Preschool for All? Councilmember Burgess visits Community School of West Seattle on eve of local conversation

Tomorrow night, the city’s exploration of “Preschool for All” is the subject of a West Seattle meeting (as previewed here last week). As part of his research, City Councilmember Tim Burgess was part of a field trip back east last week – and today, he visited local preschoolers much closer to home, at the Community School of West Seattle. He also talked with CSWS’s Sarah Airhart:

CSWS focuses exclusively on preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds, and that’s who the Preschool for All initiative is centered on, too. Tomorrow night’s meeting is from 6-8 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center (6400 Sylvan Way SW). Dinner and child care will be provided, free; you’re asked to RSVP to 206-233-5118 or upk@seattle.gov.

Glenn March 12, 2014 (5:45 pm)

This seems like a good idea. Both my children attended preschool, and I feel they benefitted from the experience and as a result were better prepared for kindergarten and first grade. Other kids should get the same opportunity.

Leslie March 13, 2014 (8:26 pm)

Intrigued by the Pre-school for All idea.

But, where will this occur? SPS Schools are bursting at the seams, portable farms and already the growth rate trends upwards and the BEX IV rebuild doesn’t plan for need for new high schools – which will be here before we know it. See e.g., Northwest Children’s being evicted from Queen Anne, etc.

Might the City also do SPS a favor Nd lend a demographer or two to SPS – the funds wasted in closing and re opening schools w/ bad planning and forecasting amount to tens of millions.

Last, how does the City propose to pay for Preschool for All – note training reqs for staff and a $15 min. wage….

Lack of McCleary Basic Ed funding and still Pay for K makes me think the devil’s in the details.

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