Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center

Enrollment

Admissions Policy

Enrollment in the SEEC program is based upon an annual random number drawing lottery process that includes consideration of factors such as guardians’ place of employment, child’s birth date, and sibling status. Smithsonian employees get priority for all open spaces at SEEC. Each spring, enrollment is determined for the upcoming fall through the lottery process. If a vacancy occurs during the year, a child will be selected from the remaining applicants according to the same lottery results, but always giving priority to Smithsonian staff members.

All applications should be submitted to SEEC at SEEC-Enrollment@si.edu You will receive a confirmation email to the email addresses provided once your application has been processed. To process an application the application fee must be submitted through the link below. The application fee is based on a sliding scale ($15 - $50). A nominal fee is charged to reapply each year. Application DOES NOT guarantee enrollment.

SEEC is currently accepting application for all our programs for the 2023-2024 school year.

Infants - Preschool

SEEC Initial Enrollment Application

Click here to pay SEEC Initial Enrollment Application Fee

All applicants must apply by March 1, 2023, to be eligible for enrollment.  An application fee is required.  Applications received after March 1st will be added to the bottom of the waitlist in their respective category. Offers for space will be extended via email following the lottery in March. A non-refundable deposit of $300 will be due by March 15th to guarantee a child's enrollment.  A second non-refundable deposit of $300 will be due by June 1st.

Kindergarten

SEEC Kindergarten Enrollment Application

Click here to pay SEEC Kindergarten Enrollment Application Fee

All applicants must submit a SEEC Kindergarten Registration Application by March 1, 2023, to be eligible for enrollment. A $75 application fee is required. Applications received after March 1st will be considered as space is available. Offers for space in the Kindergarten program will be extended via email following the lottery in March. Parent responses are due by March 15th. A non-refundable deposit of $500 will be due by March 15th to guarantee a child's enrollment. A second non-refundable deposit of $500 will be due by June 1st for all children except those currently enrolled in SEEC. Currently enrolled families at SEEC will have their current student deposit held to cover the second half of the deposit.

Please contact Melody Passemante Powell at SEEC-Enrollment@si.edu with any enrollment related inquiries.

Open House Dates

Please register here if you plan to attend an open house: SEEC Open House Registration

Open House guidelines
Please do NOT attend an Open House if:

1. You have any symptoms of COVID
2. You have been a close contact within the 10 days prior to attending the open house
3. You are unable to find alternative childcare (this event is adults only)

1. Wear a mask
2. Find alternative parking (SEEC does not have onsite parking)

Kindergarten

Preschool (3's and 4's) (children with birthdays between September 2018 and August 2020)
(National Museum of American History)

January 17^th 4:00-5:30 p.m.

Twos (children with birthdays between September 2020 and August 2021)
(National Museum of Natural History)

January 24^th 4:00-5:30 p.m.

Toddlers (children with birthdays between September 2021 and August 2022)
(National Museum of Natural History)

February 2^nd 4:00-5:30 p.m.

Infants (children with birthdays between September 2022 and August 2023)
(National Museum of Natural History)

January 24^th 4:00-5:30 p.m.

Tuition and Fees

2022-2023 Tuition

Non-Smithsonian Rates: Families not employed by the Smithsonian Institution as either SI Federal or SI Trust are required to pay an additional $2000 per child each year. The fee is pro-rated and added to weekly tuition, increasing the weekly rate by $40. Non-Smithsonian fees also apply to Kindergarten for all families.

Tuition is paid bi-weekly by direct debit; a payment schedule is provided to parents each school year.

Registration Fee

The registration fee is a nonrefundable fee of $100. This is a separate fee from the application fee.

Financial Aid

Recognizing that many families have financial limitations, SEEC established a financial aid program to assist families with identified need.

It is the philosophy of the school that no child be denied admission because of a parent's inability to pay the entire tuition. To that end, a financial aid fund has been established to provide tuition assistance for children of families with a demonstrated financial need. In 2001, an endowment fund was created through an initial gift of $100,000 from the Smithsonian Institution and was designated to support families at Grade 8 and below. A second financial aid fund consists of annual donations from organizations, the Parents Association fundraising events, and gifts from other individuals. Earnings from SEEC’s Educational Outreach Program also provide support for financial assistance.

• We value providing financial aid to those families most in need at the highest levels possible.
• We value supporting SEEC educators by providing them with reduced tuition for their children.
• We value the support the Smithsonian provides in terms of space and support and in return want to support SI families.

With this in mind, the following policies guide the distribution of financial aid:

1. Financial aid is awarded to SI and SEEC employees only. Non-SI families are not eligible to apply.
2.  Financial aid is available only to families attending SEEC on a full time basis.
3. SI/SEEC families applying for financial aid must have a total family income of less than $120,000/year.*
4. Families must complete the required online Tuition Aid Data Service (TADS) forms by the stated deadline to determine level of need.
5. Financial aid will be awarded by SEEC using a sliding percentage scale based on total need according to (or determined by) TADS. Higher percentages will be awarded to those families having the most need based on their TADS determinations.
6. Any family needing emergency assistance in the case of a job loss or other significant change in circumstance may submit a written request for temporary financial aid to the Executive Director and will complete the required TADS paperwork. This application packet will be reviewed by the Executive Director with the Finance committee of the Board and a recommendation maybe made for awarding assistance. If the family situation were to change, they are required to inform the Executive Director and the aid would be reevaluated. *This amount will be reevaluated annually based on economic conditions and other factors. The current amount was based on the approximate salary of two working parents, each at a GS8, Level 10 salary.
   

All financial aid decisions are based on the family's need as determined by SEEC and the Tuition Aid Data Service (TADS), a financial assessment service. Parents are required to complete the financial aid application and submit this form to TADS, which will generate a need analysis report that is sent directly to SEEC. Parents must also submit a copy of the most recent federal income tax forms (1040) that were submitted to the IRS and all W-2s directly to TADS.

All parents are expected to contribute to the costs of the program at the highest possible level given their economic situation as reported to SEEC by TADS. SEEC uses the recommendation from TADS as a baseline for our own review and then awards a percentage of the need based on a combination of factors including SI employment, GS level and total overall need. 

Applying for financial aid does not guarantee an award. Applicants must submit a new application each year.

Please download the application worksheet to help you gather all necessary information prior to applying online.

To apply online, go to http://www.mytads.com/ to begin your application: 

Important Dates

March 1, Deadline for admission applications

May 1,  Financial Aid Applications Due

July TBD, New Parent Orientation

July TBD, Preschool Play Dates