What’s the DEEL? Department of Education and Early Learning

Department of Education and Early Learning

Mayor Durkan Announces Municipal Match Partnership with Washington State Opportunity Scholarship to Strengthen STEM Pathways for Seattle Promise Scholars

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Scholarships of Up to $22,500 Available to Strengthen Financial Supports for Students Pursuing STEM and Healthcare Careers 

Speaker-Emeritus Frank Chopp, LD 23 Representative Drew Hansen, WSOS Executive Director Kimber Connors, Seattle Promise and WSOS Scholar Albany Garcia, Mayor Jenny Durkan, Microsoft President Brad Smith, South Seattle Colleges President Dr. Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap, and DEEL Director Dwane Chappelle smile for the camera after announcing the new municipal partnership with WSOS.
From L-to-R: LD 43 Speaker-Emeritus Frank Chopp, LD 23 Representative Drew Hansen, WSOS Executive Director Kimber Connors, Seattle Promise and WSOS Scholar Albany Garcia, Mayor Jenny Durkan, Microsoft President Brad Smith, South Seattle Colleges President Dr. Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap, and DEEL Director Dwane Chappelle.

SEATTLE (November 18) – Mayor Jenny A. Durkan, DEEL, and partners from education, philanthropy and STEM industries announced a new partnership with the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship (WSOS) to strengthen pathways to college and career advancement for Seattle Promise scholars pursuing jobs in the trades, Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and health care. Seattle is the first city in Washington State to become a municipal partner for this competitive scholarship, ensuring Seattle Promise scholars have access to continued financial aid and support as they successfully complete the Seattle Promise program and transition to furthering their education at another institution.  

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Announcing Over $945K in Seattle Preschool Program Facilities Improvements

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NEWS RELEASE

Jenny A. Durkan, Mayor

Dwane Chappelle, Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 28, 2021

Contact: Sage Leibenson, sage.leibenson@seattle.gov, 206-507-6701

Announcing Over $945K in Seattle Preschool Program Facilities Improvements

Funded projects will result in safe, high-quality learning environments for Seattle preschoolers

SEATTLE (October 27) – The Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) has announced more than $945,000 in awards to improve five early learning facilities participating in the Seattle Preschool Program (SPP). Investments will create new outdoor learning spaces, fund critical plumbing upgrades and support architectural design and permitting fees for the construction of a new six-classroom early learning facility in the Othello neighborhood of South Seattle. Four of five preschool providers awarded funding are operated by women of color and serve linguistically and culturally diverse students in West Seattle, South Seattle, Central District and Downtown.

As part of the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) levy, DEEL’s SPP facilities funds are designed to build, upgrade and renovate preschool classrooms and increase enrollment capacity for Seattle’s nationally-recognized preschool program. Funding for preschool facilities projects is awarded annually to center, school and home-based SPP providers.

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Seattle Promise Scholars Exceed National Trends Despite Pandemic

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NEWS RELEASE 

Jenny A. Durkan, Mayor 

Dwane Chappelle, Director 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

October 27, 2021

Revised: November 3, 2021  

Contact: Sage Leibenson, Sage.Leibenson@seattle.gov, 206-507-6701

Seattle Promise Scholars Exceed National Trends Despite Pandemic

Applications Currently Open for Class of 2022 Graduating Seniors

SEATTLE (November 3, 2021) – Following record enrollment in the Seattle Promise program in Fall of 2020, the program is now celebrating record setting degree completion rates. In 2021, more than 80 Promise scholars completed their post-secondary degrees exceeding national two-year and three-year college completion trends.  

Among students who began college in Fall 2018, more than 20 additional Promise scholars, 75% of whom are students of color, completed their degrees within three years. In total, the 2018 cohort achieved a 37% three-year graduation rate, which exceeds the average national three-year completion rate of 28% reported by the National Center for Education Statistics. The Seattle Promise program also celebrates 2-year completion rates of 24% for the 2018 cohort and 20% for the 2019 cohort.  

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Fall 2021 DEEL Newsletter

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DEEL and ReWa partners pose for a photo! Depicted in the image is Monica-Liang Aguirre, Early Learning Director of DEEL; Susan Lee, ELC Director of Operations of Refugee Women's Alliance (ReWa); Mahnaz Eshetu, Executive Director of ReWa; Dr. Dwane Chapelle, Director of DEEL. 
Image Above: (L-to-R): Monica-Liang Aguirre, Early Learning Director of DEEL; Susan Lee, ELC Director of Operations of Refugee Women’s Alliance (ReWa); Mahnaz Eshetu, Executive Director of ReWa; Dr. Dwane Chapelle, Director of DEEL. 

DEEL’s fall 2021 newsletter is here! DEEL is proud to welcome our City’s brilliant scholars back to classrooms for in-person learning. In this issue, we share stories about how the education community continues to support students throughout the pandemic from early learning to postsecondary. We also kick off the new school year by sharing information about resources that support student success and wellness including the Child Care Assistance Program, Seattle Preschool Program enrollment, School-Based Health Center services, and more! 

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DEEL Provides Take-Home Activity Kits to Support Early Learning and Healthy Child Development Throughout Pandemic

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Contributors: Gabriella Caferro, QPPD Administrative Specialist and Early Learning Coaches Emily Zartman, Fanny Yang, Aaron Jeffers, Shawn Harris, Katie Culler, Amina Sudduth

Preschoolers at First Place School pose for a photo with their DEEL home learning kits in September 2020! Pictured on the left is Sumaya with her parent Semera Hussein; on the right is Zainab. 
Preschoolers at First Place School pose for a photo with their DEEL home learning kits in September 2020! Pictured on the left is Sumaya with her parent Semera Hussein; on the right is Zainab. 

As the summer comes to an end, DEEL is shining a light on how schools and community-based organizations prepared students for in-person learning for their return to classrooms this fall. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be highlighting several programs that provided increased academic, social and emotional learning opportunities that support student wellness and success. In this article, we feature Seattle Preschool Program’s home learning kits which provided families with materials to support their child’s learning and development from home throughout the pandemic.  

When the pandemic began, keeping 3- and 4-year-olds engaged through remote learning proved to be a challenge for parents and teachers. Early learning research shows us that at this age, children rely heavily on sensory exploration to build an understanding of the world around them. Interacting with tangible objects makes important sensory connections in children’s brains and builds important foundations for learning and development. As the rich learning environment of preschool classrooms was altered to a virtual format, families’ access to the wide assortment of materials typically found in a preschool classroom was limited. Families and educators found themselves in new, uncharted territory.  

To address this need for Seattle’s youngest learners, the Department of Education and Early Learning’s (DEEL) Quality Practice and Professional Development (QPPD) team developed home-learning kits for children enrolled in DEEL-sponsored early learning programs such as birth-to-three services, Seattle Preschool Program (SPP), and SPP Pathway programs to increase parent engagement in their child’s learning and support healthy childhood development from home.  

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DEEL Invests In Youth Leaders To Address Bias, Hate, and Discrimination with new $100K Mini-Grant

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NEWS RELEASE 

Jenny A. Durkan, Mayor 

Dwane Chappelle, Director 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

September 15, 2021 

Contact: Sage Leibenson, sage.leibenson@seattle.gov, 206.507.6701    

DEEL Invests In Youth Leaders To Address Bias, Hate, and Discrimination with new $100K Mini-Grant

Funding available now to support social justice projects led by Seattle youth ages 12-24

SEATTLE (September 15) – This week, the Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) opened the application for a new Youth-Led Social Justice Mini-Grant which will invest up to $100,000 toward youth-led social justice projects to address hate and bias toward Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI), Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPoC), and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) communities. Grants of $500-$8,000 per applicant will be awarded through a non-competitive process. 

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Child Care Recognition Payment Applications Are Open Now!

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Are you an administrator or child care provider at a DCYF-licensed family child care or center based program located within the boundaries of the City of Seattle?  If so, you may be eligible to apply for a child care recognition payment!

In appreciation of the valuable work Seattle home-based and center-based child care workers have been performing during the COVID-19 public health emergency, the City of Seattle allocated over $2.9M from the Seattle Rescue Plan to offer child care workers a recognition payment. The Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) is proud to partner with Child Care Resources (CCR) to distribute these funds. The Seattle Childcare Business Coalition (SCBC), in collaboration with the Economic Opportunity Institute, was instrumental in the development of this opportunity and passionately advocated on behalf of childcare workers.

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DEEL Announces $1.45 Million in Funding to Support Parents and Children Ages 0-3

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NEWS RELEASE 

Jenny A. Durkan, Mayor 

Dwane Chappelle, Director 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

August 31, 2021  

Contact: Sage Leibenson, sage.leibenson@seattle.gov, 206.507.6701    

Announcing $1.45 Million in Funding to Support Parents and Children Ages 0-3

DEEL’s new Prenatal-To-Three Community Grant Program is now accepting applications from community-based organizations 

SEATTLE (August 31) – This week, the Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) announced a new Prenatal-to-Three Community Grant Program which will invest $1.45 million in equitable birth outcomes and increased early childhood development services for Black, indigenous, people of color, refugee and immigrant families. Programs eligible for funding can include, but are not limited to, maternal health services, pregnancy support and parent education for families who are expecting or are current parents of children ages 0-3. Funding will be awarded through a competitive request for investment process, with up to $150,000 available per awardee. 

The Prenatal-to-Three Community Grant Program is funded through the City of Seattle’s Sweetened Beverage Tax (SBT). Approved by City Council in May 2017, SBT tax revenue funds programs that increase access to nutritious food and supports child health, development and learning. This grant will reduce race-based opportunity gaps by funding organizations that provide parents of color with supportive resources and services to support child development and kindergarten readiness. 

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Meet DEEL’s SYEP Interns: Kyra and Lul

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Contributors: Kyra and Lul, Seattle Youth Employment Interns

Meet Kyra and Lul, two Seattle Youth Employment Program (SYEP) interns who joined DEEL’s Communications Team for the summer! Work-based learning helps inspire and prepare students with the skills they need to achieve their post-secondary goals. We’re proud to have welcomed these two bright young people to our team to learn about social media management, communication strategy and what it’s like to work at a public agency.  

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Seeking Youth & Community Input: Survey to Inform How Funding Can Support Youth and Families Experiencing Homelessness

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The Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) is seeking feedback from Seattle youth and adults who have experienced homelessness or housing instability. You can help inform how funding can better support people experiencing homelessness by completing the following surveys: 

Youth Survey (ages 10-21): tinyurl.com/hhsyouth2021 

Youth Survey Flyer

Adult Survey (ages 22+): tinyurl.com/hhsadult2021

Please help us spread the word about this survey to youth and adults in your community! 

This survey will close on September 9th at 5:00 p.m.