COVID-19 FAQ

• When will I know if my preschool program will be open for in-person learning?

• Seattle Preschool Program providers are working to finalize their program plans in response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

  A couple of the factors being considered in providers’ plans are as follows:
  
  

  • Current public health guidance affects many aspects of regular SPP programming. Providers are looking at how to modify their programs for current public health guidance and safety precautions, including smaller class sizes, social distancing, and face coverings, among other considerations.
  • Seattle Public Schools (SPS) has indicated that K-12 fall learning will be 100% remote. The School Board is scheduled to vote on the decision at their August 12th meeting. This decision may impact several of our SPP sites located in SPS buildings.

  Individual providers will inform families of their programming plans as soon as plans are finalized.

• If classrooms open, what safety measures will be in place to protect students and teachers from the risk of exposure to COVID-19?

• All SPP Providers who open for in-person learning should followguidance from Public Health – Seattle & King County for schools and child care, which includes safety precautions such as:
  
  

  • Reduced class sizes and social distancing
  • Guidance on face coverings for children
  • Increased cleaning and sanitation measures
  • Health screenings for children and staff
  • How to respond to a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19;

  DEEL staff will ensure that providers are updated on any changes to public health guidance.

• How will tuition be affected by possible changes to programming?

• Fall contingency planning includes possible changes to tuition based on programming changes. For tuition-paying families, a 50% tuition reduction is being implemented in consideration that services this fall may experience some type of interruption or modification.

  
  
  

  If a provider is unable to provide any in-person services and must make a full switch to a family-directed (remote) learning model—whether because of a site closure (such as SPS buildings), a state-mandated stay-at-home order, or a closure lasting greater than 30 days due to positive COVID cases—monthly tuition will be waived in full.

• If in-person classes are not possible, are there remote learning options for my child?

• Our contingency plans for the 2020-2021 school year will include planning for three options:

  
  
  
  1. In-person learning within COVID-19 health guidelines,
  2. Family-directed (remote) learning with program supports, and
  3. A hybrid option of in-person and family-directed learning. Providers will be sharing information about their individual program plans soon.

• Can I enroll in family-directed remote learning now but move to in-person learning later when my needs/work schedule changes?

• If your provider offers an in-person option, you can work with them to start remotely then transition into the classroom. If you want to change your provider, please contact preschool@seattle.gov to best address your needs.

• What is the family-directed remote learning schedule? Will any of it be one-on-one?

• This will be dependent on your Program and their approach to family-directed learning. Please communicate directly with your provider.

• I’m on the waitlist. Are there any sites offering “Family-directed remote learning” that I could enroll in for now?

• Please make sure your application includes sites that offer family-directed remote learning, that way we know you’re interested in that site. When your child comes up on the waitlist for that site, we will offer you the spot, regardless of the service delivery model. You can accept the family-directed remote only option while you wait for another site that offers in-person services.
  We enroll vacancies through March 14, 2021.

• Can my child attend preschool completely remotely?

• Yes. We know there are many reasons a parent/guardian may not want or be able to send their child to in-person preschool.
  Please make sure your application includes the 100% Family Directed Remote learning sites so that we know you’re interested. Additionally, many of our preschool providers who are offering in-person services are also able to serve children remotely, without attending in person at all. If you have an enrollment in SPP already at a provider offering in-person services, please contact them directly to inquire if they are able to serve your child completely remotely.

• If my child is attending remotely, what are the technical requirements or supplies we should have?

• SPP is working with providers to provide devices or other options for accessing instruction. Please communicate directly with your provider.

• What supports will be available for heritage language-speaking students in remote learning?

• This will be dependent on your Program. Please communicate directly with your provider.

• What does a “hybrid schedule” look like?

• To limit class sizes, many providers are serving smaller groups of children in their classrooms. In order to still serve more children overall, these providers are offering a “hybrid” schedule which could include one group of children attending in person Monday and Wednesday with family-directed services on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, while another group of children attends in person Tuesday and Thursday, with family-directed services on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Weekly schedules will vary by provider and the needs of the families enrolled in their program. Please communicate directly with your provider for details.

• What does attendance look like this year, especially for Family-Directed remote learning?

• We hope to see families engaged in learning, which we understand can look different for each family, each week. We are in the process of defining “attendance” for Family-Directed learning and should have this ready for providers to implement within the first few weeks of the school year.

• What are the class sizes for in-person learning?

• Group sizes must be smaller than 21 people, including children and adults. Social distancing requirements also require six feet of distancing between each person in the space. For many providers, their physical space does not allow for social distancing of 21 people, and as such, class sizes are dependent on the provider and their space. Classroom sizes may vary from 5-19 children.

• How do I know which providers are offering which type of services?

• You can visit the SPP home page to see a list of providers and their service delivery models. You can also reach out to your provider directly to confirm specific schedules and flexibility.

• Why are some providers operating in person and others aren’t?

• Providers are given health and safety requirements, offered program guidance, and work closely with families to meet community needs. Providers have many variables to consider when deciding what type of service to offer families, including staffing, available space, personal protective equipment, cost of operating, and families’ needs and preferences. Seattle Preschool Program providers have the autonomy to determine their preferred approach to preschool this year. If you have questions about a specific model or provider, please contact the provider directly.

• If my provider is offering services/schedules that don’t meet my needs, what should I do?

• Please connect with your preschool provider directly. If they are not able to accommodate, please contact SPP at preschool@seattle.gov or (206) 386-1050 to identify other options.

• Will preschool be full day for in-person services?

• For the most part, providers who are offering in-person preschool are offering full 6-hour days; however, many providers are differentiating their daily schedules. Our parent portal should have information for each site, updated regularly.

• Are any preschools offering part-time services during COVID?

• Many of our providers are offering “hybrid” services which may mean two or three in-person days per week and two or three family-directed remote learning days per week. These schedules are likely to change and may depend on the needs of enrolled families, so we recommend connecting directly with providers about their current schedule and what schedules current openings will have.
  Our Pathway to Seattle Preschool Program (“Pathway”) offers part-day programming at the following preschools. Please contact providers directly for enrollment options.
  

  • Voices of Tomorrow – Family and Child Center (Family-Directed Remote Learning)
  • Associated Recreation Council – Queen Anne Community Center (In-Person)
  • West African Community Council – One Family Learning Center (Hybrid)
  • Tiny Trees Outdoor Preschool – Olympic Sculpture Park, Carkeek Park, Beer Sheva Park (In-Person)