2025-2026 Seattle Preschool Program
Request for Qualification
The deadline to apply for this opportunity is Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 11:59pm
The Seattle Department of Education & Early Learning is accepting applications from qualified center-based early learning providers and new agencies to join Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) or expand existing SPP classrooms at their site. SPP provides accessible, high-quality preschool services for Seattle children ages 3- and 4-years-old designed to improve their readiness for school and to support their subsequent academic achievement.
Organizations, early learning providers, and entities providing services described in this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) are invited to submit applications. Funding is available through the 2018 Families, Education, Preschool and Promise (FEPP) Levy.
Please note: Changes to the funding process and timeline may occur. DEEL will not provide individual notice of changes, and applicants are responsible for regularly checking this web page for technical assistance information, updates, clarifications, or amendments.
Who can apply and for how much money
Approximately $3 million is available to contract for approximately nine new SPP classrooms for the 2025-26 school year. These new classrooms will include a combination of classrooms identified through this RFQ, expansion of existing SPP providers, and direct contracting with eligible entities.
This RFQ is intended for center-based programs, including programs operating in Seattle Public Schools buildings, and new agencies not contracted with the Seattle Preschool Program. Family Child Care (FCC) programs interested in participating in SPP are not eligible to apply using this application portal and should instead contact one of SPP’s FCC Hub administrators at BrightSpark Early Learning Services or Tiny Tots Early Learning Collaborative for more information.
Types of programs that can be funded
Eligible applicants must meet SPP programmatic and participation requirements as reflected below. DEEL has structures and resources in place to support providers to meet requirements, if necessary (See Appendix E in the release document).
Program Requirements
Classroom Size |
20 or fewer children per classroom |
Teacher to student ratio |
Maximum 1 teacher per 10 students (1:10) |
Service hours |
6 hours per day, 180 days per year |
Curriculumn |
Creative Curriculumn or HighScope Waivers may be granted for other high-quality evidence-based curriculum for agencies with EA ratings of Level 4 or higher who have intensive plans for coaching, training and assessment. |
Child-Level Assessments |
Teaching Strategies GOLD, ASQ:SE2, ASQ-3, Health Screenings |
Classroom Teacher Requierments |
Each classroom must at a minimum have 1 lead teacher and 1 assistant teacher, or a two co-lead teacher structure |
Required Teacher Qualifications |
Lead Teacher:* Bachelor’s degree (BA) in Early Childhood Education or bachelor’s with 30 ECE credits Assistant Teacher:* Associate degree in Early Childhood Education or other associate degree with 20 ECE credits *Education degree and ECE credits in ECE must be verified as “approved” in MERIT. Teachers who do not meet these requirements will have up to four years to meet them. College tuition assistance may be available through DEEL. |
Site Director |
Must meet lead teacher qualifications. |
Required Family Support Worker Qualifications (if funded through the SPP Contract) |
Associate or higher degree with the equivalent of 30 college quarter credits in related (human services/social work) as “approved” in MERIT. |
Family Support |
SPP providers are required to provide direct support to the families served at the agency to improve child outcomes. |
More information can be found in the RFQ Overvi document provided below.
How applicants will be selected
The following steps are required for becoming an SPP provider.
- Applicants must first submit an RFQ application to demonstrate how they meet the qualifications for becoming an SPP provider. Successful applicants will be placed on an SPP Roster to be considered for selection as a provider for the 2025-26 school year. If DEEL determines no provider fulfills criteria set out in this RFQ, DEEL may at any time cancel the RFQ without selecting any provider.
- DEEL will then select one or more providers from the SPP Roster according to the criteria outlined in Tables 3 and 4 of the RFQ overview document.
There is no guarantee of work or funding associated with this RFQ opportunity.
Contracting is expected to begin in March 2025 for preschool classes starting September 2025.
Timeline
IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION:
Please ensure that you submit the Seattle Preschool Program Agency Application as soon as possible to have time to complete the two additional required forms as part of your application.
Only after submitting the Seattle Preschool Program Agency application, you will receive an email from Submittable with further instructions to access the two additional required forms (site and classroom forms).
All forms above must be completed by 11:59 pm, on December 18, 2024, in order for your application to be considered complete.
Event | Date and Time* |
Application Opens | October 30, 2024 |
Live Q&A Information Sesssion Link to watch recorded video session will be posted in the section below following the meeting. |
Join the meeting now
Join the meeting now |
Last Day to Submit Questions | Friday, December 13, 2024, 5:00 PM |
Application Deadline | Wednesday, December 18, 11:59 PM |
Application Review Period | December 19, 2024 - January 14, 2025 |
Notifications Issued to Applicants | January 2025 |
*Dates subject to change
How to Apply
Applications may ONLY be submitted to DEEL by using Submittable, an online application portal.
All applicants must complete the online application via Submittable using the Online Application Link.
- New users will be required to create a free Submittable account.
- The application portal allows users to save progress on their draft applications prior to submitting. Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted after the deadline. The portal automatically closes on December 18, at 11:59pm PST.
- Applicants can expect to receive a confirmation email from Submittable after the application is submitted.
- Submittable works best on Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. Internet Explorer is not supported.
Click on the links below to learn more about the application process and access the online application portal in addition to information and resources that will assist you in completing your application.
Application Essentials
Item | Description | Link |
RFQ Overview |
This will guide you through the application process | Download as a PDF |
Online Application Link (Submittable) |
Link takes you to the online application portal, Submittable, to start your application. | Access to Submittable Application Portal |
Word template of the application form (Optional) |
Template for internal collaboration only; Final application submission must be via the Submittable portal; no other format will be accepted. | Download Word template |
Agreement template |
Overview of contract agreement for reference. | Download PDF template |
SPP program manual template |
Overview of the program manual. | Download PDF template |
Supporting Materials
Question and Answer Session Recording | Watch Session Recording 11.14.2024 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) | Updated 12.5.24 |
All materials and updates to the RFQ are available on DEEL’s Funding Opportunities webpage. DEEL will not provide individual notice of changes, and applicants are responsible for regularly checking the webpage for any updates, clarifications, or amendments.
How to submit questions
Please submit questions about this grant via email to DEELFunding@seattle.gov and include "Question: SPP RFQ" in the subject line. Responses will be published and linked in the table above. Please allow three (3) business days for answers to submitted questions.
For Technical Questions related to using Submittable:
- Check the Submitter Resource Center
- Send questions directly to Submittable’s Customer Support or by email to DEELfunding@seattle.gov with the Subject line: “Submittable Question: SPP RFQ Application.”
Language Assistance
Do you need an interpreter? Do you need documents translated? Language assistance is available! Contact DEELfunding@seattle.gov or (206) 386-1050.
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¿Necesita un intérprete para recibir ayuda en su idioma? ¿Necesita documentos traducidos? Hay asistencia disponible en varios idiomas: DEELfunding@seattle.gov o (206) 386-1050.
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