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

Department of Education and Early Learning

Handbook for Health Heroes: New Comic Book Answers Families’ Questions About the COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids

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By Ciara Pickering, DEEL COVID-19 Communications Advisor

With the rise in COVID-19 cases this spring and the emergence of new variants, it’s more important than ever to protect ourselves and our communities by getting vaccinated. New information about COVID-19 and the vaccine continues to surface and many people find themselves with a lot of questions, especially about vaccines for kids ages 5 – 11. In collaboration with Public Health – Seattle & King County and Seattle Public Schools, DEEL has produced the Handbook for Health Heroes, a comic book guide to help answer families’ questions about the COVID-19 vaccine for kids.

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Applying for DEEL Funding? Tune-In To Recorded Information Sessions, May 2022! 

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DEEL is currently accepting applications for several exciting funding opportunities that will invest in community-based organizations providing equitable learning opportunities for Seattle children and youth.  

We invite you to learn more about DEEL finding opportunities by visiting our website, viewing the information sessions below, and joining us for upcoming technical assistance sessions to receive guidance on your application.  

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New Funding Opportunity: Community-Based Organizations Are Invited to Apply for DEEL’s Summer Learning Request for Investment 

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NEWS RELEASE 

Bruce Harrell, Mayor 

Dwane Chappelle, Director 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

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

New Funding Opportunity: Community-Based Organizations Are Invited to Apply for DEEL’s Summer Learning Request for Investment 

Apply by April 27th for grants up to $75,000 

SEATTLE (April 12) – The Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) is currently requesting applications from community-based organizations and city agencies for DEEL’s Summer Learning Enhancement Request for Investment (RFI). Funded by the Families, Education, Preschool and Promise Levy, this funding opportunity seeks to expand or enhance existing community-based summer programs for Seattle K-12 students.

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Seeking Feedback from Community Organizations Led by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color: Survey to Inform Funding for Youth Empowerment and Cultural Education Programs Serving Youth of Color

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The Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) is seeking feedback from community-based organizations led by Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) and sole proprietors serving youth and families of color in Seattle, WA. Feedback provided will help inform upcoming funding opportunities that support BIPOC youth empowerment and cultural education in response to recommendations from the Equitable Communities Initiative (ECI). 

Through this survey, we hope to reach the following objectives: 

  • Identify community-based partners that may be interested in applying to the ECI funding opportunity. 
  • Understand existing efforts in the areas of youth leadership and cultural education. 
  • Identify current barriers for organizations in applying for City of Seattle funding to improve our application process.  

To provide your feedback and receive updates relating to this funding opportunity when it becomes available, please complete the quick survey below: 

Survey link: tinyurl.com/2022eci 

Alt Text: Seattle Community-Based Organization Survey: Get your voices heard by filling out this 5-8 minute survey. Input will inform future funding opportunities for organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Completed surveys will enter into a drawing for a chance to win a $100 gift card!
Alternate Text for Survey Flyer: Seattle Community-Based Organization Survey; Get your voices heard by filling out this 5-8 minute survey. Input will inform future funding opportunities for organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Completed surveys will enter into a drawing for a chance to win a $100 gift card!

Please help us spread the word about this survey to local organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color serving youth throughout Seattle, WA! 

This survey will close on March  14th at 10:00 p.m. 

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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Seeking Youth Input: Survey to Inform Future Youth-Led Social Justice Projects

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DEEL is seeking is seeking feedback from Seattle youth to develop a mini-grant that will provide funding for youth-led projects – by youth, for youth – that speak out against racism and other forms of bias and hate. Help inform this process by filling out this quick and easy survey:

Youth Survey (ages 12-24): tinyurl.com/deelyouthsurvey 

Are you in need of funding to support a social justice project? Youth can fill out this survey to help inform the process.

Please help share this survey with youth and local organizations in your community! This survey will close on Friday Aug. 6, at 6:00pm. 

Seeking Youth & Community Input: Survey to Inform Future Programs Benefitting Black Girls, Young Women and Black Queer and Transgender Youth

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DEEL is seeking feedback from Seattle youth and adults to develop a funding opportunity that will serve Black girls, young women, and Black queer and transgender youth. You can help inform how DEEL designs this process by completing the following surveys: 

Youth Survey (ages 10-21): tinyurl.com/2021yth

Adult Survey (ages 22+): tinyurl.com/2021csrad

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

This survey will close on August 5th.

Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) Provider Facilities Fund Request for Investment (RFI) is now OPEN!

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Funding Announcement: SPP Provider Facilities Fund. Visit "Funding Opportunities" at seattle.gov/education to learn more!

The Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) Provider Facilities Fund Request for Investment (RFI) is now OPEN!

The Department of Education and Early Learning is excited to announce the opening of the SPP Providers Facilities Fund Request for Investment (RFI) funding opportunity as part of the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise Levy, passed by voters in 2018. 

To be considered for funding, applicants are invited to apply by 11:59 p.m. on Monday August 9, 2021. 

  • The 2021-22 SPP Provider Facilities Fund RFI has approximately $1,200,000 available to support child care facility expansion and renovation projects for use in Seattle Preschool Program.
  • Home-, center-, and school-based providers who contract with DEEL as providers of SPP or SPP Pathway are eligible to apply.
  • Funds are awarded through a competitive application process.

DEEL will host an informational webinar on Wednesday, July 7, 2021 on the Webex platform. Webex meeting links are provided below:

SPP Facilities Fund RFI Information Session

Wednesday July 7, 2021

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Join Meeting Here

Meeting password: PQiiWs5Zq29

Or, join by phone at:

+1-206-207-1700 United States Toll (Seattle)

+1-408-418-9388 United States Toll

Access code: 146 800 0353

Click HERE to learn more about this funding opportunity and access RFI documents. 

DEEL Awards $1M to Community-Based Organizations for K-12 Student Learning and Enrichment Programs in Summer 2021

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NEWS RELEASE 

Jenny A. Durkan, Mayor  

Dwane Chappelle, Director 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

July 1, 2021

Contact: Marissa Rousselle, marissa.rouselle@seattle.gov, 206-773-7307 

DEEL Awards $1M to Community-Based Organizations for K-12 Student Learning and Enrichment Programs in Summer 2021

Funding Will Expand and Enhance Community-Based Programs to Support Student Success and Wellness in Response to COVID-19 

SEATTLE (July 1) – This week, the Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) announced $1 million in community investments to enhance summer programs for more than 1,300 K-12 students impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funded programs are designed to help students better prepare for academic success and social-emotional well-being this fall as students and schools return to full-time learning in the classroom. Programming will occur late June through August 2021. 

“We know that the COVID-19 pandemic has been hard on all students – especially low-income students and students in our Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities (BIPoC). This $1 million funding, part of the voter-approved Families, Education, Preschool and Promise (FEPP) Levy, is much needed as K-12 students prepare to return to in-person learning.” said Mayor Jenny Durkan. “DEEL and their partners have worked hard to ensure that students are coming back from a year of remote learning on an even playing field. Quality education and supportive programs are critical to supporting students both in and outside of the classroom. COVID-19 may have changed our city in many ways, but it has not changed the City’s commitment to ensuring all Seattle youth have access to education, and the support they need to be successful.”  

Community-Based Summer Enhancement and COVID-19 Response Funds were awarded to 17 community-based organizations to enhance or expand a diverse array of student enrichment opportunities, including reading, writing, STEM, social justice, college mentorship, career exploration, physical fitness, and arts. Funded programs will provide K-12 students with greater access to academic supports and culturally-responsive enrichment experiences promoting physical wellness and social-emotional learning. Of the 17 award recipients, eight are first-time funding recipients from DEEL with award sizes ranging from $5,720 to $99,940. Funded organizations are largely concentrated in the South Seattle area.  

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