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

Department of Education and Early Learning

Fabrics of Our Lives: Atlantic Street Center Youth Celebrate Black History   

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At the historic Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, Seattle youth took to the stage to deliver a stellar performance celebrating Black History Month titled, Fabrics of Our Lives.  The play highlighted art, culture, and important moments in American history through tributes to Black civil rights activists, the Harlem Renaissance, Harriet Tubman, the Black Panthers and boy bands of the 1980’s to name only a few. Performers included youth representing Atlantic Street Center (ASC), D&G Dance Company and individual youth performers Tazz Enrico, Skye Dior, and Ashley McCarver.   

The Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) is proud to partner with ASC to increase access to enrichment and academic experiences for students furthest from educational justice. Research shows that youth are more likely to graduate high school on time and pursue higher education when learning in environments that reflect their cultural identities and building relationships with adults they trust. The Fabrics of Our Lives theater production is one of many ASC youth programs that foster leadership skills, positive identity development, and cultural pride.  

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Classroom Expansion and New Dual-Language Programs Mark New Year of Seattle Preschool Program

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This week, at the Denise Louie Education Center in the Chinatown/International District, Mayor Bruce Harrell and Seattle DEEL Director Dwane Chappelle joined Denise Louie Director Susan Yang to announce the opening of Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) applications for the 2022-2023 school year and the expansion of seven new classrooms for the program’s eighth year.

Tuesday’s event also celebrated the delivery of more than 8,700 home learning kits that have been provided to SPP families throughout the pandemic to encourage parent engagement and support sensory exploration and important foundations for learning and development. “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the teachers and faculty at Denise Louie,” said SPP parent Liling Kong, who also spoke at today’s press conference. “I’m so grateful for the way they provide motivating lessons, help [my daughter] set realistic goals, and encourage learning and improving skills. They have such wonderful teachers at this school, and I can’t thank you all enough.”

This year, SPP will add seven new classrooms and 144 additional seats, allowing the City to serve up to 2,144 preschoolers this upcoming school year with its award-winning, high-quality programming. Two of the new classrooms will offer dual-language programming, including SPP’s first Somali-English classroom at Voices of Tomorrow Family and Child Center in South Seattle. Two new SPP Plus classrooms that provide inclusive programming for children with disabilities will open at Seattle Public Schools sites.

Denise Louie Education Center serves more than 500 children, ages birth to five, across multiple sites. Executive Director Susan Yang said, “The Seattle Preschool Program has grown into a national model for other cities and Denise Louie proudly hosts four classrooms across the city. We thank the City for their leadership and support through the pandemic, and the Mayor for his long-term commitment to early learning.”

Families can apply for Seattle Preschool Program at seattle.gov/applySPP. Translated applications are available and additional language assistance is provided for those who need help completing the application process by calling DEEL at 206-386-1050 or emailing preschool@seattle.gov.

Read the full press announcement here.

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. 

Call for Community Volunteers: Join the FEPP Levy Oversight Committee to advise on how the City of Seattle advances educational equity from preschool to postsecondary through policy and financial investments

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The Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) is currently accepting applications for five new committee members for the Families, Education, Preschool and Promise (FEPP) Levy Oversight Committee (LOC). LOC members serve three-year terms, with the exception of youth members, who will serve a one-year term. Interested community members are encouraged to apply through the City of Seattle Boards and Commissions website. Applications are due by Monday, February 14, 2022. 

DEEL seeks applicants representing historically-underserved communities— specifically, African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Pacific Islanders, underserved Asian populations, other students of color, refugee and immigrant, homeless, English language learners, and LGBTQ+ communities. Youth, young adults, and parents of students served by FEPP Levy investments are encouraged to apply. 

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FEPP Levy Year 1 Shows Promising Results for Educational Equity

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DEEL is excited to share our Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) Levy Year 1 Report for the 2019-2020 School Year!* In the first year of implementation, the FEPP Levy showed encouraging results in our efforts to advance educational equity, close opportunity gaps, and build a better future for Seattle students.

Racial equity results and highlights we saw in Year 1 of the FEPP Levy include:

  • Increased access to high quality affordable preschool through our Seattle Preschool Program
  • Improved high school graduation rates for Levy-supported high schools
  • Encouraging college retention rates for our Seattle Promise scholars
  • Narrowing of race-based opportunity gaps in kindergarten readiness and four-year high school graduation rates

A full copy of the report can be viewed here.

DEEL would like to thank all our FEPP Levy partners who have helped bring this work to life by providing direct services to Seattle children, youth and families and professional development and systems-building support to our providers. Together, we are creating greater opportunity for our students furthest from educational justice and a stronger economic future for our city.

For media inquiries and other questions about this report, please contact education@seattle.gov.

* A version of this report was shared in summer 2021 with City Council and our FEPP Levy Oversight Committee

Mayor Durkan Announces Municipal Match Partnership with Washington State Opportunity Scholarship to Strengthen STEM Pathways for Seattle Promise Scholars

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Scholarships of Up to $22,500 Available to Strengthen Financial Supports for Students Pursuing STEM and Healthcare Careers 

Speaker-Emeritus Frank Chopp, LD 23 Representative Drew Hansen, WSOS Executive Director Kimber Connors, Seattle Promise and WSOS Scholar Albany Garcia, Mayor Jenny Durkan, Microsoft President Brad Smith, South Seattle Colleges President Dr. Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap, and DEEL Director Dwane Chappelle smile for the camera after announcing the new municipal partnership with WSOS.
From L-to-R: LD 43 Speaker-Emeritus Frank Chopp, LD 23 Representative Drew Hansen, WSOS Executive Director Kimber Connors, Seattle Promise and WSOS Scholar Albany Garcia, Mayor Jenny Durkan, Microsoft President Brad Smith, South Seattle Colleges President Dr. Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap, and DEEL Director Dwane Chappelle.

SEATTLE (November 18) – Mayor Jenny A. Durkan, DEEL, and partners from education, philanthropy and STEM industries announced a new partnership with the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship (WSOS) to strengthen pathways to college and career advancement for Seattle Promise scholars pursuing jobs in the trades, Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and health care. Seattle is the first city in Washington State to become a municipal partner for this competitive scholarship, ensuring Seattle Promise scholars have access to continued financial aid and support as they successfully complete the Seattle Promise program and transition to furthering their education at another institution.  

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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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DEEL Provides Take-Home Activity Kits to Support Early Learning and Healthy Child Development Throughout Pandemic

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Contributors: Gabriella Caferro, QPPD Administrative Specialist and Early Learning Coaches Emily Zartman, Fanny Yang, Aaron Jeffers, Shawn Harris, Katie Culler, Amina Sudduth

Preschoolers at First Place School pose for a photo with their DEEL home learning kits in September 2020! Pictured on the left is Sumaya with her parent Semera Hussein; on the right is Zainab. 
Preschoolers at First Place School pose for a photo with their DEEL home learning kits in September 2020! Pictured on the left is Sumaya with her parent Semera Hussein; on the right is Zainab. 

As the summer comes to an end, DEEL is shining a light on how schools and community-based organizations prepared students for in-person learning for their return to classrooms this fall. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be highlighting several programs that provided increased academic, social and emotional learning opportunities that support student wellness and success. In this article, we feature Seattle Preschool Program’s home learning kits which provided families with materials to support their child’s learning and development from home throughout the pandemic.  

When the pandemic began, keeping 3- and 4-year-olds engaged through remote learning proved to be a challenge for parents and teachers. Early learning research shows us that at this age, children rely heavily on sensory exploration to build an understanding of the world around them. Interacting with tangible objects makes important sensory connections in children’s brains and builds important foundations for learning and development. As the rich learning environment of preschool classrooms was altered to a virtual format, families’ access to the wide assortment of materials typically found in a preschool classroom was limited. Families and educators found themselves in new, uncharted territory.  

To address this need for Seattle’s youngest learners, the Department of Education and Early Learning’s (DEEL) Quality Practice and Professional Development (QPPD) team developed home-learning kits for children enrolled in DEEL-sponsored early learning programs such as birth-to-three services, Seattle Preschool Program (SPP), and SPP Pathway programs to increase parent engagement in their child’s learning and support healthy childhood development from home.  

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Seeking Youth & Community Input: Survey to Inform How Funding Can Support Youth and Families Experiencing Homelessness

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The Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) is seeking feedback from Seattle youth and adults who have experienced homelessness or housing instability. You can help inform how funding can better support people experiencing homelessness by completing the following surveys: 

Youth Survey (ages 10-21): tinyurl.com/hhsyouth2021 

Youth Survey Flyer

Adult Survey (ages 22+): tinyurl.com/hhsadult2021

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

This survey will close on September 9th at 5:00 p.m.