$1.3B Education Levy Plan Heads to City Council: Here’s What It Would Do for Families 

Earlier this year, Mayor Katie Wilson joined families, teachers, and community partners to share investment priorities for the 2025 Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) Levy, which voters overwhelmingly passed last November.  

Those priorities are now outlined in detail in the draft FEPP Levy Implementation and Evaluation Plan (the Plan), which explains how the City intends to spend Levy funds to make Seattle a better and more affordable place to raise a family.  

Community Input Informed the Plan 

The Plan was shaped by months of input from families, teachers, and child-care providers across Seattle. The Council’s Select Committee will now review it, listen to community feedback, and vote on whether to approve or amend it. We are grateful to the Council for their deep engagement and look forward to partnering in the process to finalize the Plan and in the implementation of the levy.  

$1.3 Billion Investment, Supporting Youth from Cradle to Career 

The Plan builds on progress created by decades of education investment, supporting a child’s learning journey from cradle to career. Some proposed investments are brand new, while others continue or expand existing proven programs. The Plan also includes requirements for quarterly reporting on investment progress, and robust evaluation of funded services. 

Here are a few highlights: 

• Support that starts before birth. The Plan maintains funding to provide free home visits from nurses and early learning specialists, which give new and expecting parents a strong start. Young children can also get free checkups to determine how they’re growing and developing. 

• Affordable childcare. The Plan increases funding for the Childcare Assistance Program (CCAP), which helps Seattle families access affordable, quality childcare for children ages 0 to 12. Notably, the Plan adds funding specifically for families with children 0-5; raising subsidy rates by up to 40% to match County and State levels of support. It also funds free childcare for families experiencing homelessness and provides bonus pay to some childcare workers to help retain this vital workforce.  

• Affordable preschool for all. The Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) helps thousands of families across Seattle access quality preschool, including dual-language programs. The cost is based on each family’s income, and most families qualify for free tuition. This Plan enables 500 more children to benefit from the program by expanding available seats from 2,600 to 3,100 over six years. 

• Free meals for students. The Plan funds free breakfast and lunch for every Seattle Public Schools student during the school year and over the summer, so kids who rely on these meals have access even when school is not in session. 

• Health care and mental health care at no cost to students. The Plan expands funding for school-based health centers across the city and works to increase supports from 29 schools to as many as 34. These services are open to all Seattle Public Schools students, no matter which school they attend.  

• Tuition-free college and job training. The existing Seattle Promise program offers graduates of any Seattle public high school funding to attend Seattle Colleges for up to two years. This Plan expands opportunities for high-school graduates by adding new career pathways, including enhanced learning in fields such as technology, maritime, public service, welding, and construction. 

The Plan prepares young people to thrive across every learning stage and tracks results to help ensure public investments truly deliver on their goals. We are so grateful to everyone who helped create and share this Plan.  

A special thanks to Deputy Mayor Brian Surratt, Department of Education and Early Learning Director Dwane Chapelle, and Impact and External Affairs Director Marissa Rousselle for presenting the FEPP Implementation and Evaluation plan to the council select committee.  You can review the presentation to the Council’s Select Committee on the draft FEPP Levy Implementation and Evaluation Plan here. 

What’s next 

Upcoming milestones include: 

• June 30, July 8, and July 22: The Committee meets again to review the Plan and hear from the community. 

• This summer: The full City Council will vote on whether to approve the Plan. 

• Fall 2026: Newly approved investments begin implementation for the 2026-2027 school year. 

We invite you to stay engaged throughout the Select Committee process. The City Clerk’s webpage includes helpful information about how to give public comment to ensure your voice is heard.