By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell is calling for a renewed investment in youth and education through the Every Child Ready initiative, a comprehensive proposal centered on the renewal and expansion of the city’s Families, Education, Preschool and Promise (FEPP) Levy. If approved by voters in 2025, the updated measure would generate $1.3 billion over six years (2026–2032) to sustain and grow programs supporting Seattle children, youth, and families.
Seattle residents have supported educational levies for over 35 years. Since 1990, taxpayers have invested in efforts to promote student health, school success, and postsecondary achievement. The current FEPP Levy, passed by voters in 2018, is a $619 million, seven-year measure that funds preschool, K–12, and college access programs across the city. With the current levy set to expire, the proposed renewal is positioned as the cornerstone of Harrell’s Every Child Ready initiative.
“With rising costs for childcare and preschool, increased student mental health challenges after the pandemic, and federal funding supporting our education system under threat, this is a critical moment to reinvest in the health, safety, and success of Seattle’s youth and families,” said Mayor Harrell.
If passed, the renewed levy would expand access to early learning, boost academic and mental health supports, enhance school safety, and extend postsecondary opportunities to more Seattle youth.
Duane Chappelle, Director of Seattle’s Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL), says that the levy is about more than funding programs—it’s about keeping promises.
“As a father and lifelong educator, I’ve seen how powerful it is when a young person feels seen, supported, and believed in. This levy is about more than programs, it’s about promises,” Chappelle said. “A promise that every child, no matter their zip code or background, will have the opportunity to dream big and be met with the resources and community to help them succeed. That’s what Seattle’s kids deserve, and that’s what this proposal is designed to deliver.”
What the Levy Supports
The Every Child Ready initiative outlines investments in four key areas:
• High-quality early learning to prepare children for kindergarten
• College and job readiness to increase high school graduation rates
• Physical and mental health services that support student learning
• Postsecondary opportunities that promote access to degrees, credentials, and high-wage careers
These investments are targeted to close opportunity gaps and raise achievement among historically underserved student groups, including African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Pacific Islander, underserved Asian communities, immigrant and refugee students, English language learners, students experiencing homelessness, and LGBTQ youth.
“The Every Child Ready initiative includes transformative investments that will make Seattle one of the best cities in the nation to start and raise a family, supporting our children from cradle, to classroom, K–12, and into college and beyond toward successful careers,” said Harrell. “With a renewed focus on childcare and early learning, this levy proposal will open doors to opportunity and ensure every child no matter what neighborhood they are from, they can reach their full potential in school and beyond.”
Key K–12 and Postsecondary Investments
The levy’s largest investments in K–12 education and beyond include:
• Expanded Learning Opportunities ($271.6 million): Sustains grants for schools and community-based organizations offering school-day, afterschool, and summer programs, benefiting over 19,000 K–12 students each year.
• School-Based Health ($188.5 million): Adds five new School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs), expanding services to 34 clinics that serve more than 51,000 Seattle Public Schools (SPS) students. Adds in-person and virtual mental health supports for up to 6,500 youth ages 5–24 annually.
• School Safety ($46.6 million): Expands prevention and safety programs in partnership with SPS and community organizations.
• Seattle Promise ($66.2 million): Continues to provide up to two years of tuition-free college for approximately 1,475 Seattle public high school graduates each year, along with career advising and student support.
• Career Pathways ($14 million): Launches a new “Path to Trades” program to increase access to apprenticeship and skill-building opportunities in high-demand industries.
• Path to UW ($2.2 million): Supports over 100 Seattle Colleges students transferring to the University of Washington–Seattle annually.
Graduating seniors from all 17 comprehensive Seattle high schools remain eligible for the Seattle Promise program, which connects students to college and career options without financial barriers.
Health Services That Support Learning
Integrated health services are a key component of the levy’s impact on student well-being and academic achievement. The city’s School-Based Health Centers provide medical, mental health, nursing, and oral health care at schools, increasing attendance and learning outcomes.
“Investments in School-Based Health Centers have shown to improve not only student health, but also academic achievement,” said Dr. Faisal Khan, Director of Public Health–Seattle & King County. “The city levy has sustained and grown a network of 29 health clinics that allow students to get medical care, including vaccinations and sports physicals, along with mental health care, right on their school campus. Renewing the levy will maintain these services, including new mental health investments.”
District Support and Community Impact
As Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones nears the end of his tenure with Seattle Public Schools, he underscored the value of the city’s partnership with the district in delivering resources that go beyond the classroom.
“Seattle Public Schools is proud to partner with the city to support our students’ well-being and academic success,” said Jones. “From school-based health and mental health services to afterschool programs and tuition-free college through Seattle Promise, Every Child Ready reflects a shared commitment to meeting students where they are and helping them thrive. Together, we are building the support students need—not just to succeed in the classroom, but to be ready for life beyond graduation.”
