SEATTLE —The day after Valentine’s Day was even sweeter for more than half of Seattle Public High Schools graduates who applied for two years (or up to 90 credits) of tuition-free college in fall 2020 through Seattle Promise.

Seattle Promise provides tuition, funding for school-related expenses for those with need, and individual guidance and advising from high school through a student’s first two years of college (or up to 90 credits) regardless of GPA, income, ability or country of birth. The program covers any remaining tuition balance at one of the Seattle Colleges (North, Central or South) after other public funding, grants or scholarships a student may be eligible to receive have been applied. Seattle voters passed the Families, Education, Preschool and Promise levy to support the program in November 2018.

“We want all students to know and believe college is a real possibility,” said Seattle Colleges’ Chancellor Shouan Pan. “Our wraparound services give all Seattle Promise students, especially first generation and underserved youth, an equitable pathway for college education and success in the world of work.”

Seattle Colleges received nearly 1,800 applications for the college scholarship and success program by the Feb. 15 midnight deadline, marking the first major milestone in the program’s expansion from six Seattle public high schools to all 17 schools.

“We created Seattle Promise because we believe in our young people and we believe in our students,” said Seattle Mayor Jenny A. Durkan. “We know that access to free, high-quality education makes a tangible and positive improvement in our young people’s lives. That’s why I’m so proud that nearly 1,800 students have expressed interest in Seattle Promise for the 2020-2021 academic year.”

“As we celebrate the growth in applications, we now look to helping students and families complete their financial aid applications.” said Melody McMillan, Seattle Promise program director. “Seattle Promise specialists are at each high school to assist students and families as they complete federal and state college financial aid applications. Our goal is to see all students progress through the application stage to our first event welcome event in May. Once students get here for Readiness Academy, they really begin to embrace college is possible for themselves,” said McMillan

“We are building a partnership with our students, families, our education systems and city.  I want all of our graduates to see themselves in meaningful and fulfilling careers, earning living-wages in a city they love,” said Seattle Public Schools superintendent Denise Juneau. “Seattle Promise is one of the programs that is going to help us get them there.”

Missed the Deadline? Other Funding Options Available at Seattle Colleges

Applications for the Seattle Promise class of fall 2020 are now closed; however, other scholarship and funding options to attend Seattle Colleges are available. Apply to the college of your choice — North Seattle College, Seattle Central College or South Seattle College — and visit the financial aid office for more information.

Applications for the class of 2021 open Oct. 1, 2020. Join the Seattle Promise mailing list to receive updates about next year’s Seattle Promise program.

More information at seattlecolleges.edu/promise.

Seattle Promise, launched in 2018, is a partnership with the City of Seattle’s Department of Education and Early Learning and Seattle Public Schools. The program, primarily funded by the city of Seattle’s Family, Education Preschool and Promise (FEPP) Levy with additional private support through the Seattle Colleges Foundation, is focused on providing college access, success, and completion with a mission to build a local thriving college-going culture that creates a workforce ready for our region’s careers.

Seattle Colleges is Washington state’s largest college district, with more than 46,000 students enrolled each year. It is composed of Seattle Central College, North Seattle College, South Seattle College, and six specialty centers. Seattle Colleges offers more than 135 workforce education and training programs that lead to bachelor’s degrees in high-growth industries, associate degrees in various disciplines, certificates in professional-technical programs, and transfer degrees to universities throughout the United States.

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The Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) has selected three organizations to provide individualized behavioral support and child development services to early learning providers participating in the Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) and SPP Pathway.

Funded by the voter-approved Families, Education, Preschool and Promise Levy, DEEL has approximately $400,000 available to contract with qualified organizations in 2020. The goal of this new investment is to ensure that all children can fully participate in their high-quality, early learning classroom.

The three organizations approved for the Comprehensive Support Services roster include:

• Childhaven: Childhaven offers a continuum of services to young children and their families, including early learning (ECEAP and Head Start), early intervention, and counseling for children ages birth through thirteen. Childhaven also pioneers the Flourish program, which combines classroom-based therapeutic early learning services for children ages birth to six with the Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe) model. 
• Sound Child Care Solutions: Sound Child Care Solutions (SCCS) creates high-quality, culturally relevant education for all children and offers unique and personalized services to families, especially families of color and those living in poverty.
• University of Washington Haring Center: The University of Washington Haring Center for Inclusive Education provides early childhood education to children with and without disabilities, conducts leading-edge research to advance inclusive learning, and trains education professionals in proven practices to develop every child’s potential.

Currently, SPP and SPP Pathway providers receive coaching from DEEL staff and consultation from Public Health-Seattle and King County (PHSKC) on a regular basis. With the creation of this roster, identified organizations are eligible to work with preschool teachers who need additional and intensive coaching beyond what their agency’s resources, DEEL’s coaches, and PHSKC mental health consultants can provide.

As a child’s needs are identified, preschool providers will work with DEEL staff to choose an organization from the Comprehensive Support Services RFQ roster to best meet the child’s identified need. The selected organization will then develop a proposed scope of work, schedule, and fee based on the preschool agency’s approved needs. This may include daily support over a period of several weeks to help the teacher improve their instructional strategies and effectiveness in supporting all children.

Specific services provided for preschool teachers may include:

• Behavioral supports
• Developmental supports
• Trauma-informed practice
• Social-emotional instruction

Applications to this competitive Request for Qualifications (RFQ) were reviewed by a three-member panel which included a community representative and staff from PHSKC and DEEL. Inclusion on the roster does not guarantee work or funding to the agency but will permit DEEL to directly contract with the agency to provide prescribed classroom-based supports to SPP agencies.

NOTE: The roster is not a comprehensive list of individuals or organizations providing early learning behavioral and/or developmental support services in Seattle.

DEEL will continue to recruit and promote the Comprehensive Supports RFQ to grow this roster. A second call for applicants is anticipated later in 2020. Organizations interested in learning more about the roster process can visit DEEL’s funding opportunities website.

Approved by Seattle voters on November 6, 2018, the seven-year, $619 million Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) Levy will partner with families and communities to advance educational equity, close opportunity gaps, and build a better economic future for Seattle students.

The Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) seeks three new volunteers to join the Families, Education, Preschool and Promise (FEPP) Levy Oversight Committee (LOC).  

The FEPP Levy is a seven-year, $619 million dollar investment in Seattle’s youth approved by voters in November 2018. The FEPP Levy partners with families and communities to achieve educational equity, close opportunity gaps, and build a better economic future for Seattle students by investing in:  

• High-quality early learning services that prepare children for success in kindergarten; 
• Physical and mental health services that support learning;
• College and job readiness experiences that promote high school graduation; and 
• Post-secondary opportunities that promote attainment of a certificate, credential, or degree. 

What are the responsibilities of LOC members? The FEPP LOC was established by City Council Ordinance 125604 to advise and make recommendations to the Mayor and City Council on programs and activities supported by the FEPP Levy. The following are specific duties of LOC members: 

• Regularly attend meetings (Currently the 4^th Thursday of each month from 4:00-5:30pm) and annual retreats; 
• Serve a three-year term with the possibility of reappointment;
• Monitor the progress of FEPP Levy investments to meet intended outcomes and goals;
• Review annual reports of FEPP Levy outcomes and indicators for the previous school year; 
•  Review and advise on proposed course corrections, modifications, and program eliminations; and 
•  Make recommendations on the design of and modifications to FEPP Levy investments that require Council approval by ordinance.  

Who should apply? DEEL seeks individuals representing historically-underserved communities—specifically, African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Pacific Islanders, underserved Asian populations, other students of color, refugee and immigrant, homeless, English language learners, and LGBTQ communities. Youth, young adults, and parents of students served by FEPP Levy investments are encouraged to apply.  

Interested applicants should have: 

• Passion for working with local government officials to improve educational outcomes;
• Demonstrated committed to racial equity through prior volunteer experience;
• Lived or professional experience related to FEPP Levy investments in preschool, health, K-12 academic achievement, cultural responsiveness, and postsecondary completion;
•  Desire and ability to dedicate 5 hours per month; and 
•  An updated resume. 

How do I apply and what is the timeline? To apply to join the FEPP LOC, please submit an application through the City’s Boards and Commissions website. Applications submitted by Friday, January 17 will be given consideration for appointments in 2020. Three new LOC members will be appointed by March 2020. 

Be sure to select “FEPP LOC” from the drop down menu. 

Questions? Contact Marissa Rousselle at Marissa.rousselle@seattle.gov or (206) 256-5183.  

 

 

The Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) has updated and expanded the Culturally Specific and Responsive (CSR) Mentoring Roster. DEEL created the roster to advance the overarching goals of the voter-approved Families, Education, Preschool and Promise (FEPP) Levy. Dollars awarded through the CSR Mentoring funding strategy aim to foster healthy identity, provide cultural knowledge and build academic success for Black/African American males and other historically underserved student populations.

The roster is a diverse list of mentoring community-based organizations (CBOs) of color, majority Black-led, and approved through DEEL to provide culturally relevant mentoring services to the focus population. Roster selection entailed a panel process that included youth, staff from Seattle Public Schools (SPS), community organizations, and DEEL staff. The roster includes:

• El Centro de la Raza
• 4C Coalition
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound
• Project M.I.S.T.E.R.
• West African Community Council
• M.U.S.T. Mentoring
• Life Enrichment Group
• Seattle CARES Mentoring Movement
• Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle
• ACE Academy
• Seattle Parks and Recreation

NOTE: The roster is not a comprehensive list of CBOs providing culturally relevant mentoring services in Seattle.

Applications for the CSR Mentoring Roster will re-open on every two years. Organizations interested in learning more about the roster process can visit DEEL’s website.

Graduates of Seattle public high schools now have access to two years (or up to 90 credits) of tuition-free college at Seattle Colleges thanks to the newly expanded Seattle Promise program.

This year’s class of 399 Seattle Promise students, a 43 percent increase from last year, is projected to grow exponentially as the program expands from six Seattle public high schools to all 17 schools.

In November 2017, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan issued an Executive Order to create the Seattle Promise College Tuition Program, which builds off Seattle Colleges’ successful 13^th Year Promise Scholarship. In November 2018, Seattle voters overwhelmingly passed the Mayor’s Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise levy, which expanded Seattle Promise to include graduates from all Seattle public high schools.

“We want all students to know and believe college is a possibility,” said Seattle Colleges’ chancellor Shouan Pan. “Through wraparound services, Seattle Promise gives all students, especially first generation and underserved youth, a real and equitable pathway for college education and success in the world of work.”

“On my first full day in office, we created the Seattle Promise College Tuition Program to provide our students two free years at any of our Seattle Colleges,” said Mayor Jenny Durkan. “Access to post-secondary education is so critical to ensuring we close the opportunity gap in our region, put more young people on a path to good-paying jobs, and create a more affordable future for our children. I’m grateful to Chancellor Pan and Superintendent Juneau for their commitment to making the Seattle Promise a reality.”

Seattle Promise provides tuition, funding for school-related expenses for those with need, and individual guidance and advising from high school through a student’s first two years of college regardless of GPA, income or country of birth.

“This combination is what sets the program apart,” said Melody McMillian, Seattle Promise program director. “Students are met where they have need, supported by peers who are also going through the program, and guided individually by an advisor all along the way. The design is deliberately holistic and is improving student success.”

Seattle Promise is a partnership with the City of Seattle’s Department of Education and Early Learning and Seattle Public Schools. The program, primarily funded by the city of Seattle’s Family, Education Preschool and Promise (FEPP) Levy with additional private support through the Seattle Colleges Foundation, is focused on providing college access, success, and completion with a mission to build a local thriving college-going culture that creates a workforce ready for our region’s careers.

Applications for the Seattle Promise class of fall 2020 are now open until Feb. 15, 2020. Seattle Public School students are encouraged to start the application process in the fall of their senior year.

“I want all of our graduates to see themselves in meaningful and fulfilling careers, earning living-wages in a city they love,” said Seattle Public Schools superintendent Denise Juneau. “Seattle Promise is one of the programs that is going to help us get them there.”

Visit the Seattle Promise website at seattlecolleges.edu/promise to learn more.

Results of the Seattle Preschool Program’s (SPP) fourth year of implementation conclude Seattle has one of the best public preschool programs in the United States.  SPP was recognized for continuing to reach families that can benefit most from early childhood education and demonstrating child learning gains across language, literacy and math. SPP quality scores now surpass published results from Boston, MA, Tulsa, OK, and New Jersey and are similar to New York, NY and San Antonio, TX.

Key findings of the 2018-19 study, conducted by National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) and Cultivate Learning at the University of Washington, include:

• Larger gains for children in language, literacy, and math than would be expected by natural development alone;
• Expanded access for families furthest from opportunity, with over 75% of enrolled children from families who earn less than 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL) or under $77,250 per year for a family of four; and
• Growth over four years from 14 to 75 classrooms.

“When we support kids and families through early learning programs, our children in all parts of the city and from all backgrounds can reach their full potential,” said Mayor Jenny Durkan. “The Seattle Preschool Program is reducing the barriers facing low-income families by investing in high quality early learning to help close the opportunity gap. Developing strong cognitive, emotional, and language development in our youngest learners is a giant step toward creating success in schools for years to come.”

In a release from NIEER, W. Steven Barnett, NIEER’s founder and senior co-director, said “Seattle has built a strong foundation on which to grow and expand its preschool program… the program’s trend is clearly positive.”

Approved by voters as a four-year demonstration project in 2014, SPP opened its first classrooms in the 2015-2016 school year (SY). Each year since, NIEER has conducted an annual evaluation of the program. With funding from the voter-approved Families, Education Preschool and Promise (FEPP) Levy in 2018, SPP will continue to expand over the next seven years to 130 classrooms by SY 2025-26. The additional classrooms will increase the geographic diversity of the program, with significant growth in neighborhoods throughout Seattle, providing families in more areas access to high-quality preschools near their homes.

“We couldn’t be prouder of the incredible work done by Seattle’s early learning community partners and City staff,” said Dwane Chapelle, Director of the Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning. “We thank Seattle’s parents for trusting SPP to serve their children as the program grows and are thrilled with the results of this latest study.”  

The Seattle Preschool Program helps prepare children to enter school with the skills they need to succeed. Research shows that children who attend high quality preschool programs have better academic and life outcomes: they’re more likely to have better grades, graduate, attend college, get a job, have higher lifetime wages and better mental and physical health.

The full study is available at http://nieer.org/research-report/seattle-pre-k-program-evaluation.

The Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) is partnering with YWCA Seattle/King/Snohomish to provide support for students in Seattle Public Schools (SPS) experiencing homelessness or housing instability. DEEL announced today that more than $400,000 from the voter-approved Families, Education, Preschool and Promise (FEPP) levy will be invested into the YWCA to develop programs that provide a rapid and culturally responsive approach to housing services for families experiencing homelessness.

Research shows that students experiencing homelessness or housing instability—whether living in hotels/motels, in shelters, unsheltered, or doubled up—have significantly lower academic outcomes than their housed peers.

Statewide, students experiencing homelessness (including doubled-up students) have a 62% attendance rate, compared to an 86% attendance rate for their housed peers. Further, three in four students experiencing homelessness do not meet the proficiency level on state math assessments and have a four-year graduation rate that is more than 25 percentage points lower than their housed peers (55% versus 81%). Student mobility is greater for homeless students as well. During the 2015-16 school year, 10% of Seattle School District’s students experiencing homelessness changed schools compared to only 3% of stably housed students.

“We know that homelessness and housing instability significantly impact a student’s ability to thrive in school. We must do more to help our students and families experiencing homelessness, and we must ensure our programs are culturally responsive and work to break down systemic barriers,” said Mayor Jenny Durkan. “This investment is an important step to help some of the most vulnerable students in our schools, and to end youth homelessness in our region.” 

This year’s Point in Time count found that nearly 1,100 youth and young adults (YYA) were experiencing homelessness across King County, which represents a 28% decrease over 2018. Data shows that 32% of YYA identified themselves as having been involved in the foster care system, 34% identified as LGBTQ, and YYA reported higher rates of psychiatric or emotional conditions than adults experiencing homelessness.

“The challenge of finding housing disrupts the lives of students and their families. Some students who leave school when their families are homeless do not come back,” said DEEL Director Dwane Chappelle. “These funds, and our work with the YWCA, are intended to ensure that during a period of disruption and instability, students have the support and services they need to remain in school.”

YWCA Seattle/King/Snohomish will use these funds to develop a program that will:

• Secure permanent housing for Seattle Public Schools (SPS) families experiencing homelessness or housing instability;  
• Improve attendance among SPS students experiencing homelessness;
• Increase school stability—reducing the number of times a student transfers schools in a year; and
• Prevent SPS families with unstable housing from becoming homeless.

“Supporting students effected by the homeless crisis will take all of us. Enhanced YWCA supports including secure, permanent housing for SPS families will make a world of difference,” said Seattle Schools Superintendent Denise Juneau. “This is just one more example of how the City’s levy FEPP helps provide stability, consistency, and predictability so students can benefit from a great education in Seattle Public Schools.”

This program will deliver specialized services for youth and their families, from case management to housing search assistance, through a culturally relevant lens. A YWCA Youth Advocate will work closely with participants to identify and assess their needs, strengths, and goals, and help students connect to programs that will support their attendance, academic success, and overall well-being.

“We’re grateful to be selected for this award, which will strengthen YWCA’s work to restore housing stability and economic independence for families, while increasing our services for Seattle Public Schools students who face homelessness,” said Chief Program Officer, Patricia Hayden.

YWCA Seattle/King/Snohomish is committed to gender and racial equity in housing, economic advancement, health, and safety, with programs that center those who are furthest from opportunity. YWCA has provided critical services for families in Seattle since 1894 and has 125 years of experience delivering the tools and resources they need to thrive, from emergency shelter to permanent housing.

DEEL’s mission is to transform the lives of Seattle’s children, youth, and families through strategic investments in education.

DEEL is notifying early learning providers in Seattle of the opportunity to join the Seattle Preschool Program (SPP). DEEL has approximately $1.8 million dollars in funding beginning in the school year 2020-21 that will award up to 8 new classrooms.

These new classrooms will include a combination of classrooms identified through this RFI, expansion of existing SPP providers, and direct contracting with eligible entities.

Through this RFI, DEEL is seeking applicants that are new to contracting for publicly funded preschool. 

For more information and to download the application go to: http://www.seattle.gov/education/for-providers/funding-opportunities/seattle-preschool-program-2020-21-preschool

The Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) is notifying organizations, consultants, specialists, and any other entities providing services described in this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) of a funding opportunity through the City of Seattle 2018 Families, Education, Preschool and Promise (FEPP) Levy.

The purpose of the Comprehensive Supports RFQ is to solicit applications to identify qualified organizations and individuals to provide time-limited, teacher-focused, classroom-level services to early learning providers participating in the Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) and the SPP Pathway.

Identified organizations and individuals will work with preschool teachers who need additional and intensive coaching and/or support and have already utilized their agency’s resources.  These services are intended to build the capacity and skills of preschool teachers working with a small number of children who need intensive strategies inclusive of, but not limited to, behavioral, developmental, and/or connected to family/childhood trauma.

DEEL has approximately $400,000 available for 2020 to contract with selected applicants from this RFQ. To be considered for funding, eligible applicants are invited to submit an RFQ application by December 2, 2019. DEEL reserves the right to re-release this RFQ throughout the FEPP Levy period. Executed contracts will have evaluation and performance expectations.

A review panel will assess applications but may also elect to conduct interviews or site visits to gather further information or clarify questions.

On Friday, November 1, there will be a webinar available online for those interested in applying. There will also be two public information sessions:

Tuesday, November 5 10:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. 2100 Building, The Board Room  2100 24th Avenue South, Seattle

You can RSVP for the information sessions here.

For more information, or to download the RFQ application, go to the DEEL website: http://www.seattle.gov/education/for-providers/funding-opportunities

News Release

From the Department of Education and Early Learning                                    October 2, 2019

Contact: Al Sanders, Department of Education and Early Learning,

 al.sanders@seattle.gov, 206-485-5926

SEATTLE (October 2, 2019) The Department of Education and Early Learning announced today that it would award more than $1.2 million to create classrooms and improve safety at five Seattle preschools. The providers receiving capital funding are all operated by women of color and serve linguistically and culturally diverse students in south Seattle.

Finding licensable space for preschool facilities in Seattle remains a significant challenge for providers. Through the voter-approved Families, Education, Preschool and Promise (FEPP) Levy, the Seattle Preschool Program will be investing approximately $7.5 million to help preschool providers build, upgrade and renovate their spaces for SPP. This investment will allow 80 additional children to attend preschool in Seattle.

“The City understands that developing and maintaining high-quality learning environments is an enormous cost burden to our providers,” said Dwane Chappelle, the Director of the Department of Education and Early Learning. “The funds support providers and ensures the continued growth of preschool seats throughout Seattle. While the funds are specifically for preschool spaces, these classrooms could also be integrated into licensable child care spaces and support the Mayor’s proposal to expand the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).”

The four providers receiving Seattle Preschool Program Facilities investments are:

Voices of Tomorrow-$249,999: The funds will renovate and expand of classrooms, restrooms and kitchen space, and the construction of an outdoor play area. These renovations will allow the program to expand to serve up to 40 children for a full day program

Tiny Tots-$900,000: Tiny Tots will be part of the Othello Square complex that will open in 2021. The award will be used to place two SPP classrooms inside Tiny Tots’ Early Development Center at Othello Square, which will serve 40 children. The center will include rooms for infants, toddlers, and preschool, with a commitment to the City of 20 years.

Causey’s Main $20,000 and Causey’s MLK $42,686: The two locations will use the funds to make safety improvements to their sites.

Bella’s Creative Learning Center-$50,000: The funds will go toward expanding a residential space to accommodate 12 SPP students.

DEEL’s mission is to transform the lives of Seattle’s children, youth, and families through strategic investments in education.