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Posts categorized under Lori Baxter, Author at What's the DEEL?

Seattle Preschool Program Adds 7 New Classrooms; Applications for 2023-24 School Year Now Open

Seattle’s award-winning preschool program is expanding to 89 sites citywide, including 28 dual-language classrooms supporting instruction in eight languages.

Join Our Upcoming Info Session for the SPP Expansion Request for Qualifications (RFQ)

Applications to join the Seattle Preschool Program for the 2023-24 school year are due January 18. Last week, DEEL announced the opening of a new Request for Qualifications (RFQ) opportunity to solicit applications from qualified early learning providers in Seattle for the opportunity to join the Seattle Preschool Program (SPP),… [ Keep reading ]

11 Organizations Awarded $1.6M in Community Grants to Support Equitable Birth Outcomes and Early Childhood Development

The Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) has announced $1.6 million in grants for 11 community organizations as part of the Sweetened Beverage Tax (SBT) 2022 Prenatal-to-Three Community Grant Program, which aims to improve kindergarten readiness and reduce outcome disparities for young children and families based on race, gender, or other socioeconomic factors.

Leilani Dela Cruz Announced as DEEL Early Learning Division Director

DEEL recently announced Leilani Dela Cruz as the new director of the department’s Early Learning Division, overseeing the City of Seattle’s investments in early learning and child care.

Kindergarten Readiness Gets a Boost from Summer-Extension Programming, a Pandemic-Era Adaptation to the Seattle Preschool Program with Lasting Benefits 

Last week, hundreds of Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) participants started kindergarten better prepared and with more confidence around the big transition to school. That’s because preschool classes were extended through the summer for the second consecutive year, with some programs having as many as 10 weeks of extended programming.  

DEEL Awards $782K for Seattle Preschool Program Facilities Improvements and Celebrates Start of SPP’s 8th School Year

The Department of Education and Early Learning has announced $782,000 in facilities funding for six Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) providers, including first-time awards to three home-based Family Child Care (FCC) programs. The announcement also celebrates the start of the eighth year of SPP, which has expanded from serving 283 students in 2015 to having capacity for more than 2,100 students for the 2022-2023 school year. 

DEEL Announces $1.4M in Community Grants to Provide Prenatal-to-Three Supports for BIPOC, Immigrant and Refugee Communities

The Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) has announced open applications for the 2022 Prenatal-to-Three Community Grant Program, with $1.4 million in funding available from revenue generated by the City’s Sweetened Beverage Tax (SBT). The grant program will support community-based organizations serving children aged birth to three, pregnant individuals, and guardians of children aged birth to three within the city of Seattle to support equitable birth outcomes and increased early childhood development services.

Seattle-Based Child Care Providers Receiving Grants of $1000-$5000 and $500 Per Staff Member*

This week, payments will begin going out to 631 Seattle providers who are receiving a flexible-spending stabilization grant from the City’s Department of Education and Early Learning to support ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, 4,589 Seattle child care workers will receive a one-time staff retention payment between $400-500, as part of $7.4 million in joint funding from the City of Seattle and King County to support the region’s child care workers.

Staff Spotlight: CCAP Education Specialist Unit

This article spotlights DEEL’s staff unit of CCAP Education Specialists, who support child care providers partnering with the City of Seattle as part of the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).

FEPP Levy Year 2 Results for 2020-2021 School Year

DEEL is proud to release our Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) Levy Year 2 report, covering the 2020-2021 school year.