Application FAQ

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•   1. Who is eligible?

• Eligibility is based on the child’s age and family’s address.

   

  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.

   

  Upon enrollment, you will be required to submit documents to verify eligibility. You can confirm your residency by using this eligibility checker tool.

•   2. How do I apply for SPP?

• We highly encourage parents to apply directly online through our online portal. You may also submit a paper application or complete an application over the phone. To learn more or for help applying, contact us at 206-386-1050 or preschool@seattle.gov.

•   3. When is the deadline to apply?

• SPP applications open on March 15th every year and enrollment continues through March 31st of the following year. For the 2024-2025 school year:
  Applications submitted between March 15-April 15 will be notified of initial placement by May 1st.
  Applications submitted after April 15 will be notified on a rolling basis as seats are available.

•   4. Can I apply through SPP but also apply through a preschool provider?

• For some of our SPP locations enrollment is completed by the Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL), and for other SPP locations enrollment is completed by the provider. To know if a site’s enrollment is handled by DEEL or the provider, please visit that site’s profile page.

•   5. My child has an IEP (Individualized Education Program) through Seattle Public Schools. Can I apply for SPP?

• Yes, you are welcome to apply to SPP! If you are interested in having your child receive their IEP services in an SPP+ classroom, please reach out to your IEP team to discuss placement options. If you are not sure how to contact your child’s IEP team, please reach out to earlylearning@seattleschools.org for support.

   

  SPP Plus has a class size of 18, and 5 of those seats are selected and enrolled by SPS Special Education Early Learning for children with an IEP. If your child is on an IEP with SPS, you are encouraged to work directly with your child’s IEP team to determine the best learning environment for your child. In order for a child with an established IEP to attend an SPP Plus classroom, the parent must apply through the SPS “Letter of Intent” process which is communicated directly to families of children with IEPs. Contact earlylearning@seattleschools.org if you have additional questions about applying for SPP Plus for a child with an IEP. Otherwise, if you’re interested in other locations within the SPP network, please submit an application here.

•   6. If my child attends a SPP classroom located within one of the Seattle Public Schools, does this mean my child will attend kindergarten at that school?

• No. You must register for kindergarten separately with Seattle Public Schools. Your child is guaranteed a spot at their neighborhood elementary school. If you do not want your child to attend their neighborhood school, you must complete a School Choice Form which can be found on the Seattle Public Schools website.