Seattle Child Care Staff to Receive Up to $2.8M in Workforce Support
January 13, 2025
The Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) is proud to announce it will provide up to $2.8 million to support child care workers.
DEEL and BrightSpark to Provide Child Care Staff Retention Payments in Early 2025
October 23, 2024
The Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) and BrightSpark Early Learning Services are excited to announce that Child Care Worker Retention Payments will be available in early 2025. The distribution amount will be up to $2.9 million allocated from the City’s 2024 budget. This initiative and one-time payment… [ Keep reading ]
Study Outlines True Cost of Child Care in Seattle and King County
February 12, 2024
In July 2021, the City of Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) and King County Best Starts for Kids (BSK) jointly commissioned a report to build upon work done by P5 Fiscal Strategies for the statewide Washington Child Care Collaborative Task Force to understand the true cost of child care.
Over 3,700 Seattle Child Care Staff Receiving Up To $1,380 to Support Worker Retention
September 12, 2023
More than 3,700 Seattle child care professionals are receiving a one-time payment of up to $1,380 from the Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) to support child care worker retention.
Child Care Staff to Receive Up to $5.3 Million to Support Workforce
June 12, 2023
For the third consecutive year, the City of Seattle will provide millions in relief to support and retain child care workers. Funded by the Payroll Expense Tax, up to $5.3 million–the largest direct payment investment to date–is projected to reach approximately 4,500 child care workers across the city. Applications open Tuesday, June 13, 2023.
DEEL Fall 2022 Newsletter
October 12, 2022
DEEL’s fall 2022 newsletter is available now! This issue features investments in Seattle Preschool Program Summer Extension, International Baccalaureate programming at Rainier Beach High School, and educator diversity. Also highlighted is DEEL’s proposed 2023 budget, a spotlight on our new Early Learning Division Director, Leilani Dela Cruz, and supportive student and family resources from preschool to postsecondary.
Seattle-Based Child Care Providers Receiving Grants of $1000-$5000 and $500 Per Staff Member*
August 16, 2022
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
July 11, 2022
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).
DEEL Releases Third Round of Funding in Support of Child Care Providers, in Partnership with King County
June 13, 2022
Today, King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell joined child care partners to announce the opening of applications for the 2022 Child Care Retention Payments and a new round of stabilization grants for Seattle providers provided by the Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL). A total of $7.4 million in joint funding will be available for eligible providers through both opportunities, including $5 million from the King County Best Starts for Kids levy and $2.4 million from the Seattle JumpStart Payroll Expense Tax.