Seattle's push for accessible preschool education is now complemented by an enhanced effort to ease transportation hardships for lower-income families. In a collaborative initiative announced by the Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), no-cost ORCA cards will be distributed to Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) families meeting certain income thresholds, aimed at removing the financial barriers to getting kids to school.
The income eligibility for this program aligns with free SPP tuition criteria, welcoming families earning at or below 94% of the State Median Income or up to 350% of the Federal Poverty Level for participation; this benefit stems directly from the Seattle Transit Measure (STM) and provides unlimited public transit usage through August 31, 2025 which will allow families to attend preschool and utilize Seattle's transit system freely without the concern of additional expenses thus enhancing opportunities for consistent attendance, which has been linked with better educational outcomes in a recent U.S. Census study. Eligible families should expect the ORCA cards to appear in their mailboxes, thus requiring no extra steps on their part to access this benefit.
Understanding the fundamental role of consistent preschool attendance for developing literacy and numeracy skills, the city's provision of free ORCA cards aims to ensure that transportation costs do not obstruct a child's early education. As the DEEL has detailed, Seattle Preschool Program is a multifaceted educational initiative, offering everything from Dual-language classrooms to specialized support for children with different learning needs therefore connecting more kids with these resources is a direct investment in the city's future.
For parents looking to take the first steps, seattle.gov/applySPP is where to begin the application process for the SPP; DEEL provides in-language support and translated applications in several languages including Amharic, Chinese, Oromo, Somali, Spanish, Tigrinya, and Vietnamese, making it easier for a diverse range of families to learn about the program, with further assistance available by calling 206-386-1050 or by sending an email to [email protected]. Parents who have enrolled their children in the Seattle Preschool Program and align with the income qualifications can look forward to receiving their ORCA cards soon.
