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Summer 2021 Newsletter - Volume 2, Issue 2
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Welcome to DEEL's Summer 2021 newsletter! This month marks the end of a school year like no other, and while our students and communities have faced unprecedented challenges, they have proven themselves resilient and compassionate in ways that will lead us all to a more equitable, empathetic future.
In this issue, you’ll read about how our school partners adapted to remote learning environments, how city, school, and public health partners collaborated to provide youth vaccination and education opportunities, and how federal relief funds will support educational equity for Seattle students impacted by the pandemic. You’ll also get to meet our amazing K-12 unit, who work closely with school and community partners to implement Families, Education, Preschool and Promise Levy funded programming and other initiatives for K-12 youth. Each team member brings a unique set of experiences supporting student learning, a deep commitment to advancing educational equity, and strong ties to the Seattle community. We are so fortunate to have this passionate group of individuals supporting our youth and families.
With Child Care Provider and Educator Appreciation Day in May and now graduation season upon us, it has been a season rich in celebration and gratitude for the educators and students who inspire us all. The perseverance of students and educators alike this past school year cannot be overstated, and to each graduate, we express our congratulations and faith in your unique brilliance to guide you in your next chapter.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our lives like nothing we’ve experienced before. As our City continues to make strides towards recovery, we at DEEL have only strengthened our resolve to partner with community, live our values, and realize a city where all children, youth, and families have equitable access to high-quality educational opportunities from preschool through postsecondary. Thank you for joining and supporting us in this journey!
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 Dana Harrison
K-12 & Postsecondary Division Director
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DEEL Partner Schools Adapt During a Challenging Year
When the pandemic forced school buildings to close and shifted instruction online, the supplemental funding DEEL invests in 30 partner schools became more important than ever to enhance academic services, provide social-emotional supports, and promote culturally-responsive teaching practices. Schools introduced innovative strategies to increase family engagement and help keep students on the path to college and career readiness.
Read more about how schools supported student learning and engagement during the 2020-2021 school year.
Image Credit: ShotzByStoli
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This May and June, the City of Seattle partnered with Seattle Public Schools (SPS) to provide COVID-19 vaccination opportunities at school sites citywide for students ages 12 and up. The clinics, administered by the Seattle Fire Department (SFD), also welcomed parents, guardians and family members to receive vaccines at select school clinics. Each school hosted at least two clinics for students and families to receive both doses of the vaccine. As of June 11, 5,886 vaccines have been administered at school-based vaccination clinics.
Watch City and school leaders discuss efforts to vaccinate Seattle youth.
Image credit: Seattle Fire Department
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 Seattle Preschool Program Accepting Applications for Fall 2021
Seattle's award-winning, high-quality preschool program is open for applications for the 2021-2022 school year. Children who will be three- or four-years old by August 31 and live in Seattle are eligible to apply for the Seattle Preschool Program (SPP), which offers free or highly affordable tuition rates determined by household income and size.
Seattle Preschool Program has capacity to serve more than 2,000 children in 129 classrooms across the city in the upcoming year to promote kindergarten readiness for all Seattle children.
Learn more and apply for SPP at www.seattle.gov/applySPP.
Image Credit: City of Seattle
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 New Seattle Promise Partnership with Seattle Colleges and University of Washington Announced
Earlier this month, Mayor Jenny Durkan announced the City of Seattle will leverage new federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to enhance the Seattle Promise program and address education disparities exacerbated by COVID-19. New funding will provide high-school graduates access to summer pre-college coursework, expand Equity Scholarship eligibility, extend Promise program supports beyond two-years for scholars impacted by COVID-19, and fund a new transfer support program with the University of Washington.
View Mayor Durkan's press release on this announcement here.
Image Credit: ShotzByStoli
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Seattle Preschool Program Provider Transforms School Bus into Mobile Classroom, Bringing Safe, In-Person, Individualized Instruction to Students’ Homes
During the 2020-2021 school year, the Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) looked different from previous years, with smaller class sizes, social distancing, and remote learning. One innovative SPP provider, Causey’s Learning Center, brought creative solutions right to the doorsteps of their preschoolers.
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Read the full article on Ruth Brown and Causey's Classroom on Wheels on DEEL's blog.
Image credit: Causey's Learning Center
Mentoring Urban Students and Teens (MUST) Provides Continuity of Connection and Near-Peer Mentorship Throughout COVID-19
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The COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the importance of connection and mentorship for students like never before. Mentoring Urban Students and Teens (MUST) continued to provide safe, in-person near-peer mentorship that kept African American high school boys socially connected to positive male role models and engaged in school.
Read the full story on DEEL's blog here.
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Image Credit: Mentoring Urban Students and Teens (MUST)
Mayor Durkan Proclaims May 7, 2021 as Child Care Provider and Educator Appreciation Day
Child care providers, early learning educators, youth development workers, and K-12 teachers play an essential role in the development of our children and a strong social infrastructure. DEEL was proud to join Mayor Jenny Durkan to honor their service to families and students in recognition of Child Care Provider and Educator Appreciation Day.
Read the full Mayoral Proclamation here.
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Sixth-Annual Institute on Children, Race, and Racism Convenes 600+ Educators and Allies to Elevate Black Boy Brilliance and Joy
On June 2– 4, 2021, DEEL hosted our sixth annual Children, Race, and Racism Institute: Elevating the Brilliance of Black Boys. Over three days, a total of 639 attendees tuned in live to hear three different keynotes from national and local leaders, as well as nine workshops led by educators working in the field. Participants also heard from a youth panel from the Seattle Public Schools Leadership Council and visited a virtual expo/vendor hall. Audience members included educators, administrators, and directors working with children across the birth to secondary educational spectrum.
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Learn more and view the recorded workshop sessions here.
DEEL Staff Spotlight: K-12 Unit
This month’s newsletter spotlights our K-12 unit, whose work with school and community partners focuses on ensuring that Seattle students graduate high school on time and ready for college and career.
Meet the team! (Top, L-to-R: Manager Sean Flikke, Senior Advisors Theresa D’Agostino and Colin Pierce. Bottom, L-to-R: Senior Advisor Laura Jones; Advisors Nicole Chu and Glenn McCray. Not pictured, new K-12 Advisor Vik Cheema)
DEEL’s K-12 unit is responsible for stewarding investments that include 30 partner schools and a myriad of community partners who provide Seattle students in Kindergarten through Grade 12 with expanded learning opportunities, college and career readiness experiences, culturally specific and responsive programming, access to school-based physical and mental healthcare, and wraparound services to support learning and wellbeing.
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Throughout the pandemic, the K-12 team worked with school and community partners to pivot investments for remote learning to sustain student supports essential for day-to-day learning. In addition to stewarding a portfolio of over $25 million in annual investments supported by the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise Levy, the team convenes K-12 partners to provide professional development for educators, promote collaboration across the City among organizations that serve Seattle youth, and share the experience and wisdom of our partners and grantees. Below, the team shares some of the work they were most inspired by during the 2020-2021 school year:
Theresa: This year, I was inspired by the way Rising Star Elementary engaged families in supporting their children's remote learning. They made their Academic Parent Teacher Team (APTT) more accessible by shifting to a virtual environment and offering evening sessions to better support parents’ role in their child’s academic success.
Colin: Some of our partner schools found really inventive ways to engage students beyond academics this year. My favorites included extracurricular clubs developed by Mercer Middle School, including dungeons and dragons, choir, and drama. Mercer hosted virtual Drama Showcases, where students showed off scenes and skits, musical compositions, and songs they had been practicing for months, including a beautiful rendition of Rhianna's "Stay" by a talented sixth grader. The events brought students, community members, parents, and school staff together to appreciate the ways that creativity, beauty, and community sustain us through challenging times.
Laura: I’m proud to have worked with Lowell Elementary School, who went above and beyond to provide students with safe places to access in-person support for remote learning and nutritious meals to ensure they had the resources they needed to stay engaged in school.
Nicole: Several of our community-based partners delivered project kits and cooking ingredients to students’ homes for hands-on learning opportunities. Providing these materials made a big difference in keeping students interested and excited about learning.
Glenn: I was most excited for ACE:FAME's culminating event, "Day of Excellence," at Genesee Park on May 22 celebrating fifty young black men who participated in their Saturday program over the last 9 months. It was encouraging to be a part of an safe, in-person celebration whose staff also went the extra mile to ensure families felt safe.
To learn more about the team and ways to partner with DEEL in the K-12 space, please contact Sean at sean.flikke@seattle.gov.
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Summer Childcare Opportunities
The City of Seattle has two great resources for families seeking school-age child care this summer.
Seattle Parks and Recreation has 17 sites offering full-day weekly summer childcare camps for children ages 5-12. These camps will offer a range of engaging indoor and outdoor activities for kids that adhere to all of current public health guidelines for child care providers. Camp registration is open now and scholarships for camp fees are available for qualifying families. Seattle Parks and Recreation will also offer a range of other fun, family activities and amenities this summer. Learn more about what will be available here.
Additionally, DEEL's Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) helps income-eligible working families or families with a parent attending school to pay child care costs for children ages one month through 12 years. Families receive a monthly voucher for child care that can be used at any one of the City's more than 200 participating CCAP providers. For more information, visit seattle.gov/ccap.
Image Credit: Peter Harris of ShotzByStoli
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Seattle Public Schools (SPS) Resources
Student Meals - Beginning June 21, SPS's free summer meal program will be available to SPS students at 25 school sites throughout the city from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday - Friday except for July 2nd and 5th.
Summer Learning Programs - SPS will offer virtual and in-person summer learning opportunities to promote academic engagement, joy, and wellness in preparation for a full return to school in the fall. Summer opportunities will include programs for preschool through high school-age youth. All in-person opportunities will follow current COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
Some SPS elementary, middle, and high schools will offer their own summer programs in partnership with community organizations. School staff will reach out directly with current and incoming students for site-based programming opportunities. Learn more about summer programming offered by SPS partners here.
For additional SPS Resources, visit the SPS Resources web page.
Image Credit: Seattle Public Schools
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June 28: Seattle Preschool Program Facilities Fund RFI Opens for Applications
July 23: QPPD Intentional Teaching Outdoors Training
August 4: Prenatal-To-Three Community Grants RFI Opens for Applications
Coming Soon: New Funding Opportunity for Youth-Led Anti-Bias Programming
More information on the above funding opportunities will be provided on DEEL's Funding Opportunities page as it becomes available.
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