Since June 1997, we began in our home, and then expanded to a small center in Beacon Hill. Our permanent location SOL Main is located on Rainier Ave. and is licensed for 61 children (B-5yrs). SOL MLK was established in September, 2010 and licensed for Preschool, Pre-K and Before & After School (3-12 yrs) which is located at MLK Jr. Elementary School. SOL RB was established in September 2017 and located at Rainier Beach Community Center for Preschool and Pre-K (3-5 yrs). SOL Orca was established June, 2021 and licensed for Preschool, Pre-K and Before & After School (3-12 yrs) which is located at Orca K-8 School.
Mission
SOL is an organization that has intentionally embedded diversity throughout our program policies and procedures, learning materials and equipment, staffing, and classroom operations. Our qualified, caring, and dedicated staff incorporates cultural traditions, social justice-themed lessons and social justice activism and community involvement within our research-based early childhood and school-aged education curricula.
Philosophy
SOL provides a full-time multicultural program in early childhood education, supports kindergarten readiness and a multicultural, dual language Before and After School program aligned with SPS comprehensive academic outcomes for children aged five to twelve. We support home languages in the classroom by speaking with children and parents in their heritage languages. To address the needs of diverse language and heritage groups, staff members speak two to three languages other than English throughout the day including Spanish, Somali, Amharic, and Vietnamese. All program materials are multi-cultural and written in English and Spanish. The environments and classrooms are reflective of the children, staff, and homes.
