Kusum’s Early Learning and Preschool plans to upgrade its play area and install new playground equipment. Today, the Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) announced $805,000 in funding for facilities improvements at six Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) providers. This year, DEEL focused on providing funding grants to make improvements to existing facilities and classrooms, rather than expand classrooms or buildings. SPP has experienced consistent growth throughout its first nine years, and the SPP Provider Facilities Funding, which is supported by the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise Levy, is designed to expand and improve existing facilities to ensure long-term, sustainable access to high-quality classrooms within the Seattle Preschool Program. Facilities grant contracts include a condition that providers continue participating in SPP for anywhere from three to ten years, depending on the amount awarded.
Kusum’s Early Learning Childcare and Preschool serves Northeast Seattle families and says receiving this grant for preschool facility improvement is a significant step forward in our mission to provide high-quality early childhood education. “The funding will directly enhance our physical environment, ensuring that children have access to safer, more stimulating spaces with age-appropriate equipment that promote learning and creativity,” says Kusum Chohan, Owner and Director of Kusum’s Early Learning Childcare & Preschool. “With these improvements, we will be able to enhance our services, offering more preschool children the opportunity to thrive in a nurturing, well-equipped setting and enhance our facilities, creating safe, engaging, and inclusive learning environments for preschool children.”
“DEEL is proud to provide support to our preschool partners so that they can continue to bring high-quality early learning opportunities to Seattle families,” said DEEL director Dr. Dwane Chappelle. “Every child deserves a safe and nurturing environment to learn and grow. Funding from this grant will help support these child care centers to meet the growing demand for culturally and linguistically responsive programming that supports kindergarten readiness.”
A full list of awardees is below:
Community School of West Seattle (Council District 1) – $15,805 for age-appropriate toileting upgrades.
Tiny Tots Development Center Helen Hicks Building (Council District 2) – $250,000 to upgrade and expand staff area and art room to accommodate more preschoolers and build an outdoor bathroom.
Launch at Madrona Elementary (Council District 3) – $8,129 to repaint the SPP classrooms and shared facilities.
First Place Preschool (Council District 3) – $78,561 to address plumbing issues and flooring to follow licensing requirements for newly licensed SPP classrooms.
Hearing, Speech and Deaf Center (Council District 3) – $421,029 to upgrade toilet rooms, kitchen, administrative space, and expand gross motor room.
Kusum’s Childcare and Preschool (Council District 5) – $34,264 to install play equipment from the previous year’s award.
SPP provides free tuition to most Seattle families who apply, with rates calculated based on household income and family size. Parents can learn more about SPP sites and how to begin the application process at seattle.gov/applySPP. In-language Applications are available, families who need language assistance to complete the application process can contact DEEL at 206-386-1050 or email preschool@seattle.gov.
The City of Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning’s mission is to transform the lives of Seattle children, youth, and families through strategic investments in education. www.seattle.gov/education
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