Wilson expands free student meals, childcare for Seattle families
Seattle families may soon have more access to free student meals and affordable full-day childcare, under a plan announced Tuesday by Mayor Katie Wilson.
Wilson's plan calls for all Seattle Public Schools to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students beginning this fall - expanding the program from about half of the district's 106 schools that currently offer free meals.
The expansion would be paid for through the $1.3 billion education levy Seattle voters passed in November. Wilson's proposal needs the City Council's approval.
"That means a better start for kids, a better learning environment for teachers, and fewer groceries that families have to buy to keep their kids healthy," Wilson said.
Tuesday's announcement signals some of Wilson's most sweeping actions to date to make progress on a campaign promise to improve affordability in the city - including for families.
She also announced moves Tuesday to use the levy funding to expand the city's free and reduced-cost childcare programs.
"We're also sending a message to parents who are trying to make it here: This is your city," Wilson said. "We want you raising your families here. And we're doing everything we can to make it easier for you to afford to build a life here."
Wilson's plan would expand hours and offer care year-round in the city's preschool program, offered by local providers and in Seattle Public Schools. There are more than 100 sites, according to the city's website.
The Seattle Preschool Program has sliding-scale tuition, determined by income and family size. In the 2025-26 school year, 70% of children received free tuition. Right now many programs end in the afternoon, earlier than many parents' jobs, and many don't offer care during the summer, Wilson said.
"Expanding the preschool program to serve kids all day, and all year, is an overdue step to recognize the realities faced by working parents, and I am so glad that we are finally making it happen," Wilson said.
Wilson's plan would also expand supports in the city's Child Care Assistance Program. That program chips in to help pay for childcare for families who earn too much to qualify for the state's childcare subsidy but earn up to 110% of the state's median income (about $153,000 a year for a family of four).
Wilson's plan would also open new school-based health centers, provide free mental health care to all Seattle teenagers and young adults and connect students with mentors.
Wilson has said that she wants universal childcare; her campaign platform stated she would work with advocates and labor groups toward "state-level reforms to establish universal affordable childcare while ensuring living wages for childcare workers."
The planned expansion for city childcare and early learning programs occurs as some state-funded early learning programs are facing cuts.
This year, lawmakers cut funding for the state's childcare subsidy and for a Transition to Kindergarten program for 4-year-olds in public schools. However, the state's preschool program for children from low-income families is poised to expand because Ballmer Group is donating millions to the program. (The Seattle Times receives funding from Ballmer Group to support coverage of early childhood education.)
SPS Superintendent Ben Shuldiner used the news of more education funding to nudge Seattle families to return to public education, noting that almost 20,000 kids in the city don't attend an SPS school.
"Now you have even more reason to come back to our schools," Shuldiner said.
The mayor announced the expanded programs Tuesday in a news conference at a playground outside the Yesler Community Center. Toward the end, attendees heard noises that sounded like gunfire, and staff escorted Wilson to safety.
No injuries were reported. It was not immediately clear whether the shooting had any connection to the news conference.
Wilson also wants to use the levy funding to pay for new apprenticeship programs and maintain the Seattle Promise Program, which allows every SPS graduate to attend Seattle Colleges tuition-free for up to two years.
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This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 11:36 PM.