In a move to bolster the child care workforce, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, along with the Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL), has announced retention payments for nearly 5,000 child care educators and staff. According to a statement on the mayor's website, these individuals will receive a one-time payment of up to $555, recognizing their critical contributions to the city’s families and children.
Mayor Harrell further proposed that the “Every Child Ready” initiative should continue to facilitate direct payments to child care workers until 2032, through an $18.5 million allocation in the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) Levy. “Child care workers are the backbone of our city, supporting strong working families and creating safe, nurturing environments for the next generation to learn and grow in,” Harrell stated in the city’s announcement. Notably, the Council's Select Committee on the FEPP Levy, led by Councilmember Maritza Rivera, will review this initiative with an eye toward referral to voters on the November 2025 ballot.
These latest retention payments represent the fifth round since the program’s inception in 2021. The recipients, totaling 4,953 staff members from 608 providers, are a diverse group; the city’s announcement notes that 71% identify as people of color. The payments come as a much-needed boon to a workforce where women of color—the majority within this sector—continue to earn significantly lower wages than the city's hourly mean pay.
DEEL Director Dr. Dwane Chappelle emphasized the importance of sustaining investments in Seattle’s child care workforce. "The strength of our communities starts with the care and education our children receive from an early age," Chappelle said, highlighting the retention payments as a reflection of the city’s commitment to valuing early childhood professionals. According to the information released by the city, all eligible staff employed before February 3, are set to receive these payments by June 30, with distribution being managed by BrightSpark Early Learning Services.
Child care owner Said Khadra expressed gratitude for this support, recognizing the challenges brought about by the rising cost of living in Seattle: “The child care retention payments will support my staff and I in ways you can’t imagine,” she told the city. Similarly, BrightSpark Program Officer Courtney Nolen-Viducich remarked on the initiative's broader implications: “This is not just an investment in our child care workers; it is an investment in the future of Seattle’s children and the prosperity of our community.”
