Seattle Preschool Program and Seattle Preschool Program Plus

Enrollment

SPP Applications now open for the 2024-25 school year!

Enrolling in the Seattle Preschool Program with Seattle Public Schools takes place through the City of Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL).

• Apply Online for the Seattle Preschool Program
• Paper and translated applications are also available online

For more information please contact the City of Seattle DEEL:
preschool@seattle.gov
206-386-1050

How to Enroll Preschool Students with an IEP

If your child has a disability and they have a current Individualized Education Program (IEP) with Seattle Public Schools, please contact your current case manager, for more information about how to enroll and submit an application for the Seattle Preschool Program or Seattle Preschool Program Plus.

Or contact Child Find at 206-252-0805 or childfind@seattleschools.org.

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About the Programs

Seattle Preschool Program (SPP)

In collaboration with the City of Seattle, the Seattle Preschool Program offers high-quality, affordable preschool to all of Seattle’s 3 and 4 year-olds. Students engage in a full time, research-based curriculum taught by certificated staff in a positive school climate and inclusive early childhood learning environment.

The following schools host the Seattle Preschool Program:

• Dearborn Park
• Highland Park
• Sand Point

Seattle Preschool Program Plus (SPP Plus)

Seattle Preschool Program Plus is a high-quality preschool program that also offers inclusive opportunities for students with and without disabilities. Students engage in a full time, research-based curriculum where specially designed instruction is integrated into the early childhood learning environment for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).

The following schools host Seattle Preschool Program Plus:

Overview (SPP/SPP Plus)

• Certificated Teaching Staff (Additional Certificated Special Education staff for SPP Plus)
• Instructional & Classroom Assistants
• High Scope Preschool Curriculum
• 20 Students per classroom (18 for SPP Plus)
• Preschool day aligns with school building bell times:
  • 6.5 hour School Day
  • Early Release Wednesday
• School Year Calendar Schedule
• School Meals available to purchase or through the Free and Reduced Lunch program

For more information, please contact the City of Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning:

preschool@seattle.gov
206-386-1050

Tuition

Tuition for the Seattle Preschool Program is considered for all students on a sliding scale and is based on household income. All final tuition rate decisions are made by the City of Seattle. (No tuition for students with IEPs in designated SPP Plus slots).

Seattle Preschool Program Tuition Sliding Scale

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Eligibility and Prioritization

Eligibility for Seattle Preschool Program and Seattle Preschool Program Plus (General Education)

Eligibility is based on child age and address. Upon enrollment, you will be required to submit documents to verify eligibility.

Child Age

• Children must be age 3 or 4 on or by August 31, the start of the program year.
• Children who are 5 years old before August 31 are eligible for kindergarten and are not eligible for City-Funded preschool programs.

Address

• SPP is only open to Seattle residents.
• Children residing in unincorporated Seattle, or outside Seattle city limits, are not eligible.
• Confirm your residency by using the address lookup tool.

Prioritization for Seattle Preschool Program (General Education)

Students are placed on a waitlist for each preschool on your application. Students are placed on the waitlist in order of the program priorities.

• Homeless and Foster/Kinship Care: Children from families experiencing homelessness or in foster/kinship care will receive priority placement.
• Child’s age: Children who are age 4 on or before August 31 of the school year will receive priority over children who are age 3.
• Home address: If you select a site that is in the same Seattle Public Schools elementary attendance zone as your home address, you will receive priority for that site over children living in other parts of the city.
• Siblings: Additional preference is given to children with siblings who will be enrolled/attending SPP at the same time or attending Seattle Public Schools in the same building. To receive preference for an SPS sibling, please include the SPS student ID on your application.
• Dual Language or Lower Income 3-year-olds: Three-year old children who do not have attendance zone priority will receive priority if they have a household state median income (SMI) below 54% OR if they speak a heritage language AND have a household state median income (SMI) below 94%.

SPP Waitlist

Families who submit applications between March 15th and April 12th will be included in the initial placement process and will be notified by May 1st if they have been offered a spot for the following September. If your child is not selected and placed initially, or your application is received after April 12th, you will be placed on the waitlist for each SPP location selected on your application. Vacancies are filled on a rolling basis through March of the applying program year.

Please note, we have “moving waitlists” meaning children will be added to the waitlist in accordance with our program priorities (rather than a first come, first serve basis). Thus, your child’s placement on the waitlist may fluctuate depending on new applications being submitted and if families choose to be removed from a waitlist throughout the school year. Please reach out to the City of Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning if you would like more information on where your child falls on a waitlist.

Email: Preschool@seattle.gov
Phone: 206-386-1050

Eligibility and Prioritization for Seattle Preschool Program Plus (Special Education Seats)

Eligibility is based on two factors, child age and address

• Age: Children with IEPs must be at least 3 years old in order to qualify for SPP Plus programs. 
• Address: SPP is only open to Seattle residents. Children residing in unincorporated Seattle, or outside Seattle city limits, are not eligible.

Program Placement Recommendations

Seattle Preschool Program Plus (SPP Plus) placement recommendations are made by your child’s Special Education case manager and IEP team by June 1 each year. If your child has a disability and they have a current Individualized Education Program (IEP) with Seattle Public Schools, please contact your current case manager, for more information.

Assignment

The Seattle Preschool Program Plus (SPP Plus) assigns children to programs or waitlists based on the SPP Plus location nearest to your home address. If your child is placed on a waitlist, an assignment offer may be made at a neighboring SPP Plus location after the first round of offers are made, if there are open seats available.

Lottery and Prioritization

In the case that there are more recommendations for SPP Plus than available seats, a lottery process occurs that takes into consideration priority factors. Eligible preschoolers will be assigned to programs through a selection process that utilizes the following priority criteria first, then by a student’s random lottery number:

• Homeless and Foster Care: Children from families experiencing homelessness or in foster care will receive priority placement.
• Child’s age: Children who are age 4 on or before August 31 of the school year will receive priority over children who are age 3.
• Siblings: Additional preference is given to children with siblings who enroll or attend the same SPS school or SPP program at the same time.
• Home address: If you are assigned to the same Seattle Public Schools elementary or middle school attendance zone as your home address, you will receive priority for that site over children living in other parts of the city.
• SPP Plus Waitlist

If a site requires a wait list, children will be added to the wait list based on these priorities first, then by the student’s random lottery number. The SPP Plus Waitlist dissolves at the end of each academic year.

Notification

Families will be notified of either selection for a Seattle Preschool Program Plus seat or placement on a waitlist by June 5 of each year. 

Transfer Appeals Process

If you feel that the SPP Plus offer process was not applied fairly with your child’s assignment, you may submit a SPP Transfer Appeals form. 

Preschool Transfer Appeals should not include a Principal Review Form. 

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SPP Mailing List

To receive updates about the Seattle Preschool Program, sign up for the City of Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning SPP Mailing List.

This list will send updates about our preschool program for as long as your child is age-eligible. You can unsubscribe at any time.