City of Seattle to offer free child recreation programs during teachers’ strike

SEATTLE — The city of Seattle is now offering to help parents with child care after classes were canceled for nearly 50,000 Seattle Public Schools students while educators are on strike.

“With the start of the school year delayed, the City of Seattle is activating community centers to serve as recreation drop-in locations — providing stability and safety that we know students need after two years of pandemic disruption,” said Mayor Bruce Harrell in a statement. “We encourage teachers and the school district to urgently reach a just and fair resolution that centers our students and prioritizes their education and future.”

On Monday, Seattle Parks and Recreation will open recreation activity hubs at eight different community centers:

• Alki Community Center.
• Ballard Community Center.
• Bitter Lake Community Center.
• Jefferson Community Center.
• Rainier Beach Community Center.
• Montlake Community Center.
• High Point Community Center.
• Meadowbrook Community Center.

Families of students in kindergarten through sixth grade can register for the free recreational activities beginning Thursday.

Participants in the city’s child care assistance program who already have a child care provider for before- or after-school care will automatically receive subsidies to cover child care for the full day, if their provider has capacity during school hours.

Preschool programs operated by SPS are scheduled to begin next Monday, but the start of classes could be delayed if the strike continues into next week. Families enrolled in these programs are encouraged to call the Child Care Aware hotline at 800-446-1114 if they need assistance finding licensed child care programs during the strike.

For students aged 13 or older, the city’s Southwest and Meadowbrook Teen Life Centers will be offering drop-in programs on Wednesday and Thursday.

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