Mayor proposes $1.3 billion, six-year FEPP levy to expand preschool, childcare, school health and career pathways

The Seattle mayor's office and the Department of Education and Early Learning on May 1 presented a six-year, $1.3 billion proposal to renew the Families, Education, Preschool and Promise (FEPP) levy, saying the package would expand preschool and childcare, add school-based health centers, and create career pathways including a new Path to Trades program.

The proposal, introduced to the City Council Select Committee on Families, Education, Preschool and Promise, would maintain funding categories for early learning, K–12 supports and college‑and‑career readiness while adding new slots, increased subsidies and direct supports for childcare workers. Deputy Mayor Tiffany Washington called the proposal part of an "Every Child Ready" initiative and said the levy represents an "upstream" investment to reduce future costs and harms.

Committee Chair Maritza Rivera said the administration and the Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) collaborated on a package that reflects council priorities. Rivera emphasized the local role of the levy and clarified that Seattle Public Schools are a separate, state-funded entity: "This levy is to fund educational needs that are outside of Seattle Public Schools' responsibility, such as childcare, preschool, K through 12 academic support, K through 12 health and safety services, and postsecondary opportunities like the successful Promise program."

What the proposal would fund

According to the presentation, the package is structured into three investment "buckets": Ready to Start (prenatal to age 3, childcare subsidies, childcare worker supports and the Seattle Preschool Program), Ready to Learn (after‑school and summer enrichment, tutoring, mental and physical health supports, and school safety), and Ready to Launch (Seattle Promise, a UW transfer pathway and a new Path to Trades program).

Officials and presenters cited these specific figures in the committee briefing: - Total levy amount: $1.3 billion over six years. - Seattle Preschool Program: add 600 seats for a total of 3,100 annually. - Childcare assistance and subsidies: the proposal adds 800 new childcare slots and would "more than double" available subsidies to families, with the presentation saying a total of 1,400 childcare subsidy slots annually (as described by the presenters). - Childcare workforce supports: direct support proposed for 5,000 childcare workers (retention stipends and related supports). - School health centers: five new school‑based health centers, bringing the presentation total to 34 sites citywide, with telehealth services noted for broader reach. - Expanded after‑school and summer programs: the presentation estimated access for about 19,000 youth annually. - Ready to Launch: an $82.4 million allocation for college and career readiness programs, intended to serve about 1,475 college students annually through Seattle Colleges tuition supports and UW transfer programming.

Officials said the package was developed from multiple years of community engagement, including surveys, focus groups and site visits, and that implementation details and procurement timelines would follow if the council approves sending the levy to the November ballot. Director Dwayne Chappell (Department of Education and Early Learning) said the proposal "carries within it the hopes, concerns, and wisdom of thousands of Seattle families." He and Deputy Mayor Washington said an implementation and evaluation plan would be brought back to the council in early 2026 if voters approve the measure.

Public comment and priorities

More than 20 people provided in‑person and remote public comment. Speakers included nonprofit leaders, Seattle Public Schools staff, health…