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Award-Winning Seattle Preschool Program Expanding for 2025-26 School Year
Parents and caregivers of three- and four-year-olds living in Seattle are invited to begin their application for the Seattle Preschool Program at seattle.gov/applySPP. The application portal opened on Friday, March 14. On the same day Mayor Bruce Harrell, Councilmember Maritza Rivera, and DEEL Director Dr. Dwane Chappelle gathered at The Children’s Center at Burke Gilman Gardens to announce nine new SPP classrooms will be added to the SPP roster. (Photo courtesy: Tim Durkan)
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 Malgorzata Kozubczyk is the lead preschool teacher at The Children’s Center, a new partner in the 2025-26 school year expansion.
Read more about the City's SPP expansion on our blog and enroll your child today – classes start in September!
Seattle Families Invited to Apply to Child Care Assistance Program
DEEL is proud to announce the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) is expanding its capacity to serve newly eligible families. Families living in Seattle are invited to apply for the child subsidy assistance via the online portal. On average families can save $7,500 annually with CCAP. To check eligibility, visit seattle.gov/CCAP. Read our blog to learn more.
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Join us 4/2! DEEL Virtual Open House - Free Telehealth Services for Youth and Young Adults
 The DEEL K-12 team welcomes you to join us for a Virtual Open House about available behavioral services for Seattle teens and young adults with our telehealth provider partners. This event is tailored for youth development professionals and educators, providing an opportunity to explore the city’s investment in telehealth services available for young people ages 13–24 in our community.
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Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025
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Time: 4:00PM Pacific Standard Team
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Location: Online (link to be provided upon RSVP)
Learn how these vital services can support the mental health and well-being of the youth you work with every day. Don’t miss this chance to connect, learn, and empower young people to care for their mental wellness through accessible telehealth options.
To RSVP, please register here https://forms.office.com/g/yFEVYSSmb4. Questions? Please email Michelle.Wong@seattle.gov.
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The Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) Levy is approaching renewal, with the mayor set to announce his proposed plan in April. In his recent State of the City address, the mayor emphasized that the renewed levy will deepen investments in childcare, after-school, and summer programs; expand access to in-school health centers and mental health supports; and create stronger pathways to careers in trades and public service. The proposal aims to make Seattle a national leader in supporting children and families from cradle to career, ensuring safety, resilience, and opportunity for the next generation.
Sign up to receive the latest levy renewal updates from DEEL.
Save the Date for Upcoming Grants Supporting Kindergarten Readiness
A preview of DEEL’s 2025 funding opportunities is available now on our website!
This year’s funding opportunities supporting kindergarten readiness include:
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Seattle Preschool Program Provider Facilities Fund (Request for Investment)
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Prenatal-to-Three Community Grant Program (Request for Proposal)
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DEEL Awards $805K to Six Child Care Centers to improve SPP Facilities
DEEL is happy to announce $805,000 in funding has been awarded to six Seattle Preschool Program providers for facilities improvements projects. SPP has experienced consistent growth throughout its first nine years, and the SPP Provider Facilities Funding, which is supported by the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise Levy, is designed to expand and improve existing facilities to ensure long-term, sustainable access to high-quality classrooms within the Seattle Preschool Program.
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Photo caption: (Left to Right) Kusum Chohan, Lead Teacher/ Director, Priyna Chohan, Assistant Preschool Teacher, and Jay Chohan, Administrator. Kusum’s Early Learning is one of the six recipients of the SPP facilities grant this year.
“The funding will directly enhance our physical environment, ensuring that children have access to safer, more stimulating spaces with age-appropriate equipment that promote learning and creativity,” says Kusum Chohan, Owner and Director of Kusum’s Early Learning Childcare & Preschool. Read more on our blog.
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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.
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ACE 2025 Black Educator Summit
 L to R Joseph Raymon, Teacher at Mercer High School, Dr. Dwane Chappelle, DEEL Director, and Brad brown, Executive Director, Puget Sound Educational Service District.
On March 8, the Academy for Creating Excellence (ACE) held its 3rd annual Black Male Educator Summit, celebrating the invaluable knowledge, strength, and resilience of Black men in education. This year’s theme, Wisdom of Black Men, underscores the unique perspectives, cultural insights, and transformative leadership that Black male educators bring to schools and communities. DEEL’s department director Dr. Dwane Chappelle participated in the discussion panel.
 ACE Academy celebrated their 3rd annual Black Male Educator Summit on March 8 at the Puget Sound Educational Service District in Renton.
To learn more about ACE visit their website.
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A Summer of Learning with DEEL Community-Based Partners
April through June, eligible Seattle K-12 youth can enroll to participate in high-quality summer programs! 15 community-based partner organizations are offering programs that promote college and career readiness and social emotional learning. DEEL thanks our partners for their commitment to the academic and holistic thriving of our youth! Visit org websites to learn more and enroll.
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Open Now: Summer Camp Enrollment with Seattle Parks & Recreation!
Summer Camp Registration is now open! Seattle Parks is offering a wide range of exciting activities from preschool and school age care camps to nature camps, to camps for youth with disabilities. Financial aid and scholarships are available. See the 2025 Summer Camp Brochure for details.
Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs Service Providers Training with Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
OIRA and NWIRP are hosting a service providers’ training on immigration for those working with immigrant and refugee communities in Seattle. This in-person session will take place on Thursday, April 3, from 12-2 p.m. at the Seattle Public Library-Central Library (1000 Fourth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104). This training will cover:
- Immigration Policy Changes
- Local Laws & Policies
- Best practices
A Q&A session will follow the presentation. Please note that the training will be conducted in English. RSVP is required to attend this training: https://forms.office.com/g/YV43a2RfMy.
Please share this event with your partner organizations serving immigrant and refugee clients. Questions? Please contact Beleqsa.Tamaami@seattle.gov
FAFSA/WAFSA Information Sessions with Seattle Colleges
It’s time for college applicants to complete the FAFSA/WASFA! Students eligible for the Seattle Promise scholarship must complete their FAFSA/WASFA application by April 30, 2025. Students who need assistance with their application can attend a virtual workshop with Promise outreach specialists, held over Zoom weekly on Tuesdays from noon to 1pm. Learn more about Seattle Promise financial aid workshops. Questions? Contact promise@seattlecolleges.edu.
Seattle/King County Clinic: Free Medical Services for Those Who Cannot Afford Care
From April 24 to 27 the Seattle/King County Clinic, a project of Seattle Center and Seattle Center Foundation, is bringing together healthcare organizations, civic agencies, nonprofits, businesses, and volunteers to produce the largest community-driven free health clinic of its kind in the United States. Learn more about the free clinic.
Future In Motion: Seattle Youth Transportation Summit
Youth and young adults ages 12-19 are invited to join the 2025 Youth Transportation Summit at the Vera Project on April 26 from 9am to 4 p.m. This event is for young leaders, advocates, and activists who want to learn about and provide input on key transportation projects in Seattle. Learn more and register for the Youth Transportation Summit by April 4.
Get Engaged Program Applications Open
The Get Engaged program is now accepting applications for individuals ages 18-29 to be placed on the City of Seattle’s boards and commissions. Get Engaged board members serve a one-year term starting in September. Acting in an advisory capacity to the Mayor and City Council, board members help shape policy decisions, make recommendations, and provide citizen participation in city government. Complete the application and send a resume, cover letter, and 2 references to ibender@seattleymca.org by Friday, April 25th at 11:59pm.
Save the Date for Big Day of Play!
Big Day of Play is a celebration of our city’s diversity, and it encourages neighbors, communities, and families to have fun, build relationships and be active together. Big Day of Play will be held on Saturday, August 16 from 12 to 5 p.m. at Rainier Playfield and Mt. Baker Rowing and Sailing Center. The event is completely free and includes activities for all ages and abilities.
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Now Enrolling Seattle 3- and 4-year-olds for the Seattle Preschool Program – Classes Begin in September
The Seattle Preschool Program helps prepare Seattle three and four-year-olds for kindergarten in partnership with community-based organizations, Family Child Care providers, and Seattle Public Schools. SPP classrooms have nationally recognized curricula and offers specialized programs at select sites, including dual language and inclusion. Most families qualify for free or reduced tuition. Applications are open now at seattle.gov/applySPP or contact us for language assistance at (206) 386-1050.
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DEEL is seeking an Early Learning Coach to bring their expert guidance, coaching, and training for early learning programs. This role will ensure that DEEL is providing Educators with the support they need. The closing date for this position is 4/8/2025 at 4:00 PM PST.
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