then we are happy to provide an investment that will set up students for success, especially in their formative years of life."
Programming is offered by DEEL, in partnership with community-based preschool providers and preschool services offered by Seattle Public Schools. According to the DEEL website, "Since 2015, SPP has helped prepare more than 6,300 children for kindergarten by developing pre-academic skills and supporting social-emotional growth."
For the 2024—2025 school year, applicants who submit applications between March 15 to April 15 will be notified of initial placement by May 1. Applicants who submit after April 15 will be notified on a rolling basis as seats are available.
Applications are also available to print and offered in Amharic, Chinese, English, Oromo, Spanish, Somali, Tigrinya, and Vietnamese.
On March 5, Mayor Bruce Harrell released an initial draft of his One Seattle Comprehensive Plan, which would serve as a framework to guide the city's growth over the next 20 years. Among the plan's key components is a proposal for increased housing density across all parts of the city, which would hypothetically bring "middle housing," which allows denser development, to each neighborhood and expand housing around transit hubs. The plan also seeks to increase walkability in neighborhoods, reduce climate impacts, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
From March to May, Harrell and the Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) are inviting the public to a series of conversations where they can learn more about the draft plan, speak to neighbors and OPCD staff, and access materials about the draft, including alternative ways to share feedback.
Two community conversations have already taken place. Language interpretation services are available for the remaining five, which take place:
If Seattle residents are unable to attend the meetings, OPCD encourages all community members to provide feedback on the Draft Plan via the One Seattle Plan Engagement Hub or by emailing OneSeattleCompPlan@Seattle.gov.
A 60-day public comment period began following the release of the draft plan, which can be viewed on the City of Seattle's website.
A collaboration between the City of Seattle and the Y Social Impact Center, the "Get Engaged" program is now in its 23rd year and helps place individuals ages 18—29 on the City of Seattle's boards and commissions. Interested community members would be selected by current participants of each board or commission and serve a one-year term as a full voting member, beginning in September 2024.
Seattle boards and commissions are unpaid advisory roles that advocate for policy decisions, make recommendations, and offer citizen perspectives to local government. They may work with the mayor, City Council, city offices, other city boards and commissions, and more on targeted, specific issues that help shape the future of Seattle.
"Get Engaged" helps cultivate the next generation of leaders and advocate for younger voices in City government. The program has been in operation since 2001, and current participating boards and commissions include:
Applications for the 2024—2025 term are due Friday, April 19, at 8 p.m. Interested parties must complete the application, as well as send a resume, cover letter, and two references to IBender@SeattleYMCA.org.
Editors' Note: This article was updated on 03/26/2024 to correct a photo caption that inaccurately identified a preschool in the Central District instead of the correct location, Mount Baker preschool.
Vee Hua 華婷婷 (they/them) is a writer, filmmaker, and organizer with semi-nomadic tendencies. Much of their work unifies their metaphysical interests with their belief that art can positively transform the self and society. They are the editor-in-chief of REDEFINE, a long-time member of the Seattle Arts Commission, and a film educator at the interdisciplinary community hub, Northwest Film Forum, where they previously served as executive director and played a key role in making the space more welcoming and accessible for diverse audiences. After a recent stint as the interim managing editor at South Seattle Emerald, they are moving into production on their feature film, Reckless Spirits, which is a metaphysical, multilingual POC buddy comedy. They have a master's in Tribal Resource and Environmental Stewardship under the American Indian Studies Department at the University of Minnesota, Duluth.
📸 Featured Image: Children wait outside a Mount Baker preschool. (Photo: Alex Garland)
The South Seattle Emerald™ website contains information and content supplied by third parties and community members. Information contained herein regarding any specific person, commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the South Seattle Emerald™, its directors, editors, or staff members.
Before you move on to the next story …
The South Seattle Emerald™ is brought to you by Rainmakers. Rainmakers give recurring gifts at any amount. With around 1,000 Rainmakers, the Emerald™ is truly community-driven local media. Help us keep BIPOC-led media free and accessible.
If just half of our readers signed up to give $6 a month, we wouldn't have to fundraise for the rest of the year. Small amounts make a difference.
We cannot do this work without you. Become a Rainmaker today!