Press Release

For Immediate Release

Contact Information
Sage Wilson
Phone: 206-889-0277
Email: sage.wilson@seattle.gov

Mayor Wilson announces major new investments to make Seattle a better and more affordable place to raise a family

Seattle Preschool Program goes all day and all year; universal free school meals; free mental health care for all teens and young adults; pathways to good jobs; and more

TODAY, Mayor Katie B. Wilson announced major new investments in childcare, preschool, afterschool and summer programs, mentoring, tutoring, health care, school meals, college and career pathways – investments which will reduce costs, open doors, and make Seattle a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

“Seattle is only going to be a great place to raise a family if it’s a more affordable place to raise a family,” said Mayor Katie B. Wilson. “The investments I’m announcing today take a big step in that direction by expanding the Seattle Preschool Program, providing free school meals to all students, offering free mental health care to all teens and young adults, and more."

The six-year plan announced today will implement the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) levy which passed overwhelmingly last year. Adding to previous commitments outlined in the levy, the mayor’s plan offers new supports and opportunities to children from cradle to career, and makes our city a more welcoming and more affordable place for children and families. The plan needs to be approved by Council, and will be considered by the Library, Education, and Neighborhoods Committee, with a vote expected in late June. (Additional details of the plan are available here.)

The mayor’s plan:

• Expands the Seattle Preschool Program so more classrooms operate all day, and all year long, including through the summer. Instead of ending at 2:00 or 3:00 in the afternoon, more programs will cover a full 10-hour day, and extend all year, including through the summer, better serving the needs of working parents. All 3- and 4-year-olds in Seattle are eligible for the Seattle Preschool Program, and tuition is free for most Seattle families.
• Provides free school meals to every student in every school, starting this fall. That means a better start for kids, a better learning environment for teachers, and fewer groceries that families have to buy to keep their kids healthy. K-12 education is free and universal, and the basic nutrition you need to be ready to learn is going to be free and universal too.
• Offers free mental health care to all Seattle teens and young adults, opens up new school-based health centers, and expands mentorship opportunities. All Seattle teens and young adults will have access to free mental health supports for the six-year life of this levy, helping to address growing concern about youth mental health. New school-based health centers will provide students free primary care, dental health services, and more. And more students will be connected to mentors from organizations with established trust and cultural connection to the communities they serve.
• Opens new pathways to good jobs after school. Apprenticeship programs will connect young people to high-demand trades, such as construction, aviation, welding, and maritime. Additional investments will promote technology and public service careers via partnerships with Seattle Colleges, University of Washington, and the City itself.

The affordability crisis has hit Seattle families hard. Groceries, rent, and childcare are more expensive than ever. The mayor is committed to make Seattle a great place to live, work, and raise a family, and today’s investments take a big step in that direction.

What people are saying

Councilmember Maritza Rivera (District 4), Chair of the Libraries, Education, and Neighborhoods committee:
“Thank you to the voters who have – for decades – generously taxed themselves to invest in subsidized childcare and award-winning preschool programs; K-12 academic, physical, and mental health supports, so students have the help they need to learn and grow; and the very successful universal Seattle Promise program. For 35 years, the Families, Education, Preschool and Promise levy has been making meaningful, long-lasting, positive differences in the lives of Seattle’s kids.

This implementation and evaluation plan is a critical step in ensuring these investments are actually helping our kids. The City and the taxpayers need to have confidence in our investments and know that we are delivering on the promises made to them and to our kids. A robust evaluation plan allows us to both show our work, our positive outcomes, and know quickly if changes need to be made. I am proud to support our families, children and youth in the 36th year of this levy.”

Dr. Dwane Chappelle, Director of the Department of Education and Early Learning:
“We engaged hundreds of Seattleites about their priorities for spending these funds, and the individuals we spoke with showed deep care and concern for their schools and communities. That’s why this levy invests in services benefiting kids, schools, and childcare providers throughout Seattle. It’s also why the Levy deepens and focuses services to better serve communities who have been historically under-invested in. It is imperative that all Seattle children receive the supports they need to be ready for school and career opportunities, and I expect to see great things for Seattle youth, especially our students and youth of color.”

Ben Shuldiner, Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools:
“The FEPP Levy is one of the greatest assets this city has, and it reflects something real about Seattle: people here believe in K-12 public education and in our kids. Washington State provides a foundation for K-12 education, but Seattle voters have always understood that a foundation is not enough. From preschool to Seattle Promise, this levy reaches students at every stage. But, at its core, the FEPP Levy is how this community says we want more for our K-12 students: more support, more opportunity, and more of what it actually takes to help kids succeed in school. To the voters who made this possible, thank you.

Throughout my visits to all 106 schools across the city, I am witnessing firsthand what it means to have these additional supports wrapping around our students, in our classrooms, in our schools, and across our district. We look forward to partnering with the City and DEEL to make SPS the best urban school district in America.”

Dr. Sandra J. Valenciano, Health Officer and Acting Director of Public Health – Seattle & King County:
“I’m grateful that Seattle voters and leaders are investing in our students, families, and caregivers by expanding access to preventive health services at our public schools, inside childcare centers, and directly with families. Public Health has delivered essential services for the community thanks to a close partnership with the City of Seattle’s Department of Education & Early Learning, and together we are sustaining successful strategies while adding more services in our schools to meet critical health needs of students.”

Dr. Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap, Chancellor of Seattle Colleges:
“Seattle Promise is one of the most impactful affordability investments this city has made. Nearly 70 percent of Seattle Public Schools graduates apply each year, showing just how essential it is for students and families. At Seattle Colleges, we turn that investment into real outcomes, connecting students to education and careers that allow them to stay and work in Seattle. Path to Trades will expand that impact through well-established trades programs and strong trade union networks across our colleges. This levy helps ensure Seattle remains a city people can afford to build a life in.”

Martha Diaz, Director of El Centro de la Raza Four Amigos, a participating childcare provider in the CCAP program:
“I believe that it takes advocates, teachers, children, and parents working together to build a community and work towards justice and peace, advocating constantly for parents to have access to high quality subsidies and to make a change in our society.”

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