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

Department of Education and Early Learning

Child Care Copay Relief for Families Announced through the End of 2020

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The Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) recently announced all remaining costs for families participating in the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) will be covered through the end of 2020. Families not yet participating in CCAP are encouraged to apply by emailing DEEL at ccap@seattle.gov or calling (206) 386-1050.

“CCAP has a long history helping families alleviate the costs of child care,” said DEEL Director Dwane Chappelle. “This fall, we’ve heard from both providers and families about the difficulties families are facing in covering the cost of care due to school closures and other economic impacts. Our team at DEEL is thrilled about this opportunity to put more money back into families’ pockets as we enter the holiday season.”

The CCAP Copay Relief announcement was also made in conjunction with news from Seattle Parks and Recreation that SPR’s childcare programs will also cover family costs through December 2020. Read the full press release from the Mayor’s office last Friday announcing the news for both of these City childcare programs serving families during this school year that has brought so many challenges for both parents and young learners.

The immediate response from CCAP families has been extremely positive as they learned about the financial relief they’d be receiving just ahead of the holiday season. “What this program does for struggling families never ceases to amaze me,” one parent wrote to the DEEL team. “I’d like to thank the entire organization for checking in and doing the best they can to support community members.”

For more information on the Child Care Assistance Program, visit seattle.gov/ccap.

Partner Chat: Rory Gill, Seattle Preschool Program Teacher

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SPP Teacher Rory Gill in a fist-up pose
Photo: Rory Gill, Seattle Preschool Program Teacher (Photo provided by Rory Gill)

In celebration of DiscoverU 2020, a week of college and career exploration, we’re featuring an interview with Rory Gill, Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) Teacher at Daybreak Star Preschool and recipient of the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) Levy funded SPP teacher scholarship.

[Read more…]

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

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SPP Facilities Funding Announcement

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 Wednesday, November 18, 2020. 

  • The 2020-21 SPP Provider Facilities Fund RFI has approximately $800,000 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 two informational webinars on Thursday, October 22, 2020, on the Webex platform. Webex meeting links are provided below.

Session 1: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Session 2: 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

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

Fall 2020 DEEL Newsletter

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DEEL logo

A brand-new DEEL newsletter has launched! This department resource will provide a closer look at the investments the City of Seattle is making in education—from early learning to postsecondary.

In this first issue, we’re covering how our investments and our partners are pivoting for a school year unlike any other we’ve known. As our city continues to navigate COVID-19 and build toward recovery, DEEL is working with our partners to adapt to the challenges before us with innovation, collaboration, and a sharp focus on racial equity. 

Here’s a closer look at what’s in the Fall 2020 issue:

  • Director’s Welcome Letter
  • Investment Features
    • Seattle Preschool Program
    • K-12 Investments
    • School Based Health Centers
    • Kingmakers of Seattle
  • Community Partner Features
    • ACE Academy
    • Seed of Life: Emergency Child Care Provider
  • Department Features
    • DEEL Director Dwane Chappelle Reconfirmed
    • Staff Spotlight: Communications & External Affairs
  • Student and Family Resources
    • Home Learning Resources for Early Learners
    • School-Age Child Care
    • Teen Resource Hubs
    • Seattle Public Schools Resources: Student Meals, Technology Support, and Drive-Thru Flu Clinics
    • Remote Learning Resources from Seattle Public Library
  • Calendar and Events of Interest
    • Upcoming Trainings for Preschool Teachers and Providers
    • Upcoming Funding Opportunities for Seattle Preschool Program

To receive future issues of the DEEL newsletter, sign up on DEEL’s mailing list.

School Based Health Centers Will Be Open for In-Person and Telehealth Services this Fall

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School Health investments provide critical medical, dental, and mental health services to help support student health and academic success.

Early this month, Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC) announced that 29 School-Based Health Center (SBHC) services will be available to Seattle Public Schools students this fall, including 8 elementary schools and 21 middle and high schools campuses. This announcement included the opening of two new centers at Lowell Elementary and Nova High School.

SBHCs are part of the K-12 Health investments under the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) levy passed by voters in 2018. These investments offer comprehensive medical and mental healthcare, including routine primary care, vaccinations, counseling, and some dental services. SBHCs are designed to promote early intervention, prevention, and treatment of health-related barriers to learning and life success and increase the number of students graduating prepared for the post-secondary pathway of their choice.

The school district’s decision to implement 100% remote learning this fall hasn’t changed the health care needs of students and, if anything, many students may be missing out on the sports physicals or routine immunizations they would typically get in the fall. As such, Seattle Public Schools (SPS) made the decision to open their buildings for SBHC access, and families should know that students enrolled in SPS can receive services at any of the open SBHCs, not just at the school where a student is enrolled.

[Read more…]

Director Dwane Chappelle Reconfirmed in His Role as Head of Department of Education and Early Learning through 2024

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Last week, Director Dwane Chappelle was unanimously reconfirmed by the City Council in his role as head of the City of Seattle’s Department of Education & Early Learning (DEEL) through January 2024, following his initial four-year term. Director Chappelle originally became DEEL’s director on February 3, 2016 and was nominated for reappointment by Mayor Jenny Durkan early this spring after having served in Mayor Durkan’s cabinet since her election in 2017. The COVID-19 pandemic briefly delayed the reconfirmation process, which was put back on the City Council agenda this month.

“Every day, Dwane shows up to work committed to centering the needs of students furthest from educational justice. Under Dwane’s leadership, DEEL has made incredible strides, including the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise levy, which makes significant investments to close the opportunity gap, expand child care and preschool, and create two years of free college. I am so grateful that Dwane is a member of my Cabinet. He makes DEEL better, he makes our students’ lives better, and he makes the City better,” said Seattle Mayor Jenny A. Durkan.

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$4.9M in Opportunity and Access Investments Announced

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Community-Based Programs Will Help Close Opportunity Gaps Through Expanded Learning and College and Career Readiness

This week, Mayor Jenny Durkan and DEEL announced $4.9 million in Opportunity and Access awards that will be distributed over the next three years to community-based organizations (CBOs) focused on closing opportunity gaps through expanded learning and college and career readiness. The announcement came as part of a larger press release announcing both School-Based Investments and Opportunity and Access investments that will begin this school year.

Part of the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise levy passed by voters in 2018, Opportunity and Access funding is a new investment area that allows for multiple service delivery methods to help students develop academic and nonacademic skills that will help them graduate on time and enter postsecondary programs.

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How to Contact DEEL Staff During COVID-19 (Translations Included)

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The Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) has limited staff on site in the Seattle Municipal Tower to encourage social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Staff can be contacted directly by email or phone. Interpretation services available.

Spanish, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese, Amharic, Korean, and Somali language translations below.

CLICK FOR LANGUAGE TRANSLATIONS

Seattle Preschool Program: Fall 2020 Virtual Parent Q&A Event

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UPDATE: Event video replay here.

Join us on Monday, August 31, at 4:30 p.m. for our live, virtual Parent Q & A Event to get your questions answered about Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) offerings this fall. Access the meeting here. Click “Join by browser” to bypass the app download.

Hear from SPP staff and providers about changes to SPP programming this fall, reduced and free tuition options, and health and safety guidance for preschool during COVID-19. Parents will also be able to ask questions in our Webex virtual meeting platform.

To apply for SPP, click here.

Seattle Preschool Program Enrolling for Fall with Free and Reduced Tuition Options

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NEWS RELEASE 

Jenny A. Durkan, Mayor 

Dwane Chappelle, Director 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

August 25, 2020  

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

Seattle Preschool Program Enrolling for Fall with Free and Reduced Tuition Options 

City offers families multiple early learning options during COVID-19 pandemic 

SEATTLE (August 25) – The Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) is announcing modifications to the Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) for the 2020-2021 school year in response to COVID-19. SPP programming will be available this fall in one of three programming options: in-person, 100 percent remote, or a hybrid option of both in-person and remote.  

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