Enrollment FAQ

•   1. What documentation is required to enroll?

• Documents Acceptable for Verification

  Click the header to collapse or expand the section.

  The following list of documents is acceptable for demonstrating child age, address and income for The Department of Education and Early Learning’s (DEEL) preschool and child care programs.

  Childs Age

  Age Verification Information

  All programs have an age requirement. Submit ONE document from this list:

  • Birth certificate
  • Medical record
  • Immigration documentation with birthdate
  • Passport
  • Government issued ID

  Address

  Only families who live in the City of Seattle are eligible for DEEL programs. For families in transition, experiencing homelessness, or otherwise unable to provide the below documentation, please contact DEEL for a Housing Affidavit Form.

  Documents need to include the parent/guardian’s full name and be dated within the last three months. Documents cannot be personal correspondence or the outside of envelopes. Please provide document(s) from two options below:

  Option 1:
  Submit ONE document from this list:

  • Utility bill (gas, water/garbage, internet, light/electrical, cable, landline phone)
  • Home/renter’s insurance
  • Mortgage document
  • Signed rental lease (current)
  • Housing agency letter (current)
  • Rental receipt (current)

  Option 2:
  Submit TWO documents from two different sources from this list:

  • Insurance document (health, car, etc)
  • Benefits document from the agency (DSHS, SSI, paystub, etc)
  • Financial document (bank statement, retirement, credit card statement, etc)
  • Other bills
  • Driver’s license (non-expired; can only submit one per household)

  Income

  Submit documentation for all income your household receives.

  If you have income from...

  EMPLOYMENT (Submit one of these options)

  • Paystubs from your previous 3 full months
  • Employer letter (only when starting a new job) --must be on letterhead, include the start date, hours worked, wage and dated from the last 90 days
  • Self-employed—request the self employment form from DEEL

  Paid weekly?
  Submit 12 paystubs

  Paid every two weeks?
  Submit 5-7 paystubs

  Paid bi-monthly?
  Submit 6 paystubs

  Paid monthly?
  Submit 3 paystub

  STUDENT (Submit any applicable)

  • Financial aid - Award letter tuition statement
  • Work study- Award letter or supervisor letter including hours/wage

  OTHER INCOME

  • TANF or other cash benefits – current award letter
  • Rental income- Schedule E tax document from most recent tax year
  • Other income–three months of statements

  If you have...

  CHILD SUPPORT (Submit either of these options)

  • Received or Paid: Court documentation with amount
  • Received or Paid: Child Support Statement (request from DEEL)

  Acceptable Documents - Updated 01/2024

•   2. Where can I get additional forms for enrollment?

• Once a child has been offered a seat in SPP, the enrollment process involves either a paper enrollment packet or completion of enrollment through the online parent portal. Parent/Guardians will be required to submit documentation to demonstrate the child’s age, the household address and the household income. The following forms may be required depending on your household situation:
  
  Housing Affidavit: Used by unhoused families or families who are unable to provide documentation to demonstrate address.
  
  Declaration of No Income: Used by families who have no income received by the parent/guardian of the enrolling child.
  
  Opt-Out of Income: Used by families who agree to accept full tuition without verifying specific income for the household.
  
  Self-Employment Form: Used by parent/guardians who are self-employed or work “gig” jobs to demonstrate income.
  
  Child Support Form: Used by parent/guardians who receive child support for any child in their household, formally or informally.

•   3. How long does it take before my child is enrolled?

• Once all enrollment documents have been received, enrollments are typically finalized within two weeks. A program intake representative (PIR) will review your enrollment information and documents for completion/accuracy. They will be in touch with you if anything is missing or needs additional information. You will receive an email confirming when your child is fully enrolled and the amount of tuition you may owe. Families without email addresses will receive their letter via mail.

•   4. Can my child start school as soon as we get the spot? Or do we have to wait to start the program?

• The program begins in the fall at each agency, approximately the first week of September. Start dates are determined by individual providers.
  
  All providers have additional paperwork required for enrollment at their specific location. This may include emergency contact information, extended day requirements, program orientation, or other program-specific paperwork.
  
  Parent/guardians should be in touch with their individual preschool provider before starting, if the provider has not been in touch with the parent/guardian already.

•   5. Do I have to enroll now, or can I apply and enroll in SPP later in the school year?

• Waitlists can vary at each site. To have a better idea of the best time to apply for a mid-school year enrollment, please contact us at preschool@seattle.gov or 206-386-1050.

•   6. Does the Seattle Preschool Program follow a full-time or part-time schedule? Does my child need to attend full-time?

• All SPP programming runs for approximately 6-hours per day, 5 days a week. Flexible schedules, such as part-day or 3 days per week, are not an option. Extended care is available at some sites, but is not a part of the SPP programming.