Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning Summer 2023 Newsletter

Department of Education and Early Learning blue-white logo

Summer 2023, Volume 4, Issue 3

A Franklin High School graduate waves at the camera at the class of 2023 commencement ceremony.

A Franklin High School student waves to the camera at graduation.


Congratulations, Class of 2023!

This June, more than 3,000 Seattle Public Schools seniors across 17 high schools took to the stage for commencement. Despite three of the toughest years in education history, these scholars demonstrated resiliency and determination to complete their high school education. DEEL is thrilled to see these bright young people transitioning to college and careers. Congratulations on this remarkable achievement! Visit this link to view recordings of graduation ceremonies held at Memorial Stadium.  

Investment and Program Features

DEEL 2021-2022 Annual Report

DEEL’s 2021-2022 Annual Report Now Available

DEEL's first department-wide annual report covers investment strategies spanning the prenatal-to-postsecondary continuum.

Seattle Preschool Program Educators Celebrate Dual-Language Classroom Accreditation

SPP Educators Celebrate Dual-Language Classroom Accreditation

Seattle Preschool Program’s end-of-year celebration of dual-language programs showcased student progress toward bilingualism and recognized six teachers for completing the Soy Bilingüe Early Childhood Education Classroom Accreditation.

Focused on Student Success, $7.2 Million in Youth Programs Awarded

Focused on Student Success, $7.2 Million in Youth Programs Awarded

DEEL will invest $7.2 million in 16 community-based organizations to increase college and career readiness and expanded learning opportunities for approximately 2,000 youth through 2026.

Image depicts an art project by Rainier Beach High School students about what brings them sunshine on a rainy day.

Youth Join Partnership for $4.5 Million Investment in Mental Health Pilot 

In response to growing behavioral health needs in schools, the City has launched a Student Mental Health Supports pilot to expand clinical and non-clinical approaches to mental health services in five schools. DEEL is developing a process to expand services to additional schools.

Diving Into Frequently Used Terms

Seattle Preschool Program children play with toy airplanes.

In each newsletter, we define terms you may frequently see to describe DEEL's work.

Social-emotional learning refers to experiences in which students acquire knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions, and achieve goals, feel and show empathy for others, build relationships, and make caring and age-appropriate decisions.

Funding Opportunities

Recent Funding Awards: 
Over the last quarter, DEEL announced awards for two grants supporting college and career readiness programs for Seattle K-12 students. View award announcements here for:

  • Opportunity and Access programs provide expanded learning and college and career readiness opportunities for youth disproportionately impacted by systemic inequities in education. Funding will increase the capacity of community organizations supporting young people to build skills that help them succeed in school, graduate on time, and transition to college and careers.
  • Summer Learning Enhancement funds expand or enhance summer academic and enrichment programs for Seattle K-12 students. Programs focus on development of college and career readiness skills and experiences that prepare students for success in school.

Award Notifications Coming Soon: 
Applicants of the following funding opportunities will be notified of funding decisions in the coming weeks. Click the links below for more information about DEEL's funding processes and timelines.

Sign up for DEEL's funding opportunity email list.

Want to stay up-to-date on funding opportunities from DEEL?  

Sign up for our Education Funding Opportunities email list to get notifications about upcoming funding and partnership opportunities delivered to your inbox.

City Initiatives

Downtown Is Me

Plans to Make Downtown More Accessible For Children, Youth, and Families

Mayor Bruce Harrell's recently announced Downtown Activation Plan includes ideas to bring more child care and education businesses downtown by allowing them to operate at greater heights in new buildings, and establishing a state-of-the-art indoor/outdoor sports facility that would provide free or low-cost options for play and community building. Share your ideas and feedback at downtownisyou.com


Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell Announces City Initiative to Help Save Families Up to $23,000 Per Year

New Online Portal Makes Applying For City Discounts Easier and Faster

This week, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced the expansion of the City's Affordable Seattle Initiative through CiviForm, a portal designed to make City discounts and benefits quickly and easily accessible to all. In its first year, the platform reduced application times from 30 minutes to 5 minutes on average, with up to $23,000 in possible savings for families. As an early adopter of the new platform, Seattle Preschool Program was integral in the pilot and expansion of CiviForm. Access the CiviForm portal here

Student and Family Resources

Apply Online for the Child Care Assistance Program

Apply Online for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)

CCAP helps cover child care costs for children ages one month to 12 years old for income-eligible families living in Seattle. Families receive a monthly voucher for child care that can be used at more than 200 participating CCAP providers in the city. Learn more at seattle.gov/ccap. 

Watch this video to learn more about CCAP, available in 10 Languages!   English  |  Español |  አማርኛ  |  Oromo  |   普通话   |  广州话 |  Soomaali  |  Tagalog  |  ትግርኛ  |  Tiếng Việt 

Seattle Preschool Program Applications are open for the 2023-24 school year

Seattle Preschool Program Applications are open for the 2023-24 school year

SPP provides affordable, high-quality preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds living in Seattle. Classes are now in session, but enrollment slots for the current year are still available, with extended-day child care available at some locations. Applications for the 2023-2024 school are now open! Families can learn more and apply at seattle.gov/applyspp. 

Tiny Tots Preschool Now Enrolling

Tiny Tots Preschool Now Enrolling 

Seattle Preschool Program participating provider, Tiny Tots Development Center, is accepting registration for preschool at their Othello and Renton Ave S. facilities. Full day, outdoor, and dual-language preschool is available with integrated child care for children ages three to five years old. Learn more at tinytotsdc.org.

 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

Seattle Summer Meals for Children and Teens

Seattle children ages 1 through 18 years will enjoy free breakfasts, lunches, and snacks once again this summer through the Seattle Human Services Department’s (HSD) Summer Food Program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Free meals are available for children through August 25 at no charge. Learn more about this year's program here.

Seattle Public Library Summer of Learning

Seattle Public Library Summer of Learning 

The theme of this year’s Summer of Learning is time travel, and encourages youth to explore where they’ve come from, where they are right now, and where they hope to be years from now. Youth and families are invited to pick up a Time Travel Summer Action Guide at their local library branch, or check out suggested reading lists here.

Register today for Seattle Promise Summer Bridge.

Summer Bridge Registration Is Open for Incoming Seattle Promise Scholars  

Summer Bridge is a required new student orientation that provides new Seattle Promise scholars with tools and skills that promote college success. This year, Summer Bridge will be hosted on September 12 and 13. Sign up to reserve your seat todayPhoto courtesy of Seattle Colleges. 

Professional Development for Educators

EduDesign Fellowships

UW EduDesign Fellowships

University of Washington's EduDesign Fellowships provide justice-focused, year-round collective professional learning opportunities for teachers. Cohorts provide space for fellows to build community, make sense of big ideas, support one another as professionals, and grow their justice work together. Learn more and apply by July 16Photo courtesy of University of Washington.

UW Summer Learning Opportunities

UW ConnectEd Summer Learning Opportunities 

Clock hour mini-courses are available through University of Washington's College of Educaton. Discounted rates are available for educators paying their own registration fees. Topics include Formative Assessment in Elementary Mathematics, Finding Your Niche as a Strengths-Based Teacher, and more! Find your course todayPhoto courtesy of University of Washington.

 

Calendar of Events

Save the Date for Big Day of Play 2023

Big Day of Play - August 19

Big Day of Play is a celebration of Seattle's diversity and it encourages neighbors, communities and families to have fun, build relationships and be active together. It's the day to play your way! The event will be hosted by Seattle Parks and Recreation at Rainier Playfields on Saturday, August 19. Learn more at bigdayofplay.org.

Movies at the Seattle Center Mural

Free Movies at Seattle Center in August

Seattle Center is hosting a line-up of free feature films on the sloping Mural Amphitheatre Lawn, in front of a state-of-the-art 40-foot screen, with the Space Needle looming above. The series features classic and contemporary popular movies, appropriate for all ages. Learn more at seattlecenter.com.