DRAFT SPS Early Learning Center Recommendation 2014

To: Jose Banda, Superintendent Seattle Public Schools

Charles Wright, Deputy Superintendent Seattle Public Schools
From: Cashel Toner, Director Early Learning Department
Katy Hestad, Early Learning Instructional Coach
Mary Fickes, Early Learning Coordinator

Date: April 1, 2014

Subject: Potential benefits for adding early learning centers in Seattle Public Schools and
recommendation to offer early learning center fall 2014

______________________________________________________________________________

Purpose:
To identify benefits and possible challenges for launching a model Early Learning center in fall
2014 and two additional early learning centers fall 2016.

Context:
In 2010, Seattle Public Schools and the City of Seattle came together to design a new system to
more effectively align and integrate PreK-3rd grade education in Seattle. Out of this was born a
Five Year Action Plan, which we have actively worked to implement ever since. Early Learning
has been embedded as a cornerstone in the Seattle Public Schools' recently adopted Strategic
Plan.

In September 2013 the Seattle City Council unanimously approved Preschool for All Resolution
31478 establishing the City Council's goal of making voluntary high-quality preschool available
and affordable to all of Seattle's children and outlining an initial plan toward achieving this goal.

Seattle Public Schools has an opportunity to use our institutional and academic expertise to lead
this work and design a model program for the City. Early learning centers would align with the
Five Year Action Plan and the SPS Strategic Plan and allow SPS to offer best practice instruction
to 4 year old children.

A thoughtful, well-planned early learning center can make a significant difference in a childs life.
According to research, quality PreK-3 programs can decrease the use of special education referrals,
lessen grade retention, increase intellectual capacity and produce learners who have sound behavioral
and social emotional abilities. (Impacts of Early Childhood Programs, Research Brief #4: Model
Early Childhood Programs, September 2008)

Recommendations:
The Early Learning department recommends moving forward with creating a PreK early learning
center at old Van Asselt if it is done for the reasons stated aboveto develop a comprehensive,
developmentally appropriate learning environment for our youngest learners.

We also recommend creating a SPS workgroup including representatives from the following
departments: Early Learning, Human Resources, Budget, Enrollment, Community Partnerships,
Facilities, Special Education, Bilingual, and Strategic Planning. We recommend that this group
develop a report to identify action steps, risks, and funding streams. This group should meet
internally and externally with the City of Seattle and the League of Education voters. We
DRAFT SPS Early Learning Center Recommendation 2014

acknowledge that we are still in the process of reviewing the DRAFT Preschool for All Action Plan
and Seattle Schools role in this initiative is evolving.

Building Sites:
Old Van Asselt may need to be used as an interim site for another elementary school in fall of
2016. If this is the case, we recommend moving half of the program to Schmitz Park and half to
Decater. This would not be ideal, but would allow SPS to launch a model site in the fall of 2014
and build capacity among staff as well as SPS systemic capacity (enrollment, nutrition services,
community engagement, etc.)

Beacon Hill Early Learning Center at old Van Asselt Launch Fall 2014

Vision:
Small school serving 3 and 4 year old children composed of 10 classrooms (5 classrooms serving
4 year old children, 5 classrooms serving Special education 3 and 4 year old children) utilizing
certificated teaching staff and instructional assistance in each classroom. Class sizes would be
limited to 18 children per classroom in non special education classrooms and class size ratios
would aligned with special education requirements in special education classrooms.

The Citys gap analysis reports that the City of Seattle has approximately 12,000 3- and 4-year
old children and that at most 60% of these children are currently in preschool. Also, SPS Head
Start programs have waitlists and are continually receiving requests for additional care.

Budget Summary:
The school would be led by a principal with an early learning background. This school would be
the model for Seattle Preschool for All and would utilize Seattle Public Schools systems and
frameworks to deliver high quality preschool to over 100 children in the fall of 2014. The school
would have a dedicated space for Child Find services, therapeutic services, health support, family
engagement, family support, and professional development.

The school will be directly supervised by the SPS Department of Early Learning in collaboration
with the City of Seattles Department of Education and Early Learning.

The classroom serving 4 year old children will need a funding stream while the classrooms
serving special education students have identified funding.

We recommend that the Superintendent work with the City of Seattle and League of Education
Voters to identify $1,423,049 needed to support this center. Funds would be needed for two
years assuming voters support Preschool for All in November of 2014.











DRAFT SPS Early Learning Center Recommendation 2014

Estimated Beacon Hill Early Learning Center Funding

EARLY LEARNING CENTER BUDGET Quantity Cost Total
FTE Teachers 5

89,195.00 445,975.00
PCP Teacher (music/art focus) 1

89,195.00 89,195.00
IA's 5

48,987.00 244,935.00
Nurse (.6) 0.6

92,508.00 55,504.80
Director (at principal salary) 1

148,306.00 148,306.00
Office Manager (Admin Secretary-Elem-222) 1

61,398.00 61,398.00
Community engagement position 1 63,868.00 63,868.00
Social Services position 1

63,868.00 63,868.00
Transportation Costs -
Nutrition Services -
SpEd Classrooms 5 -
Non-SpEd Classrooms materials 5

30,000.00 150,000.00
Professional Development 100,000.00
Budget for National Association for Education of
Young Children Accreditation over two years
Assessment budget
Curriculum Budget
License fees (per child) *TSG

15.00


1,423,049.80