Angelia Hicks-Maxie got into the childcare business, in part because she loves helping kids, but also to follow in her mother’s footsteps. She had dreams to expand Tiny Tots Development Center, first founded by her mother in 1969 as an in-home child care operation, into a multisite, full-service early learning center. 

As an energetic addition to the business in the late 1990s, Hicks-Maxie had a lot of ideas. It was clear to her she would need to seek outside funds to bring those ideas to life, but finding the right sources is no easy task and growth took time.

“Without funding, preschool programs can’t grow. We’re not a profit center. In child care, you make about enough to cover your expenses and pay your staff—and not what they should be paid—and you’re struggling with that. There is no room for you to dip into a fund and say I’m going to get some capital for a new building.” 

Angelia Hicks-Maxie, SPP Provider Facilities Fund Awardee

Along the way, Angelia learned about the Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) Facilities Fund, which invests in the expansion and improvement of high-quality learning environments for participation in the City’s award-winning preschool program. SPP provides Seattle three- and four-year-olds with access to high-quality, culturally responsive preschool services that improve kindergarten readiness and support subsequent academic achievement.  

The Seattle Preschool Program Request for Qualifications is now OPEN!

The Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) is excited to announce the opening of the Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) Request for Qualifications (RFQ) as part of the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) Levy, passed by voters in 2018. 

The FEPP Levy aims to achieve educational equity, close opportunity gaps, and build a better economic future for Seattle students. FEPP preschool and early learning investments provide access to high-quality early learning services that promote success in kindergarten.

The purpose of this RFQ is to identify qualified early learning providers in Seattle to join the Seattle Preschool Program. DEEL will host two informational webinars to answer questions about this opportunity. Information sessions will be held on Friday, December 11, 2020 and Wednesday, December 16, 2020. Session times and access information will be updated here when available.

Click HERE to learn more about this funding opportunity and access RFQ documents. Submissions will be accepted through January 7, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.

SPP launched in the 2015-16 school year with the goal of providing accessible, high-quality preschool services for Seattle children designed to improve their readiness for school and to support their subsequent academic achievement. DEEL will expand SPP annually with a goal to serve 2,500 children by the 2025-26 school year.

Learn more about SPP and its results here.

Families can apply for SPP participation here.