School Readiness and Preschool

Free Preschool Programs
for Three- and Four-Year-Olds

Free Preschool Programs for Three- and Four-Year-Olds Parent-Child Home Program Early Childhood Education Professional Development Compensation Project

The City of Seattle funds two free preschool programs which help children prepare for kindergarten, academically, socially and physically. These programs honor family, language and culture and help children develop the skills and love for learning that lead to academic success.

Seattle Step Ahead Preschools

The Seattle Step Ahead preschool program, funded by the 2004 Families and Education Levy offers free or low-cost, culturally and linguistically appropriate preschools to eligible four-year-olds. The goal is to help participating children develop the skills they need to be successful in school and acquire a passion for lifelong learning.

Part-day programs provide a three and a half-hour instructional day for children, four to five days a week from September to June. Full-day programs provide six or more hours a day for children, five days a week from September to June. Teachers provide daily opportunities for children to improve skills in language and literacy, math concepts, science, social studies, arts, physical development, and social and emotional development.

The Seattle Human Services Department provided approximately $1,700,507 of Family and Education Levy funds to Step Ahead Program classrooms for the 2008-09 school year. City allocations to the nonprofit, community-based organizations providing these services are determined through a competitive process that is conducted by the Human Services Department at least once every four years. Funding continuation during funding cycles depends upon program performance and funding availability.

2008 - 09 Funded Agencies and Programs

Southeast Sites:

• Black Star Line, 206-568-3030
• Causey's Learning Center, 206-322-9929
• Community Day School Association at Beacon Hill Elementary, 206-328-7475
• Community Day School Association at Hawthorne Elementary, 206-725-2252
• Community Day School Association at Leschi Elementary, 206-323-9465
• Community Day School Association at Maple Elementary School (full-day; bilingual in Japanese), 206-768-2480
• Community Day School Association at Madrona Elementary School (full-day), 206-709-8887
• Chinese Information and Service Center (part-day; bilingual in Chinese), 206-624-5633, x110
• Denise Louie Education Center - Beacon Hill Site, 206-725-9740
• Denise Louie Education Center - International District Site, 206-725-9740
• Denise Louie Education Center - Lake Washington Site, 206-725-9740
• Jose Marti Child Development Center (full-day/part-day; bilingual in Spanish), 206-957-4637
• La Escuelita (full-day; bilingual in Spanish), 206-723-2906
• Little Eagles Child Development Center, 206-382-9869
• Refugee Women’s Alliance Child Care Center (full-day/part-day; bilingual in Cambodian, Chinese, Somali, Spanish, Tigrinya, Vietnamese, Ethiopian, Amharic, Spanish), 206-723-3304
• Seed of Life Center for Early Learning and Preschool (full-day; bilingual in Spanish, Somali, Amharic), 206-726-6001
• Tiny Tots Gentle Dragon at Wing Luke Elementary School (part-day; bilingual staff in Vietnamese, Lao, Cambodian), 206-721-1188
• Tiny Tots Development Center (full-day; bilingual staff in Tagalog), 206-723-1590

Southwest Sites:

• Community Day School Association at Highland Park Elementary School (full-day; bilingual in Spanish), 206-767-4906
• Southwest Early Learning Center at Southwest Family Center, 206-937-7680

The City also funds one Step Ahead Preschool at the Southshore School for families who attend Southshore.

For more information about the Step Ahead Preschools, call 206-386-1050 or e-mail childrenandfamilies@seattle.gov.

Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP)

The Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP), funded through the State of Washington’s Department of Early Learning and the City of Seattle, offers FREE, high-quality, culturally and linguistically appropriate preschool services for eligible three- and four-year-olds and their families. The primary goal is to help participating children develop the skills they need to be ready for school and acquire a passion for lifelong learning. Families have access to information, resources, and training that support them in moving towards their individual and family goals.

ECEAP also acknowledges that families are their child’s first teacher and it is important that families have access to information and resources that help support their child’s development

Each ECEAP site is unique and may offer a part-day preschool or full-day integrated services. Part-day programs provide three to four hours of instruction for children, four to five days a week from September to May/June. Full-day programs provide full day care for working families as well as preschool, five days a week from September to May/June. Teachers provide daily opportunities for children to improve skills in language and literacy, math, science, social studies, arts, physical, social and emotional development.

ECEAP provides:

• Nurturing staff who are well-trained in how to foster each child's sense of security, confidence and readiness for kindergarten
• Developmentally and culturally appropriate classroom activities designed to support the social, emotional, physical and cognitive development of each child
• Health, nutrition and developmental screenings to support healthy growth and development
• Inclusive services for children with disabilities
• A safe and healthy environment for children
• Additional support for families including parent education and referrals for needed resources

The Seattle Human Services Department provided approximately $1,806,441 to nonprofit, community-based organizations operating ECEAP classrooms for the 2008-09 school year. Funding is provided by the State Department of Early Learning and the City of Seattle.

2008 - 09 Funded Agencies and Programs

North Sites:

• Experimental Education Unit – U.W. campus (part-day), 206-221-5939
• Prospect Enrichment Preschool (part-day), 206-324-5230

Southeast Sites:

• Jose Marti Child Development Center (full-day/part-day; bilingual in Spanish), 206-957-4637
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Home Center (full-day), 206-328-5670
• Primm ABC Preschool and Child Care (part-day), 206-723-2038
• Refugee Women’s Alliance Child Care Center (full-day/part-day; bilingual staff in Cambodian, Chinese, Somali, Spanish, Tigrinya, Vietnamese, Ethiopian, Amharic,), 206-723-3304
• SeaMar Community Health Center (full-day/part-day; bilingual in Spanish), 206-788-3545
• Tiny Tots Development Center – Main (full-day), 206-723-1591
• Tiny Tots Bright Bellbirds (part-day; bilingual staff in Somali, Spanish), 206-760-2670
• Tiny Tots Excelling Eagles at Emerson Elementary School (part-day), 206-760-3200
• Tiny Tots Gentle Dragons at Wing Luke Elementary School (part-day; bilingual staff in Cambodian, Lao and Vietnamese), 206-721-1188

Southwest Sites:

• Refugee & Immigrant Family Center (part-day; bilingual staff in Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese), 206-767-6896

If you are an agency interested in the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP), call 206-386-1050 or e-mail childrenandfamilies@seattle.gov.

Eligibility and Application Information for ECEAP and Seattle Step Ahead Programs

Part-day Step Ahead and ECEAP preschools are located in numerous locations in Seattle and are free for children attending. Full-day Seattle Step Ahead and ECEAP Preschools are located in licensed child care centers in Seattle. Payment assistance may be available if families need help paying for a full-day program through the Working Connections Child Care or City of Seattle Child Care Assistance Program. The requirements for the ECEAP and Step Ahead Programs are listed below.

ECEAP Information:

• Children must be three or four years old by August 31 of the participating year
• Families must live or work in Seattle city limits
• Families must be within the income limits below
• Programs are located throughout Seattle
• Foster children are eligible

Step Ahead Program Information:

• Children must be four years old by August 31 of the participating year
• Families must live in Seattle city limits
• Programs are located in southeast and southwest Seattle

For both ECEAP and Step Ahead, families must be within the income limits listed below:

To be screened for eligibility and to apply, schedule an appointment with the programs directly or contact the City of Seattle at 206-386-1050 or e-mail comprehensivechildcare@seattle.gov.

Bilingual services:

Spanish — 206-386-1012
Mienh — 206-684-0605
Tagalog — 206-386-1011
TDD — 206-233-2778
Interpretive services can be arranged for other languages at 206-386-1050.

For more information about our partners and similar programs, contact the agencies listed above or:

• Child Care Assistance
• Administration for Children & Families - Head Start Programs
• ECEAP site locations statewide

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