CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to the Seattle Preschool Program; approving an Implementation Plan as required by Ordinance 124509 and Resolution 31527; amending the tuition model in the Action Plan adopted by Ordinance 124509; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
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WHEREAS by Ordinance 124509, the City placed before voters a proposition to authorize the City to levy regular property taxes for up to four years in excess of the 101 percent limitation and any other limitations of levies in Chapter 84.55 RCW for the purpose of providing high quality preschool for some 3-year-old children and all 4-year-old children; and
WHEREAS, on November 4th, 2014, the City's voters overwhelmingly approved that proposition; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 124509 adopted the Seattle Preschool Program Action Plan which includes requirements for the Seattle Preschool Program; and
WHEREAS, Section 8 of Ordinance 124509 requires that an Implementation Plan be approved and adopted by future ordinance prior to program implementation; and
WHEREAS, Section 4 of Resolution 31527 establishes the principles with which the City Council will review the Implementation Plan; and
WHEREAS, Section 5 of Resolution 31527 establishes the minimum requirements of the Implementation Plan to be submitted by the Mayor for Council approval; and
WHEREAS, the tuition model included in the Action Plan has been refined and therefore the Action Plan must be amended; and
WHEREAS, the Levy Oversight Committee has reviewed the Implementation Plan as required by Section 7 of Ordinance 124509; NOW, THEREFORE;
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The Seattle Preschool Program Implementation Plan (Implementation Plan) attached as Attachment A is approved as required by Section 8 of Ordinance 124509. The Implementation Plan is consistent with City Council's expressed principles and requirements as established by Resolution 31527.
Section 2. As required by Section 8 of Ordinance 124509, changes to the Implementation Plan must be approved by the City Council via ordinance in the following circumstances:
A. When the Mayor proposes to reorder or modify the priorities for contracting with preschool providers, or for student selection and enrollment.
B. When the Mayor proposes expanding or restricting eligibility for access.
C. When the Mayor proposes structural changes to any of the following components of the tuition system:
i. Basing the tuition co-pay on a percentage of the full tuition rate,
ii. Utilizing a sliding scale that has a straight line from 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL) to 760% of the FPL, where families at 300% of the FPL pay 0% of tuition, and families at 760% of the FPL pay 95% of tuition, or
iii. Increasing the full tuition rate in excess of 2.4% annually.
D. When the Mayor proposes modifications to the requirements or characteristics of the teacher education requirement waiver.
Section 3. The Mayor shall provide written notice to the City Council in the following circumstances:
A. If there are any changes to the list of approved curricula for use in the Seattle Preschool Program, and such notice shall include information demonstrating that any additional curricula are research-based and have proven results.
B. If, beginning in the second year of implementation (the 2016-2017 school year), any program providers other than Seattle Public Schools are selected through a non-competitive process, and such notice shall provide the rationale for selecting providers outside of a competitive process.
Section 4. Page 22 of the Action Plan, Attachment B to this ordinance, is deleted from the Action Plan and replaced with Attachment C.
Section 5. Any act consistent with the authority of this ordinance taken prior to its effective date is hereby ratified and confirmed.
Section 6. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30 days after its approval by the Mayor, but if not approved and returned by the Mayor within ten days after presentation, it shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Section 1.04.020.
Passed by the City Council the ____ day of ________________________, 2015, and
signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this
_____ day of ___________________, 2015.
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President __________of the City Council
Approved by me this ____ day of _____________________, 2015.
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Edward B. Murray, Mayor
Filed by me this ____ day of __________________________, 2015.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)
Attachment A: The Seattle Preschool Program Implementation Plan
Attachment B: Page 22 of the Action Plan
Attachment C: Revised Sliding Scale Fee Schedule