How Seattle plans to provide free preschool in 2025-26

The city of Seattle has opened applications for the 2025-26 preschool year, offering free or discounted tuition. Many Seattleites may be surprised that they qualify.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell is psychic. That might be a shocking revelation to Seattleites. He didn't campaign on this supernatural trait, but he showcased what he calls his "special powers" to a preschool classroom Friday morning.

RELATED: Washington spends big on early education. So, why is it so hard to get your kid into preschool?

"My name is Bruce ... my special powers can tell how old you are," Harrell said to a group of kids at The Children’s Center at Burke Gilman Gardens. "Right now, there are a lot of 4-year-olds here, right?

Little hands went up across the room, indicating the accuracy of the mayor's uncanny numerical insight.

"And, there are some 3-year- olds here," he said.

More hands went up. Then, one kid said they were five and in a quick save Harrell said he already knew that.

Sure, it's quite convenient that Mayor Harrell was there to announce applications for the 2025-26 preschool year were officially open in Seattle — a program exclusively for kids 3-4 years old. But still, very impressive.

Unfortunately, it's unclear if Harrell's mystical command of numbers can be used to solve the budget gaps that seem to pop up in the city each year.

Seattle's Preschool Program provides free tuition, or discounted tuition, for youngsters to attend preschool classes at approved locations in the city. The program will expand next year, adding nine new classrooms. The city intends to spend $3 million covering preschool tuition for up to 2,500 kids.

Perhaps not well known, the city's preschool effort is not strictly targeted at low-income residents (though, the mayor's office notes that eliminating "cost barriers especially for children experiencing homelessness, in foster care or kinship care" is a priority).

For example, a three-person family earning $104,000 annually would be eligible for free tuition. A four-person family earning $123,000 would as well. Families earning more could still get discounted preschool rates. (You could spend a lot of time going down the income rabbit hole using Seattle's preschool tuition calculator.)

"Preschool is an essential step on the path to success for our young children," Seattle Councilmember Maritza Rivera said at the Friday press event. "It's so much more than play. We know the skills and tools that kids get from programs like these are instrumental for their long-term, academic, and social development."

Rivera represents the city's District 4, covering North Seattle where The Children's Center is located.

"The Seattle Preschool Program investments help children enter school kindergarten ready," she said. "We know that preschool attendance is linked to higher rates of high school graduation and college attendance."

RELATED: The second shift. Child care crisis forces families into grueling schedules

According to the mayor's office, this year the city "is partnering with 29 organizations, with 114 preschool sites, and 158 classrooms ... SPP provides free tuition to most Seattle families who apply, with rates calculated based on household income and family size to advance educational equity and reduce race-based opportunity gaps in kindergarten readiness." Some programs specialize in children with disabilities, or dual languages.

"By expanding into neighborhoods with high demand and need, we are ensuring that more children have access to the academic opportunities they deserve," Rivera said.

The nine new preschool classrooms being added at locations across the city in 2025-26 include:

• International District: Chinese Information Service Center at Village Square
• South Lake Union: Hutch Kids Child Care
• Northgate: Refugee Women’s Alliance - The NOOK at Northaven
• Meadowbrook: John Rogers Elementary (two classrooms)
• Loyal Heights: Loyal Heights Elementary
• Pioneer Square: Seed of Life at Metropole
• Bryant: The Children’s Center at Burke Gilman Gardens
• Westwood: YMCA of Greater Seattle

Seattle's preschool program was launched in 2015. At that time, it had 15 locations and enrolled 283 children. Funding comes from the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise Levy, which was approved by voters in 2018. Last year, the city added 16 new classrooms to the program, and slated $3.5 million to support it.