City and Spokane Public Schools Partner to Expand Childcare Access

City of Spokane, Spokane Public Schools Partner to Expand Childcare Access

Erin Hut, Communications Director, [email protected]

Monday, June 22, 2026 at 12:16 p.m.

The City of Spokane and Spokane Public Schools are partnering to launch a new pilot program aimed at increasing access to affordable, high-quality childcare for Spokane's littlest learners.

Through this pilot, the school district is initially making space available for programming at Balboa Elementary, Whitman Elementary, and the Garland Center. The City is leading efforts to identify and partner with qualified childcare providers to operate services within those spaces.

The partnership is designed to address growing demand for childcare while creating more opportunities for families with young children to access early learning in neighborhood-based settings.

"Access to affordable childcare is a critical need in Spokane. I am incredibly grateful to Dr. Swinyard, the Spokane Public Schools team, and our dedicated childcare providers for their innovation and willingness to help bring this idea to life," Mayor Lisa Brown said. "This pilot is an exciting first step toward what we hope will become a scalable model that expands access to early learning opportunities across neighborhoods throughout our city."

"This partnership has the power to transform childcare in our community and reshape what is possible for children and families for generations to come. By expanding access to high-quality childcare and early learning close to home, we are giving every child the connection, support, and opportunities they need for a strong start and a brighter future," said Spokane Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Adam Swinyard.

This pilot will begin in the fall of 2026. The City anticipates developing a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) process to expand the program into additional schools, neighborhoods, and partnerships with more childcare providers in the future.

Additional details about provider selection, implementation timelines, and how families can register their children will be announced in the coming months.

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