Wondering what the City of Seattle has in store for improving child care access and preschool access, keeping school-age kids safe and mentally healthy, and ensuring that every kid gets a chance to go to college? Make a list of your questions and bring them to a community meeting presented by the Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) at the Magnuson Community Center this Thursday, Feb 26th, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
The informational event is designed for families, and participants will be invited to share their thoughts on plans. DEEL will provide free dinner, interpretation services, and children’s activities during the gathering.
The event is free, however, space is limited, so registration is required.
The Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) is hosting the two community conversations on Feb. 24 and Feb. 26 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. to outline its plans to invest income from the recently re-approved Families, Education, Preschool & Promise Levy (FEPP) in childcare and education. The $1.3 billion property tax  was passed by voters last November and will provide:
- $658.2 million for the city’s early learning programs, doubling the city-funded childcare slots from 600 to 1,400 and adding 600 more slots to the nationally recognized Seattle Preschool Program, bringing the total seats to 3,100 annually.
- $235 million for K-12 health and safety efforts, including building five more School-based Health Centers, providing students with greater access to physical and mental health care in person and via telehealth. It would also fund violence prevention efforts and school safety services.
- $82.5 million to fund universal access to a free two-year college degree and expand pathways to the trades through the Seattle Promise scholarship program.
Details on two upcoming Community Conversations
- Tuesday, Feb. 24 | Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Where: Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, 104 17th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144
- Thursday, Feb. 26 | Time: 5:30–7:30 p.m. | Where: Magnuson Community Center, 7110 62nd Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98115
Both events are free, however space is limited, so registration is required.
Learn more about Seattle’s child care struggle
The most recent issue of Seattle’s Child is dedicated to exploring Seattle’s child care crisis—too few slots to cover the need and too high costs for many families to afford. Check out these articles on Seatttleschild.com
- Child care by the numbers—and where to turn for help | Seattle is a ways away from universal child care, but assistss thousands with care
- Universal Child Care: What can Seattle learn from New Mexico? | New Mexico’s new universal, no-fee child care system has insights
- The cost of child care: One block, five families, $200,000+ a year | Child care for two kids can cost as much as four years of college tuition
- Immigrant providers are critical to achieving universal child care| Equity in child care access depends on it
- What’s the DEEL? Seattle’s work toward universal child care| DEEL Director Dwane Chappelle discusses where we are and what it will take
- Child care by the numbers—and where to turn for help| Seattle is a ways away from universal child care, but assistss thousands with care
- In Seattle, few employers significantly subsidize child care| Outlier YMCA considers child care ‘not a perk, but a foundation for equity and opportunity
- ‘We need long-term funding not short-term fixes’ | City and state leaders say they’ll keep working to address the state’s child care crisis
