Early Learning
The Early Learning Department
Important Dates
Fall Family Conferences: November 21-23, 2022
Why is Early Learning Important?
Research has firmly established that investing in early learning yields powerful benefits for children, both in early elementary and as a cornerstone to their overall educational success with life long benefits.
High-quality preschool programs have the potential to close opportunity gaps, provide substantial learning gains, and prepare children for success in the classroom and beyond.
At Seattle Public Schools our Early Learning Vision is that all families and children have access to high-quality, culturally responsive, and inclusive learning experiences from preschool through fifth grade.
Every child deserves high-quality instruction that meets their individual needs. Early childhood education promotes the holistic development of a child’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical needs in order to build a solid and broad foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing.
Child Find: Special Education Referrals
Child Find is a district process to identify children birth-21 suspected of having a disability to evaluate and identify need for Special Education and Related Services. Learn more about Child Find.
Contact Seattle Public Schools Child Find:
- 206-252-0805
- childfind@seattleschools.org
Preschool Enrollment
2022-23 Preschool Enrollment
Seattle Public Schools offers three different preschool options for children ages 3 – 5 years old.
- Seattle Preschool Program: 206-252-0600
- Head Start: 206-252-0960
- Early Childhood Special Education: 206-252-0805
SPP Applications open for the 2022-23 school year March 15, 2022. To Enroll in Preschool, please click on the links above for more information or contact the phone numbers listed.
SPS Preschool Locations Map 2022-23
Kindergarten Enrollment
2022-23 Kindergarten Enrollment
Will your child be 5 years old by August 31, 2022? If YES, your child is eligible to enroll in kindergarten. Register today for the 2022-23 school year.
Learn more about Kindergarten:
- View registration videos (Cantonese, English, and Vietnamese)
- “How to Register for Kindergarten” flyers (Amharic, Chinese, English, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese)
- Online enrollment form
Jump Start and Family Connections
Helping Children Transition to School
Tell Us About Your Incoming Kindergarten Student
An important part of helping children make an easy transition to Kindergarten is for the important adults in their lives to connect. Parents, preschool teachers, guardians, and other caregivers are invited to complete this Preschool Transition Summary form available in Amharic, English, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, and Vietnamese (Somali and Tigrigna translations in list below). SPS Early Learning will collect and forward completed forms to children’s new school to help their Kindergarten teachers prepare and welcome their new students.
Preschool Transition Summary Form – Somali
Preschool Transition Summary Form – Tigrigna
Jump Start
Jump Start is a free kindergarten transition program to help children make a positive adjustment to school.
Like a short “day camp” to orient students to their new school, it gives students an unhurried low-key opportunity to meet staff and peers and practice kindergarten routines. Learn more about Jump Start.
View the list of schools offering Jump Start or check out which schools are offering alternative transition plans for this upcoming school year.
Students must be assigned to a school offering Jump Start to attend. Registration forms are linked below.
ORCA transit cards for Jump Start
New kindergarten families can request FREE ORCA transit cards to get to and from their Jump Start school in August. Just fill out this ORCA form. Each ORCA card will already be pre-loaded with fare to pay for your family members to ride back and forth daily to Jump Start (Kids 6 and under ride free). You can use your ORCA card on Metro buses, Link trains, the street car, monorail or even water taxi. SDOT will mail the cards directly to your home address. Allow at least 5 business days. Apply soon!
Family Connection Conferences
Preschool and Kindergarten Family Connection Conferences
These one-on-one meetings, held during the first short week of school, are intended to welcome Preschool and Kindergarten families to school and provide a safe environment for families to speak freely with the teacher, share information about their child, and ask questions.
Child Care Options
Finding a quality child care arrangement for your child is a big decision for families. We have collected a list of child care providers who provide before and after school child care as well as preschool programs at schools in the district.
Please contact the provider directly to learn more about enrollment and their programs. Read more about school-based Child Care Providers.