The Associated Recreation Council (ARC), in partnership with Seattle Parks and Recreation, serves Seattle by offering a variety of recreational and lifelong learning programs, classes and activities. Our school-readiness program meets the developmental needs of young children, focusing on emotional, social, physical, and cognitive skills to prepare children for success in school and in life. Classrooms are set up with safe and nurturing environments, fun-filled learning areas, consistent schedules and routines, and both large and small group times. Preschool activities include art, dramatic play, library time, cooking, discovery science, singing, and outdoor play.

Our Philosophy: 1. We understand that most children learn best by doing and therefore, must be actively engaged in the learning process. 2. We feel that children, given positive relationships with caring adults, grow and develop in the best possible way. 3. We know that, given comparable educational opportunities, all children learn and go on to become successful adults. 4. We realize that each child is unique, with different temperaments, different growth rates and different needs. 5. By meeting each child's cognitive, emotional, social and physical needs, the healthy growth of the whole child is at the heart of our program. What children need is what they get at Causey's Learning Center: Early exposure to languages, Early music education, Exercise, Preschool-level academic work Teamwork is Important to Us: Successful teamwork between parents and educators is important to us because it reflects on the child's development. That's why we have a culture of teamwork at Causey's Learning Center. There is constant interaction between parents and educators as we plan excursions, common activities, and class parties. There are several ways you can get involved in your child's daycare and preschool education. You are welcomed and encouraged to participate.

Genesee Early Learning Center is a full year program that runs through the summer. Our staff is multi-lingual and multi-cultural and reflects the families and students we serve. We have an Early Achievers rating of 4.

The mission of CISC Bilingual Preschool is to prepare children for school learning by providing a bilingual and bicultural environment. It also aims to help families achieve self-sufficiency by providing education, resources, and networking opportunities. The role of this program is to foster learning by providing children with experiences that support the physical, social, emotional, cognitive, bilingual, and bicultural development of children. Efforts to improve school readiness are most effective when the curriculum embraces the rich cultural and language backgrounds of families and children. The program serves 3 and 4 years old immigrant children who are English learners speaking Chinese dialects, or Asian languages at home. The pre-school program offers 6-hours per day, Monday through Friday from September – June, to prepare children for school readiness and long-term academic achievement.

The Experimental Education Unit (EEU) offers a comprehensive early childhood school community that provides inclusive education to children with and without disabilities. This community consists a staff of scholars, professionals and university students who conduct important research and refine new techniques to hone their teaching skills. All EEU programs promote the development of children's cognitive, motor, communication, and social interaction skills by means of educational and therapeutic interventions most appropriate for each child. These programs always include typically developing children and children with various developmental delays or disabilities. All classrooms are managed by teams of diverse professionals, which include the head teacher, assistant teacher, speech and language pathologist, occupational or physical therapist, social worker, nurse, and other appropriate staff. The EEU’s model combines practical research, hands-on training and direct service to children from infancy through kindergarten. Our program is committed to promoting the development of children's cognitive, motor, communication, and social interaction skills giving them the necessary foundation for learning in elementary school and beyond.

The Doreen Cato Early Learning Center is the collection of preschool classrooms operated as part of the First Place education program. Every child who joins our community will be provided a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment that values whole child development through our play-based learning curriculum. While being immersed in a rich, culturally responsive learning environment.

Launch offers year-round kindergarten readiness for children ages 3–5, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Because we serve children from various cultural and linguistic backgrounds, we take special care to be aware and responsive to the needs of our diverse community. All of our preschool programs are part of the Seattle Preschool Program and have been awarded a Quality Level of Excellence rating by Early Achievers, Washington State’s quality rating and improvement system for early learning programs. We use the HighScope curriculum, which is utilized in preschools and kindergartens worldwide and has been adopted by the City of Seattle as one of the designated curriculums for all of their partner preschools. This research-based curriculum provides developmentally appropriate practices that embrace the whole child and focus on building the skills necessary for a preschooler’s smooth transition into kindergarten. With HighScope, daily activities can change frequently or remain the same as children explore and gain mastery of the topic. It is common to see different themes and activities emerging at our various sites. Our dedicated staff are keen observers skilled at identifying the strengths, needs, and interests of individual children as well as the group as they interact with one another and the surrounding environment. Launch teachers bring expertise and passion to teaching and see every day as an opportunity to enhance learning, development, and meaning for the children entrusted in their care.

At Northwest Center Kids we provide an inclusive early learning program for children with and without disabilities in the same classroom, recognizing each child as a unique individual. Children of all abilities play side by side, learning valuable lessons from each other. We believe that through inclusive environments, children are given opportunities to reach their highest potential, while developing positive attitudes towards all types of people. We honor and encourage diversity of all kinds and strive to be culturally responsive to our families, respecting individual values and beliefs, while embracing the diverse population we serve. Our mixed-age Pre-Kindergarten classrooms include children ages 3-5, and are open year-round. Children are supported in experimenting and practicing their developing social, language, and motor skills in a stimulating and safe environment. The Creative Curriculum and Teaching Strategies Gold assessment system is utilized in all of our classrooms, and is in alignment with Washington State guidelines on kindergarten readiness. This emergent, play-based curriculum is based on a foundation of research, the theory of child development, and the use of developmentally appropriate practice to support the learning of each child. When children play in meaningful ways they acquire language, learn to solve problems, learn to control their behavior and feelings, and explore social roles. High teacher to child ratios allow our teachers to provide ample opportunities for children to explore and learn, while supporting the development of the skills necessary to succeed in kindergarten and beyond. Our classroom teaching teams include two lead teachers, assistant teachers, a curriculum specialist and a special educator.

Seattle Public Schools Early Learning 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. Yet it is not enough to provide quality education for a year or two in a child's early years. At Seattle Public Schools our vision is for every child to experience a quality, cohesive and joyful learning experience from PreK through third grade that will provide the strong foundation needed to succeed in school and life. Research also indicates that meaningful inclusion is beneficial to children with and without disabilities across a variety of developmental domains. Although all SPP classrooms welcome children who are receiving special education services, Seattle Public Schools offers a specially designed inclusion model, called SPP Plus, in various locations including Van Asselt, Thornton Creek, Bailey Gatzert, and Louisa Boren and BF Day. SPP Plus locations offer a smaller class size and a dedicated number of students who receive special education services. It is an inclusive classroom structure with additional staff. For more information, please copy and paste this address into your browser: http://bit.ly/SPPPlus

SOL is a multi-lingual and multi-cultural center that services children between the ages 1m.-12 yrs. SOL has two locations that are accredited through National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs (NAC) and services all families and communities.

Our preschool program offers full-day, high-quality, culturally and linguistically appropriate preschool services for eligible three- and four-year-olds and their families. Our primary goal is to help participating children develop the skills needed for school readiness and acquire a passion for lifelong learning. We work with families to ensure they have access to information, resources, and training that support them in moving towards their individual and family goals.

YMCA preschool provides developmentally appropriate curriculum designed to support the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical growth of all children. Children at the Y are encouraged to use their creativity, develop new skills, work and play with peers, and experience positive adult role models. Our program is value based with emphasis on building self-reliance through our YMCA core values: Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility. Preschool follows WA Licensing requirements, is sponsored by City of Seattle, and participates in Washington Early Achievers Quality Program. PROGRAM FEATURES: The YMCA Preschool is a nurturing, safe place to learn, grow and thrive. Our experienced and professional staff uses Creative Curriculum & Teaching Strategies Gold Assessment, with an emphasis on kindergarten readiness. The Y also incorporates extensive family involvement activities such as Family Time, Family Nights. The YMCA follows USDA requirements and participates in Child and Adult Food Program and participates in Farm To Table project offered by City of Seattle. We Provide nutritious breakfast, hot lunch and snacks daily with family style dinning and strives serving organic food from local farms. DSHS & City of Seattle subsidy accepted. Financial assistance may also be available through the Y.