Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan recently announced that the City of Seattle will provide child care for 550 children at 19 sites through Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR). The City-supported child care will provide full-day care to elementary-age kids and will support students’ virtual learning. In addition, SPR is launching seven Teen Resource Hubs across the city, and these will provide virtual learning supports, internet access, connections with caring adults, and referrals to basic needs and mental health resources. The City-sponsored child care and resource hubs are meant to supplement Seattle Public Schools (SPS) school year preparations and will ensure students are best-served in a virtual learning environment.
“Students, families, and educators are all gearing up to go back to school. This time of year looks significantly different for our Seattle families than years past, and it’s required all of us to figure out how we’re best serving students and families in a virtual learning environment,” said Durkan. “We know that lack of access to child care is a huge issue for families, both in Seattle and nationally. Accessible and safe child care is a crucial element to our City’s recovery and the long-term health and success of our kids. The City is grateful to Seattle Public Schools for their ongoing partnership as we navigate the unprecedented remote learning environment.”
Registration is open for City child care and scholarships are available to those who qualify (up to 90 percent of the monthly rate could be covered for families). Seattle Parks and Recreation targeted early outreach to families qualifying for scholarship. Historically, families that qualify for scholarships register later and closer to the program start date. As of Aug. 31, 51 percent of those registered have received scholarships. Seattle Public Schools students can receive computers/tablets provided through the school district. A full list of SPR child care locations is available here.
Families can register for full or partial week care child care:
• Online – www.seattle.gov/parks click on “Sign Up for Classes, Activities & More” and then under Activities click “licensed child care”
• Contact preferred child care location
• Contact the Business Service Center at 206-684-5177
WiFi will be available at all sites, and the program will support the virtual learning time and equipment that Seattle Public Schools will provide. The program begins Tues., Sept. 8 will run 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Mon. through Fri. Additionally, the program will follow current public health guidelines which include: daily wellness/temperature checks upon entry, regular cleaning and sanitation, clear policies about any illnesses, and the requirement of mask wearing by both staff and children.
In addition, the Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL)’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) has capacity to serve approximately 100 new income-eligible families with parents who are working or attending school. CCAP vouchers pay between 25-70 percent of child care costs for families with children younger than 13 years of age. Currently, 204 licensed child care providers in Seattle accept CCAP vouchers. DEEL is supporting CCAP providers with face covering deliveries and connections to pandemic relief resources as available. Families can begin the CCAP registration process here.
DEEL’s Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) is also accepting new participants. This school year, SPP offers flexible programming models for three-and four-year-olds across 26 providers to meet families’ needs. Parents can choose for their child to attend SPP in-person, participate from home through remote family-directed preschool, or a combination of the two. SPP tuition is calculated on a sliding scale, and will be free this school year for remote learning participants. Families can learn more about SPP here.
Seattle Parks and Recreation is providing seven Teen Resource Hubs at Southwest Teen Life Center, Miller Community Center, Garfield Teen Life Center, Meadowbrook Teen Life Center, Magnuson Community Center, Bitterlake Community Center, and South Lake High School. These hubs will support up to 200 students daily. The hubs will provide those furthest away from educational justice with a free opportunity for support with Seattle Public Schools virtual learning, provide in-person support for connectivity, and access to recreational, enrichment, and mentoring programs. The program begins September 8 and will run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided daily. Participants need to register for the free program online. Registration opened on September 2, visit www.seattle.gov/parks to learn more.
“We are proud that we can support our communities and our schools in providing full day child care this school year from our community centers. Our aim is to provide this care to those who need it most in hopes that we may mitigate any widening of the opportunity gap that has resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic and the necessary switch to virtual learning,” said Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent Jesús Aguirre, “It is through our strong partnership with the Associated Recreation Council (ARC) that we are able to provide a program that can both provide safe and engaging care, but to also do it in a way that compliments the virtual learning that students will be doing each day.”
