Seattle, WA

Overview

The City of Seattle’s comprehensive strategy to promoting early childhood success is rooted in decades of mayoral commitment to families, children, and early learning, including the implementation of a universal pre-k system. Recognizing the need to be responsive to the early childhood workforce, the city continuously fosters positive supports and professional development opportunities to enhance and ensure the stability of the child care field.

The City of Seattle’s commitment to early childhood education centers around three key themes:

1. Sustained Mayoral Support: Through strategic relationship-building and education of leaders about early childhood development, Seattle has maintained momentum across multiple mayoral administrations and city councilors.
2. Supporting the Early Learning Workforce: Seattle has pioneered comprehensive approaches to strengthening early childhood workforce development for both their Seattle Preschool Program and their Child Care Assistance Program. The city’s commitment to providers has built trust and stability and served as a model for statewide progress.
3. Universal Pre-K: The Seattle Preschool Program, launched in 2015, demonstrates how cities can successfully implement comprehensive early learning systems through stable funding, quality standards, and community responsiveness. The program’s mixed-delivery model respects existing community-driven efforts while expanding access to high-quality early learning opportunities.

Mayoral & Council Support

The City of Seattle’s journey in early childhood education demonstrates the power of sustained mayoral leadership and strategic relationship building across administrations. The foundation was laid in 1991 when Mayor Norm Rice created the first Family and Education Levy (FEL), working with Holly Miller, who later became Director of the Office for Education (OFE). While early learning investments in this initial levy were minimal, it established an important funding mechanism that would grow significantly over time.

A turning point came in 2002 when Seattle’s Human Services Department secured a federal Early Reading First grant. The success of this project paved the way for the first substantial investment in early learning in the 2004 FEL levy, which funded the creation of the Step Ahead Preschool Program. When WaKIDS data at the time revealed concerning kindergarten readiness numbers, the city has consistently positioned itself as an early learning innovator, often moving ahead of state initiatives. Rather than waiting for state-level action, the City of Seattle has repeatedly piloted new initiatives, establishing itself as a catalyst for broader change in Washington’s early learning landscape. This proactive approach has earned respect from state leaders who acknowledge the city’s role in advancing quality standards and innovative programs.

The creation of the Office for Education, which later evolved into the Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) in 2015, institutionalized the city’s commitment to supporting young children and families. Mayor Michael McGinn significantly advanced the City of Seattle’s early childhood agenda when he took office, doubling down on outcome-focused initiatives. His administration placed particular emphasis on third grade reading outcomes and strengthened the city’s commitment to data-driven decision making. During this period, McGinn laid the groundwork for what became the Department of Education and Early Learning in 2015, marking a crucial moment when scientific understanding and political commitment converged to create permanent infrastructure for the city’s educational priorities.

The success of the City of Seattle’s early childhood initiatives stems from a carefully cultivated network of support that extends beyond individual mayoral administrations. Through strategic relationship building with philanthropy, faith-based communities, research institutions, and community-based organizations, the city has maintained momentum even as political leadership changes. This approach has been particularly effective with leaders like Tim Burgess, who took up the early learning mantle as a council member before later serving briefly as mayor, and current Mayor Bruce Harrell, who has been a champion for DEEL since its beginning during his time on the city council.

Here’s What They Did

• The City of Seattle’s approach to building grassroots support included strategic engagement with elected officials and community leaders. The city developed a network of ambassadors in positions of power and influence through carefully constructed dinners, coffees, and conversations. Before the SPP Pilot launch. behind-the-scenes gatherings, combined with community education campaigns on the importance of early education and site visits to the Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences (ILABS) at the University of Washington, helped deepen understanding of early childhood development among key decision-makers. The City of Seattle strategically leveraged having world-class researchers in their backyard, consistently sharing brain development research with elected officials over time. This patient, persistent approach embodied the city’s philosophy of “playing the long game” and waiting for the right political moment to advance significant initiatives.
• The city has also been strategic in mobilizing broad community support for early childhood initiatives. When preparing for ballot measures to fund early learning, the City of Seattle ensured diverse stakeholder involvement by inviting community-based organizations, council members, and the teachers’ union to participate in planning and advocacy. They provided directors with talking points to effectively advocate and worked to mobilize families in support of early learning investments. The Child Care Resources (now named BrightSpark) organization’s annual “Children’s Champions” awards further reinforced public recognition of political leaders who prioritized early childhood issues. By aligning early learning with various administration priorities and creating opportunities for leaders to witness program impact firsthand, the City of Seattle has maintained sustained political commitment across changing administrations.

Your Next Steps for Getting Started

• Map potential early childhood champions and key decision-makers in your community. Identify who is running for office, who is seeking reelection, what their voting records show, and what their platforms include regarding children and families.
• Create an education strategy focused on brain development research that resonates with elected officials and community leaders. Use respected local research institutions to strengthen your case and provide scientific credibility for early childhood investments.
• Align early childhood initiatives with each administration’s priorities and vision to increase political buy-in. Look for opportunities to connect early childhood outcomes to the mayor’s stated goals, whether they focus on economic development, public safety, education, or equity.
• Create opportunities for meaningful engagement with elected officials, including organized site visits to successful early learning programs. Seeing effective programs firsthand helps officials understand the tangible benefits of their support and creates emotional investment in early childhood issues.
• Establish regular check-ins with state and county partners to ensure coordination and maximize impact. Regular communication across government levels helps avoid duplication, identifies funding opportunities, and creates a united front for early childhood priorities.

Helpful Tips for Ongoing Success

• Focus on the long game – plant seeds and cultivate relationships consistently, understanding that major policy wins may take years to develop. Persistence and patience are essential when building political support for early childhood initiatives.
• Build a broad coalition including business leaders, faith communities, and law enforcement to demonstrate widespread support across diverse constituencies. Showing that early childhood is not just an “education issue” but impacts the entire community strengthens your advocacy position.
• Use data and research strategically to make the compelling case for early childhood investments. Collect and share both quantitative outcomes and powerful stories that illustrate the impact of programs on real children and families.
• Foster collaboration between city departments and community organizations to create integrated systems of support for young children. Breaking down silos between government agencies creates more effective and efficient services for families.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with city council members, not just the mayor’s office. Council support is crucial for budget approvals and policy implementation, particularly during transitions between administrations.
• Emphasize outcomes and return on investment when making the case for support, particularly with fiscally conservative leaders. Frame early childhood investments as smart economic development that yields long-term benefits for the entire community.

“Cultivate your champions. Start meeting with them before elections, bring in the research, and then once folks get into office, educate them about upcoming bills and why it’s good for your constituents” -Leilani Dela Cruz

Supporting the Early Learning Workforce

The City of Seattle has established itself as a leader in supporting and strengthening the child care field and elevating opportunities for the early childhood workforce. Two historical examples of Seattle’s commitment to supporting early learning in their city include the Seattle Preschool Program (SPP), as well as its robust Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).

When the City of Seattle began its Seattle Preschool Program in 2015, which focuses on high-quality preschool for 3-4 year olds, city leaders engaged in challenging but necessary conversations to ensure they were effectively braiding and blending funding without duplication of efforts. These conversations allowed the City of Seattle to create their own team of coaches for the SPP program which focused specifically on curriculum implementation while still aligning with state licensing requirements and quality initiatives.

Through partnerships with research institutions like the University of Washington, the city also maintains a strong focus on quality while building capacity within the SPP workforce. The city’s data-driven approach to continuous improvement allows for regular assessment of program quality and workforce outcomes, enabling quick adjustments to address emerging needs. 

Seattle’s historical commitment to supporting early learning also extends through its Child Care Assistance Program which addresses the critical need for affordable, quality care across the broader early childhood spectrum, from children one month to twelve years old. The program provides vouchers to income-eligible families that significantly reduce the cost of licensed child care, enabling parents to work or attend school while ensuring their children receive quality care. The city recognizes that a strong, stable, and well-supported workforce is fundamental to providing high-quality early learning experiences for children.  With a dual focus on family support and provider stability, CCAP offers technical assistance and professional development to participating providers and ensures timely, reliable payments that strengthen the economic foundation of Seattle’s child care ecosystem.

The City of Seattle’s approach acknowledges that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for the child care field and what families need. This understanding is reflected in the diversity of their programs such as the SPP and CCAP, which includes the integration of seven family child care sites within the Seattle Preschool Program, ensuring various care settings are supported and valued within the larger early childhood ecosystem.

Here’s What They Did

• The city’s comprehensive support system for the early childhood workforce includes several key initiatives. Through the Seattle Preschool Program, DEEL established monthly provider meetings that serve as opportunities for provider feedback and reflection. Following the city’s philosophy of “we won’t abandon you,” DEEL coaches conduct monthly monitoring visits to providers, prioritizing relationship building and sustained support. These meetings are complemented by an open door/drop-in visit policy, allowing providers to access coaching support as needed.
• The City of Seattle’s coalition-building efforts are exemplified by the Seattle Early Education Collaborative, which served as an advisory group bringing together diverse stakeholders including community-based organizations, city departments, providers, and other early childhood partners. This collaborative formed professional workgroups focused on issues like kindergarten transition and quality assessment for SPP. Understanding the importance of culturally responsive assessment, the collaborative spent three years building consensus around assessment implementation. They utilized a racial equity tool to examine all assessments to ensure they would do the least amount of harm to children and families. This deliberate, inclusive process included Saturday meetings with provided meals to accommodate varied schedules. The city’s commitment to bringing the entire community along in this work demonstrates how the City of Seattle values genuine engagement and relationship building across sectors.

Your Next Steps for Getting Started

• Conduct a child care needs assessment to understand current challenges and opportunities
• Build strong relationships with providers through multiple touchpoints
• Create a coordination plan with state and county partners to clarify roles and responsibilities, potentially through a formal MOU
• Develop a comprehensive coaching framework that includes regular provider meetings and an open-door policy for support
• Design mental health and wellness supports that address burnout and stress among early educators
• Build relationships with higher education institutions to create professional development pathways

Helpful Tips for Ongoing Success

• Maintain consistent communication through regular meetings with providers and directors to address challenges
• Implement comprehensive professional development pathways with clear advancement opportunities
• Foster coalition-building through collaborative advisory groups like Seattle’s Early Education Collaborative
• Provide multiple access points for coaching and professional development to accommodate different provider needs
• Review compensation strategies regularly to address workforce retention challenges
• Create opportunities for providers to give feedback and shape program improvements

“After looking at research, we knew we wanted to have sustainability by recruiting, supporting, and retaining teachers. Seattle Preschool Program was created in a way that staff had the education to provide high-quality outcomes and also, we were able to retain them by paying them a decent wage, all of which was baked into the implementation plan” – Suzette Espinoza-Cruz

Universal Pre-K

Universal pre-kindergarten education represents a transformative approach to ensuring all children enter kindergarten ready to succeed. The Seattle Preschool Program (SPP), launched in 2015, demonstrates how cities can successfully implement comprehensive early learning systems through stable funding, quality standards, and community responsiveness. Through a collaborative process with state, county, and city partners, the City of Seattle formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that established how partners would work together, city leaders engaged in challenging but necessary conversations to ensure clear roles and responsibilities without duplication of efforts. With dedicated attention to equity and inclusion, data-driven improvement, and sustained community engagement, the City of Seattle has created a model that other cities can learn from. The program has shown consistent growth, expanding from serving 280 children in its first year to 2,256 children, on track to achieve their goal of reaching 2,500 children by 2026.

The program’s success is built on its mixed-delivery model that intentionally builds upon, rather than replaces, existing community-driven early childhood efforts, including Family Child Care into SPP. Through the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) Levy, the City of Seattle has created sustainable funding that supports program quality while ensuring accessibility for all families. The current levy, renewed in 2018, provides $619 million over seven years (2019-2026), with approximately $376 million dedicated to preschool programs. This approach has been crucial in building trust and maintaining strong relationships with providers, allowing both public and private providers to thrive within the city’s early childhood ecosystem.

The City of Seattle prioritized quality as a fundamental element in their universal pre-K strategy, understanding that sustainable capacity building requires rigorous standards and continuous assessment. This quality-centered approach is validated by external measures – the Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) meets all 10 quality standard benchmarks established by Rutgers University’s National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), including requirements for teacher qualifications, class size limits of 20 children, staff-child ratios of 1:10, and comprehensive support services. The city’s commitment to quality and equity ensures programs meet the needs of all children, especially those from marginalized and underserved communities and is reflected in every aspect of the program, from curriculum design to family engagement strategies.

The City of Seattle’s approach to universal pre-K is particularly notable for its emphasis on cultural responsiveness and community engagement. The program utilizes comprehensive outreach strategies to ensure high enrollment and community involvement, offering subsidized slots based on income and providing robust language support for non-English speaking families. Many SPP sites exemplify this commitment through multilingual instruction that honors children’s home languages while supporting English language development, and through trauma-informed care practices that respond sensitively to the varied experiences children bring to the classroom. Sites often impressively blend multiple funding sources to create culturally rich environments that integrate diverse cultural and language traditions into daily learning. The program uses a sliding scale tuition model where families earning up to 350% of the federal poverty level receive free tuition, while those above pay a percentage of the cost based on their income, ensuring financial accessibility while maintaining program sustainability. Geographic accessibility is prioritized, with programs strategically located throughout the city to ensure all neighborhoods have access to quality early learning opportunities.

Here’s What They Did

• The City of Seattle’s approach to sustainable funding through voter-approved levies demonstrates the importance of building public will for early childhood investments. The city conducted extensive community engagement and education about the benefits of high-quality pre-K before placing the initial SPP levy on the ballot in 2014. Prior to seeking voter approval, the city developed a detailed implementation plan with clear quality standards, equity goals, and accountability measures to build confidence in the program. When the time came to renew and expand funding in 2018, the city was able to point to concrete results from the initial implementation period, helping secure overwhelming voter support for the larger FEPP levy that now funds SPP through 2026. This strategic approach to building and maintaining public support has created stable, long-term funding that allows for program quality and expansion.

• The City of Seattle’s commitment to continuous quality improvement is demonstrated through its comprehensive annual evaluation process. The city partners with external evaluators to assess program quality and child outcomes regularly, using standardized tools like the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) and teaching strategies GOLD. The 2024 evaluation  shows impressive results, with CLASS scores increasing by 1.5 percent in emotional support and 19 percent in instructional support over the last year. The evaluation also demonstrated SPP’s significant impact on kindergarten outcomes, with SPP children showing higher attendance rates and kindergarten readiness scores compared to similar children in state-funded preschool. Importantly, these evaluations aren’t just for accountability, but drive real changes in practice. When data showed the need for stronger instructional supports, the city redesigned its coaching model and professional development offerings to better support teachers. This continuous improvement cycle ensures the program evolves based on evidence rather than assumptions.

 Your Next Steps for Getting Started

• Complete a comprehensive community needs assessment to understand current landscape. This includes mapping existing early childhood programs and services in your community to identify gaps and opportunities.
• Develop priority selection, enrollment criteria and processes that prioritize equity and accessibility. Consider implementing a sliding scale tuition model where families below certain income thresholds receive free services while others pay based on ability.
• Establish quality standards and metrics aligned with national best practices. Work with experts to develop benchmarks for teacher qualifications, class sizes, staff-child ratios, and curriculum requirements.
• Begin community outreach and engagement to build early support. Create family engagement strategies and communication plans that reach diverse communities through multiple channels.
• Design curriculum framework with cultural responsiveness and inclusion in mind. Ensure materials and approaches reflect the diverse backgrounds and experiences of children in your community.

Helpful Tips for Ongoing Success

• Maintain a mixed-delivery model that supports both new and existing providers. Each provider operates differently, allowing for flexibility while maintaining quality standards creates a stronger system.
• Develop strong partnerships with research institutions for program evaluation and improvement. Establish data sharing agreements with evaluation partners to track outcomes and make evidence-based adjustments.
• Ensure broad stakeholder engagement in program design and implementation. This collaborative approach helps create culturally responsive curriculum and assessment tools that meet community needs.
• Implement regular community feedback mechanisms and establish clear quality standards. Create monitoring systems that balance accountability with support for continuous improvement.
• Build public will for sustainable funding through education about program benefits and transparent reporting on outcomes. Consider developing a voter-approved dedicated funding stream like a levy or tax to provide stable, long-term resources for program quality and expansion.

“The early learning investments have not supplanted the early learning system that was already in place. Bringing in community based organizations, bringing in the school district, bringing in family child care centers, and finding a way to make sure there is quality in the system that already exists versus saying that we’re going to take over everything that has been here.” – Katie Sauterssional development from a developmental perspective – a perspective that also recognizes that this work is embedded in an ever-changing landscape affected by a host of theoretical, political, contextual, and community factors.” – Richard Sussman