Seattle boosts access to school meals, preschool, and programs that support families. Yesterday, we joined families, students, community members, and partners to celebrate new investments in childcare, preschool, afterschool and summer programs, mentoring, tutoring, health care, school meals, college, and career pathways.
The investments will reduce costs, open doors, and make Seattle a better place to live, work, and raise a family.
“Seattle is only going to be a great place to raise a family if it’s a more affordable place to raise a family. The investments I’m announcing today take a big step in that direction by expanding the Seattle Preschool Program, providing free school meals to all students, offering free mental health care to all teens and young adults, and more,” Seattle Mayor Wilson said.
Below are key details of the six-year plan that will implement Seattle’s Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) levy, which passed last year.
Free School Meals
We’re excited to share that the plan will provide free school meals to every student in every school, starting this fall. That means a better school day for kids, a better learning environment for teachers, and fewer groceries that families have to buy to keep their kids healthy.
This investment, combined with federal and state funding, will expand free meals at up to 53 school sites. This will help close the food access gap for 6,800 SPS students, many of whom face barriers accessing federally funded meals or are ineligible despite experiencing food insecurity due to low federal eligibility thresholds. Families are estimated to save $1,200 per child each year.
Once implemented, families will still be asked to complete an SPS school meals application to help schools maintain access to federal funding and ensure eligible students receive additional benefits, such as reduced school fees.
The FEPP levy investment also supports SPS Culinary Services in preparing and serving high-quality food and managing ongoing improvements, including a new Central Kitchen, expanded kitchen staff training, incorporation of student voice in menu planning, and more. Our team will continue to support these efforts through our Healthy Food in Schools initiative, which increases access to fresh, locally sourced, and culturally relevant meals.
This investment is part of a broader City commitment to food access, including summer meal programs (starting June 24, 2026), school-based pantries and weekend food bags, and Fresh Bucks, Seattle’s healthy food access program.
Seattle Preschool Program
Expand the Seattle Preschool Program so more classrooms operate all day, and all year long, including through the summer. Instead of ending at 2:00 or 3:00 in the afternoon, more programs will cover a full 10-hour day, and extend all year, including through the summer, to better serve the needs of working parents. All 3- and 4-year-olds in Seattle are eligible for the Seattle Preschool Program, and tuition is free for most Seattle families.
Mental Health Care
Offer free mental health care to all Seattle teens and young adults, open new school-based health centers, and expand mentorship opportunities. New school-based health centers will provide students free primary care, dental health services, and more. And more students will be connected to mentors from organizations with established trust and cultural connections to the communities they serve.
Job Pathways
Open new pathways to good jobs after school. Apprenticeship programs will connect young people to high-demand trades, such as construction, aviation, welding, and maritime. Additional investments will promote technology and public service careers through partnerships with Seattle Colleges, the University of Washington, and the City.
The City Council is expected to vote on the plan in late June. As a continuation of our Healthy Food in Schools initiative, our office will work closely with Seattle Public Schools (SPS), City departments, and more partners to help implement nutritious universal school meals. Learn more about FEPP Levy investments in this flyer.