Endorsements

Launch Endorses the FEPP Levy Extension – Vote YES on Proposition 1

As the largest founding provider of the Seattle Preschool Program, Launch has a front-row seat to the profound impact high-quality early learning has on a child’s development and long-term success. Every day, we see how access to preschool helps young learners build a strong foundation - academically, socially, and emotionally. Proposition 1, the extension of the Families, Education, Preschool and Promise (FEPP) Levy, is more than just an investment in education - it’s a commitment to equity, opportunity, and the well-being of Seattle’s children and families. In a time when many in our community are navigating unprecedented challenges, particularly those furthest from educational justice, the FEPP Levy offers holistic support and stability. It provides essential resources that are becoming increasingly difficult to access, especially for our most vulnerable families. This levy supports the entire educational journey and helps close opportunity gaps by ensuring that every child, regardless of their zip code or background, has a fair shot at success. Launch proudly supports Proposition 1 and urges Seattle voters to join us in voting YES. Our children’s future - and our city’s future - depends on it.

Roxanne Christian, Interim President, Alliance for Education

The Alliance for Education was formed 30 years ago to bring vital resources into public education. The FEPP Levy renewal reflects that same vision—mobilizing community support for Seattle’s students, families, and educators. The FEPP Levy is essential to making transformative investments in early learning, equitably resourcing our teachers and classrooms, and strengthening partnerships between schools and community-based organizations to help students thrive. As a partner in this work for more than three decades, we deeply value sustained, community-centered funding that advances educational justice and intentional support for students furthest from opportunity. We are proud to support the Mayor’s proposal to renew this critical levy.

Environmental Education Volunteers

Proposition 1, the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise Levy, preserves our City’s wonderful environmental education program, which invites thousands of students every year, from all over the City, to explore natural wonders in our local parks. Staff and volunteers report: “I’ve had a first grader take my hand, pull me aside and whisper, “It’s magical,” as cottonwood seeds softly floated down. I’ve had a parent tell me that even though they visit the beaches all the time they will now look at them differently. Newly immigrated refugee high school students make a connection between their new home in Seattle and their farming life in their homeland as we learned about plant ecology. I’ve had school students delight in the diversity of life in the pocket forests literally just outside the door of their school.” A green, welcoming, and inclusive Seattle needs environmental education. The work of our environmental education program inspires children, sparks joy and wonder, supports budding scientists, teaches empathy and care for our green world and each other, not to mention teaching to grade-appropriate science standards. Our high school participants report getting jobs and college acceptances based on their experience with our environmental education program. The FEPP Levy saves our amazing environmental education staff, preserves these Seattle Parks & Recreation programs for our city’s children and youth , and maintains the history and institutional knowledge built up over the thirty years that this program has served our city. Our small environmental education staff leverage well-trained volunteers to make a huge impact on our City as follows (2024 numbers): — School programs – immersive nature field trips for school groups and families, including scholarships and free bus rides to local parks for Title 1 schools (80 schools and nearly 4,000 students; 280 nature program events and 23,000 participants city-wide) — Nature Day Camps (over 900 youth campers) — Salmon Stewards events (10,000 spectators) — Community Events: Earth Day, Salmon Celebration Day, Festival of Fruit (151 community programs in partnership with over 35 local organizations reaching 5,900 participants in equity-identified neighborhoods) — Visitor Center operations (over 45,000 visitors at Discovery Park alone) — Summer Beach shuttles (5,000 riders) — Nature Kids Preschool Please vote YES for Proposition 1.