Department of Education and Early Learning Fall 2024 Newsletter

City of Seattle, Washington sent this bulletin at 09/30/2024 03:35 PM PDT

Fall 2024, Volume 5, Issue 3

From Preschool to Promise: A Back-to-School Spotlight on Seattle Students

A smiling Dr. Dwane Chappelle, DEEL Director, visits with a Black scholar at Rainier Beach High School for the first day of classes

DEEL Director Dr. Dwane Chappelle joins the Rainier Beach High School community for the first day of classes on Wednesday, September 4, 2024.

Alongside Seattle families, school and community partners, the Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) celebrated the September return to classes and start of the 2024-2025 school year for students from preschool to college.

Early Learning

Nearly 2,000 children are currently enrolled in the Seattle Preschool Program (SPP), with open seats for up to 500 more children ages three and four. As part of Seattle’s commitment to bring high-quality preschool to the city’s future leaders, Mayor Harrell added 17 new SPP classrooms this school year, with 318 seats added to serve nearly 2,500 children citywide. This school year, SPP is partnering with 27 organizations for a total of 99 preschool sites and 154 classrooms. Read more about fall 2024 Seattle Preschool Program highlights here.

K-12

DEEL celebrates the new academic year for students and families at our FEPP Levy-funded School Based Investment (SBI) partner schools. To prepare for the start of the school year, the SBI team hosted elementary and secondary principals and Levy coordinators across our 30 schools at Denny Middle School on August 22. This meeting provided school staff the opportunity to reflect within and across grade level teams on past year successes and challenges and do some intentional goal-setting and visioning on how to meet the needs of levy focused students in the new school year.

The DEEL SBI team hosts elementary and secondary principals and levy coordinators from 30 schools at Denny Middle School

Photo of the 2024 SBI Kick Off at Denny Middle School courtesy of DEEL School-Based Investment team.

Our school leaders continue to remain responsive to ongoing student challenges from mental health, the influx of multilingual students, and ensuring students have the academic supports to meet grade level standards. These annual meetings provide staff the opportunity to co-create and share best practices that are both culturally responsive and enhance high quality learning environments. Additionally, these meetings provide DEEL staff an opportunity to learn how we can continue to support and offer technical assistance for our levy-funded schools, as they work to build and sustain an infrastructure for long-term student success.

Beyond in-school supports and practices, DEEL is also innovating to meet the need for youth mental health care by increasing access to telehealth services for all middle and high school students, and Seattle youth up to age 24. This fall, DEEL is partnering with the Human Services Department (HSD) to expand services provided by Joon and identifying additional telehealth providers through a Request for Proposal, with the full suite of telehealth services slated to launch by Spring 2025. Continue reading below to learn more about DEEL-supported mental health resources for Seattle youth, including details on accessible care through Joon and the RFP provider partnership model of care.

Follow our blog for upcoming stories on the ways DEEL investments are supporting healthy and enriching learning environments from preschool through K-12 in the 2024-25 school year: What's the DEEL? - Department of Education and Early Learning

Photo from Seattle Promise 2024 Summer Bridge courtesy of Seattle Colleges.

Promise

In the last week of August and first week of September, nearly 900 incoming Seattle Promise scholars attended Summer Bridge— a required on-campus new student orientation in preparation for fall quarter. Participants built skills and awareness by attending workshops on topics including Student Technology and Academic Resources and Strategies. Activities included a mock-classroom experience and student panel, as well as the opportunity to connect with peers and advisers at The Promise Fair featuring food, campus tours, and lots of resources.

More than 1,500 Seattle Promise students are enrolled for the Fall 2024 quarter, which began on Monday, September 23.

Seattle Promise applications are now open to the High School Class of 2025! Learn more and apply here.

Awardee Announcements

Black, Indigenous and People of Color community staff, volunteers, board members, and Mental Health Practitioners with Therapy Fund Foundation, 2024 Prenatal-to-Three Community Grant recipient. Photo courtesy of Therapy Fund Foundation.

Prenatal-to-Three Community Grant Awardees

In July, the DEEL Early Learning Division proudly announced the five community partner organizations awarded through the 2024 Prenatal-to-Three (PN3) Community Grant. Therapy Fund Foundation, Native Family Learning Lodge, Villa Comunitaria, Unified Outreach: Concepts Offering Lives of Respectability Everyone Deserves, and Rainier Valley Birth & Health Center have been selected for funds intended to improve kindergarten readiness by reducing race-based, gender-based, and other socioeconomic health disparities for young children and their families during the birth-to-three period. Each partner has been selected to receive $298,000 over two years, from 2024 to 2026, for a total of $1.49 million in funds distributed. To learn more, visit our blog here.

Funding Opportunities

Banner announcing the 2024 DEEL Telehealth RFP application period is open through Friday, October 18, 2024

Open Now: Telehealth for Students & Youth Request for Proposal (RFP)

Through Friday, October 18, 2024, eligible mental health service providers can apply to the Telehealth for Students & Youth Request for Proposal (RFP) supporting the mental well-being of Seattle’s diverse student population. The RFP is part of a multi-faceted City-wide youth mental health investment strategy that delivers supports for youth across the mental health continuum, reaches youth in ways that are culturally responsive, localized to their communities, evidence-based, and informed by youth and family needs. Previously published guidelines established that organizations interested in participating in future DEEL RFP processes related to student telehealth services MUST have completed that RFI process to be eligible. To learn more about forthcoming telehealth services for Seattle students and youth to be funded through the RFP, read here.

Coming Soon: Opportunity to Join the Seattle Preschool Program for 2025-2026

The Department of Education and Early Learning will be announcing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the Seattle Preschool Programs. Applications will be accepted from center-based early learning providers seeking to join the Seattle Preschool Program or expand existing SPP classrooms at their site. More information about this RFQ will be shared on DEEL’s Funding Opportunities webpage.

Visit our website for more information about DEEL's funding processes, including timelines for notification of selected applications and awards.

Want to stay up-to-date on funding opportunities from DEEL?

Sign up for our Education Funding Opportunities email list to get notifications about upcoming funding and partnership opportunities delivered to your inbox.

Student, Family & Community Resources

Someone holding a smart phone to connect virtually with a mental health provider

City of Seattle Offers Free Therapy for Teens & Young Adults with Joon

Thanks to a partnership with the City of Seattle Human Services Department, Seattle Public Schools students and area youth ages 13 to 24 can access confidential virtual therapy with Joon, now through the end of the year. Care is provided free of charge, with no cost to the youth or their family. Local teens and young adults have until October 11 to enroll and begin receiving 1:1 therapeutic care. Young people interested in connecting with a therapist can get started here. Learn more about Joon’s partnership with City of Seattle here.

Information about accessing #ReachOut confidential mental health services by calling or texting 988

Reminder: Confidential Mental Health Support with #ReachOut

With the 988 Hotline, immediate and confidential mental health support is only one call or text away. No matter what you’re going through, you don’t have to go through it alone. The 988 Hotline is for people of all ages who are going through a tough time. You, your friends, family, or anyone in your community can #ReachOut for support. It’s always okay to ask for help. Save this number and share this post with your friends. You never know what difference it can make. Learn more about the 988 Hotline at 988lifeline.org/

Members of the CCER / Roadmap Project Parent Leadership Team

The Roadmap Project Parent Leadership Team (PLT) is Recruiting New Members!

The Parent Leadership Team is an organized group of Parent Leaders representing seven School Districts from South Seattle and South King County, who strive to empower parents and guardians, and advocate for equity in education to make effective connections within their districts. We are extending an invitation to all active parent leaders who belong to one or more of the seven school districts, who believe in change within their community and that align with our mission and vision.

To learn more and apply by September 30, visit: https://roadmapproject.org/initiatives/the-parent-leadership-team-plt-is-recruiting/

SPP students and teachers from El Centro preschool site.

FREE ORCA Cards Available to Eligible SPP Families

Getting to and from preschool is now more accessible for Seattle Preschool Program families thanks to an expanded program to support affordable travel by public transit. DEEL and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) are partnering to provide eligible Seattle Preschool Program families with no-cost ORCA cards. The cards will be mailed directly to eligible families and offer unlimited public transit through August 31, 2025. Read more about this initiative.

SPS student using a laptop with an adult mentor

SPS Family Connectors University

The fall quarter session of Family Connectors University starts on September 24! Parents of Seattle Public Schools students are encouraged to enroll in this 10-week family-focused online course to help caregivers support their child’s growth and success. Topics covered reflect parent/caregiver interests and may include: navigating the school system, belonging and partnership at your school, or social emotional learning and academics, among other themes.

To enroll, contact lea.evans@seattlecolleges.edu. To inquire about scholarships, email amsailiai@seattleschools.org. To learn more, read here.

Continuing learning opportunities with UW EduDesign

UW EduDesign Teacher-Led & Justice Focused Learning Communities

UW ConnectEd is thrilled to announce the launch of this year's EduDesign Teacher-Led Learning Communities starting in October. Teachers can choose from two cohorts: 1) Creating a BIPOC Learning Community with Care & Collaboration or 2) Building Momentum for Justice in Schools. This free, justice-focused, and teacher-led initiative offers ongoing opportunities for teachers to connect and learn together. Learn more: http://tinyurl.com/EduDesign.

DEEL in the Community

Youth attendees gather in the Plaza Jose Marti at El Centro de la Raza in Beacon Hill

Youth attendees at the Regional Challenge Grant College & Career Exploration Event gather in the Plaza Jose Marti at El Centro de la Raza in Beacon Hill.

Regional Challenge Grant College & Career Exploration Celebration

On Wednesday, August 7 the DEEL K-12 and Postsecondary team gathered with Regional Challenge Grant community partner organizations to host 60 high school and college-aged youth for a College & Career Exploration celebration at El Centro de la Raza in Beacon Hill. On this sunny summer afternoon, youth met at Centilia Cultural Center and in Plaza Jose Marti to engage in hands-on demos by professionals in creative design, health care, technology, and trades sectors, with activities including digital media, videography, A.I and virtual reality, welding, and advanced first-aid. The event also included resource tabling from 10 partner organizations ranging from financial aid resources to mental health services.

DEEL K-12/Postsecondary team leaders collaborate on event coordination for the Regional Challenge Grant program

From L-to-R, DEEL K-12/Postsecondary leaders Amelia Moore (Strategy & Engagement Manager), Isis Randolph-McCree (Deputy Division Director K12/Postsecondary), and Dr. Ciera Graham (K-12 Policy & Program Manager) collaborate on event coordination for the Regional Challenge Grant program.

DEEL Postsecondary Program Advisor Jesse Cooley with Regional Challenge Grant partner D’Andre Fisher, Associate Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Senior Equity Officer at the Seattle Colleges.

Postsecondary Program Advisor Jesse Cooley with partner D’Andre Fisher, Seattle Colleges Associate Vice Chancellor for EDI

DEEL leadership at the Alliance for Education Luncheon on September 10

From L-to-R DEEL Director Dr. Dwane Chappelle, Director of K-12 and Postsecondary Division Dr. Chris Alejano, Deputy Director of Impact and External Affairs Marissa Rousselle, Director of Impact and External Affairs Dr. Ismael Fajardo, K-12 Program Advisor Colin Pierce, and City of Seattle Deputy Mayor Adiam Emery.

Community Connection at The Alliance for Education Luncheon

Alongside Deputy Mayor Adiam Emery, the DEEL team joined local partner The Alliance for Education for their annual luncheon at the Amazon Meeting Center. Community education advocates came together to raise awareness about current challenges facing Seattle students and families, and engage in critical conversations to shape collective action in support of public schools and scholars.

Work at DEEL

Child Care Program Manager

Closing Date: 4:00 p.m. PST, Tuesday, October 8, 2024

DEEL is looking for a Child Care Program Manager who will manage the ongoing program implementation of the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and the department’s other childcare investments and initiatives, as well as directly supervise and evaluate the performance of four Early Education Specialists and one Senior Early Education Specialist.

Learn more and apply online

Upward Bound Tutor – Temporary

Closing Date: 4:00 p.m. PST, Tuesday, October 8, 2024

We are looking for two Tutors to support the Upward Bound Program in Seattle through the end of the academic school year. In this role, you will be responsible for mentoring, tutoring, and providing instructional aid to support 9th – 12th grade students enrolled in the program at Rainier Beach and Garfield High School. You will work with the Academic Youth Counselor, mentoring students facing educational barriers to progress through the academic pathway so they may succeed in high school and beyond. This position will provide you with the opportunity to build leadership skills and gain experience in working with diverse youth from underserved communities. Learn more and apply online.