Admissions Process

Both full-time and part-time child care is available at SIDC. At the most basic level, the following admissions process steps occur:

• Join the wait list. The length of our wait list varies from class to class. Given the high demand for quality childcare in downtown Seattle, we encourage you to get on the wait list as early as possible. To join the list, visit us at LegUp and someone from SIDC will contact you and provide you with information about the program. An administrative fee of $75 is due to be placed on our wait list. You will receive periodic notices as to your status on the list.

• Visit our Center (In-person tours are back!). We have recently returned to offering in-person tours on Tuesdays & Thursdays at 10:00am and 3:30pm - reach out today to schedule a tour!

• Enrollment. When space becomes available, we will contact families based on the waitlist. Once a family accepts, a first month non-refundable deposit is required and an enrollment packet is sent out. Please then complete the packet and return it back to us. Note that the enrollment deposit is applied towards your first month of tuition.

Want to join the waitlist RIGHT AWAY? Please find our LegUp page to join the waitlist and see spaces opening up in our program that are updated throughout the year.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How does the wait list work?

  • The wait list has three components:

    1. The date when we receive your wait list

    2. The age of your child

    3. The availability of space in our program depends largely on current child transitions, which are based on each child’s individual development and age. We work hard to match-up the transitions of current children in our care with enrollment of new children. While we do our very best to enroll as many children as possible, we unfortunately may not be able to enroll every child on their chosen enrollment date.

• Is the wait list fee refundable if we don’t get in?

  • Since the wait list fee ($75) goes towards the administrative cost of running the transition list and wait list, it is not refundable.

• How often do you update families?

  • We strive to update all families at least 6 weeks before their requested start date. Some families email us regularly for updates and others wait for us to email them.

• If I call and leave a message (or email), how quickly will you respond to me?

  • We make every effort to respond to inquiries within a week of receiving them. Emails receive the fastest response time. If calling, please say your name and telephone number clearly.

• How far out do you fill a spot?

  • We make every effort to enroll children 6 weeks prior to their start date.

• What time do your classrooms open and close?

  • Our classrooms open at 7:30 am and close at 5:30 pm.

• What do Infant room, Small Tod, Big Tod, Preschool and Pre-K mean?

  • Our infant room is for ages 1 month to 1 year, Small Tod is for 1-2 years, Big Tod is for 2-3 years, Preschool 3-4 years, and Pre-K for 4 to 6 years of age. Please note that these ages are used as the guideline and not the rule. Each child is transitioned based on each child’s individual needs. See our Classrooms section for more information.

• What is the tuition?

  • SIDC’s operating budget is funded primarily by tuition. SIDC does not require fundraising efforts by parents. To that end, the SIDC Board of Directors conducts an annual budget meeting at which time tuition rates for the following year are established. These rates are communicated and discussed at an annual parent meeting. The current tuition schedule through the end of 2024 is the following: