This November, the renewal and expansion of the Family, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) Levy will be on Seattle voters’ ballots. The renewal of this levy will raise an additional $1.3 billion to be invested over the course of 7 years. Of this money, $658.2M (54%) will go towards increasing families’ access to high-quality early learning.
The levy will fund various efforts throughout the city, including improving the accessibility and quality of child care; elevating K-12 health and safety throughout the Seattle Public School District; and supporting students with post-secondary education and career-training opportunities.
The initiatives funded will also include three of BrightSpark’s collaborative programs: the Seattle Child Care Subsidy Program (CCSP), the Seattle Preschool Program (SPP), and the Seattle Child Care Staff Retention Payments.
Seattle has historically been extremely supportive of levies that fund educational investments. Since 1990, Seattle voters have approved the implementation and renewal of levies for both early learning and K-12 educational initiatives. In 2018, this levy was approved by 68% of the city’s voting population.
The Importance of Renewal
If this levy is not renewed, vital programs like these will be discontinued entirely.
In terms of early learning programs alone, this means that:
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1,400 children will lose access to affordable early learning opportunities
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3,100 students will lose access to the Seattle Preschool Program
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5,000 early learning professionals will no longer receive support payments, which are critical for staff retainment
How Will This Money be Invested?
Of the money raised through the levy:
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$658.2M (54%) will go towards early learning programs
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$188.1M (29%) will go towards K-12 schools
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$67.2M (11%) will fund K-12 health programs
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$40.7M (6%) will go towards the Seattle Promise initiative
This levy will be funded through a city-wide property tax equaling 61 cents per $1,000 value. This will cost the average Seattle homeowner roughly $350 more per year in property taxes.
Helping Families in Crisis Access Care
The Seattle Child Care Subsidy Program is a financial assistance program offered through BrightSpark. This program supports families facing housing instability who are ineligible for other statewide subsidy programs.
The program covers the full costs of a child’s care and assists parents with accessing diapers, clothing, and other services for their family.
Families receive initial authorizations of 3-6 months depending on funding availability and the family’s situation. They also receive assistance navigating eligibility and applying for additional long-term funding sources.
Last year, this program:
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Distributed $18,4318.86Â to families in need of support
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Supported 30 children with access to care and/or basic needs like food, diapers, and clothing
High-Quality Care for Low-Income Families
A part of the levy will be allocated to the Seattle Preschool Program (SPP), which was created by the City of Seattle for the purpose of offering high-quality, affordable, and accessible child care for Seattle families.
This levy will expand the amount of children receiving care from the program from 2,000 to 2,600 – an increase of 30%.Â
The program’s accredited, evidence-based curriculum helps prepare children ages 3 to 4 for kindergarten and beyond while offering families resources such as financial assistance and health screenings. Of the families enrolled in the program, over 70% qualified for free tuition.
Early Learning Coaches support SPP teachers in providing a culturally-responsive and nurturing learning environment for all students.
Last year, this program:
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Partnered with over 80 family child care centers and schools across the city
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Supported 2,042 children, 75% of which are children of color
Paying Early Learning Professionals What They're Worth
The Seattle Child Care Staff Retention Payments initiative aims to strengthen and stabilize the early learning workforce by providing one-time retention payments to child care staff serving families in Seattle.
Early learning professionals are grossly undervalued and underpaid throughout the State of Washington, including the city of Seattle.
Despite doing some of the most critical and emotionally-demanding work for our communities, nearly 40% rely on public assistance to get by. This contributes to the sector’s high turnover rate of nearly 45% and 80% of child care centers experiencing staff shortage
These payments acknowledge the essential work of child care professionals and are intended to reduce turnover, sustain program quality, and support the ongoing recovery of child care businesses across the city.
Last year, this program:
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Distributed over $2.7 million to nearly 5,000 early learning professionals across the city of Seattle
Why does access to high-quality early learning matter?
Not only does every family deserve access to high-quality child care for their children, but it ultimately benefits everyone: high-quality child care sets the next generation up for success, contributes to a healthy economy, and lays a foundation for advancing social justice causes.
High-quality early learning makes a difference because:
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Studies show over 90% of the human brain’s neural connections are formed by age 5. This means children’s early learning experiences will impact their emotional, social, behavioral, and physical development for the rest of their lives.
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High-quality child care sets children up for success throughout their K-12 education and disrupts the school-to-prison pipeline (meaning children are less likely to be face incarceration later in life due to academic challenges).
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Access to child care means parents can secure and retain more employment opportunities, which can lead to financial security and a higher quality of life as well as a healthier economy for all of us.
Share Your Story
Are you a child care provider or caregiver who has benefitted from the Seattle CCSP or SPP? Or are you a property owner supportive of this initiative?
Considering sharing your story to help spread the word about the importance of these programs!