Bitter Lake Community Center

Center · Seattle · 13035 Linden Ave N

What kind of place is this?

Size 20 children licensed Smaller than the middle half of Seattle centers, where the middle half licenses 43–121. Measured across 576 Seattle centers, 2026-08-17.
Approach creative-curriculum

In the program’s own words

“Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) utilizes Creative Curriculum for Preschool from Teaching Strategies Gold (TSG). This research- based curriculum offers early childhood educators a comprehensive collection of resources and assessment tools to help them build high quality programs.” seattle.gov, August 2026

How this compares

Washington DCYF cited something at 4 of the 4 visits below. Across Seattle centers it cites something at about 67% of visits. Each state decides what gets written up, so this compares Seattle with Seattle and never with another state.

Who will be with our child?

Preschool 1 teacher to 10 children

Will it fit our family?

Ages served Ages 3-5 years
Hours 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Days / week 5
Schedule full-day
Holiday closures Closed 8/22-8/30
Accepts subsidy Yes

What will it cost us?

Application fee $50

What Shortlist has verified

State quality rating Early Achievers Enrolled
License status Active
Website seattle.gov

State record — Washington DCYF

Last visit
March 17, 2026
On file
4 visits since June 2023 — all of them cited findings · 1 complaint investigation
Fixed?
Washington DCYF does not publish whether a finding was corrected.
Most serious
SeriousAt the time of inspection, the volunteer staff observed to be counted in ratio has not yet completed the recognizing and reporting suspected child abuse, neglect and exploitation training. 0106 (5) At the time of inspection, the volunteer staff observed to be counted in ratio has not yet completed the emergency preparedness training 0106 (7) At the time of inspection, the volunteer staff observed to be counted in ratio has not yet completed the serving children experiencing homelessness training 0106 (9) At the time of inspection, the volunteer staff observed to be counted in ratio has not yet completed the medication management training 0106 (10) At the time of inspection, the volunteer staff observed to be counted in ratio did not have documentation of blood borne pathogens training 0106 (11) At the time of inspection, the volunteer staff observed to be counted in ratio did not have documentation of CPR/first aid training 0106 (12) At the time of inspection, the volunteer staff observed to be counted in ratio did not have documentation of food handler training · March 4, 2025

Washington DCYF publishes the licensor’s own observation and a risk level for every citation it issues at a licensing visit, with the inspection report attached as a PDF.

Mar 2026 Licensing visit 2 findings

Licensing visit · March 17, 2026

Child records

WAC 110-300-0460(3) · Short Term

At the time of inspection, one child file reviewed did not have dental provider.

Safety requirements

WAC 110-300-0165(3)(f) · Short Term

At the time of inspection, a small fridge placed on the counter was not secured, fragile items wer observed on top of the fridge; a lampshade placed on top of a shelving unit was not secured; a lampshade placed on the windowsill was not secured. Date Disputed Date Disputed

Report (PDF)

Mar 2025 Licensing visit 3 findings

Licensing visit · March 4, 2025

Training requirements

WAC 110-300-0106(4) / 110-300-0106(10) / 110-300-0106(12) · Serious / Short Term

At the time of inspection, the volunteer staff observed to be counted in ratio has not yet completed the recognizing and reporting suspected child abuse, neglect and exploitation training. 0106 (5) At the time of inspection, the volunteer staff observed to be counted in ratio has not yet completed the emergency preparedness training 0106 (7) At the time of inspection, the volunteer staff observed to be counted in ratio has not yet completed the serving children experiencing homelessness training 0106 (9) At the time of inspection, the volunteer staff observed to be counted in ratio has not yet completed the medication management training 0106 (10) At the time of inspection, the volunteer staff observed to be counted in ratio did not have documentation of blood borne pathogens training 0106 (11) At the time of inspection, the volunteer staff observed to be counted in ratio did not have documentation of CPR/first aid training 0106 (12) At the time of inspection, the volunteer staff observed to be counted in ratio did not have documentation of food handler training

Preservice requirements

WAC 110-300-0105(2) · Serious

At the time of file review, the volunteer staff observed to be counted in ratio did not have documentation of cleared background check 0105 (3) At the time of file review, the volunteer staff observed to be counted in ratio did not have documentation of TB test

First-aid—CPR certification and supplies

WAC 110-300-0230(1) · Short Term

At the time of inspection, the volunteer staff observed to be counted in ratio did not have documentation of completed CPR/first aid training.

Report (PDF)

Mar 2024 Licensing visit 2 findings

Licensing visit · March 18, 2024

Medication

WAC 110-300-0215(3)(a)(i) · Serious

There is an Epi Pen that is expired.

Attendance records

WAC 110-300-0455(3) · Long Term

Staff are not signing in and out.

Report (PDF)

Dec 2023 Complaint 1 valid issue

Complaint · December 4, 2023 · Resolved January 25, 2024

Reported to the state by the program

Serious injury, valid issues and self-report are Washington’s own fields on its complaint listing.

The state lists this complaint on the provider’s record, but the state’s published report includes no citation detail.

Report (PDF)

Jun 2023 Licensing visit 1 finding

Licensing visit · June 21, 2023

Training requirements

WAC 110-300-0106(12) · Serious

Staff Shelby T. did not have documentation of BBP training; no training information entered in MERIT. Director has not renewed BBP training per L&I requirements. 0106 (11) Staff Shelby T. did not have documentation of First aid /CPR; no training information entered in MERIT 0106 (12) Staff Shelby T. did not have documentation of Food handler training; no training information entered in MERIT 0106 (3) Staff Shelby T. did not have documentation of 30 hours childcare basics; no training information entered in MERIT

Report (PDF)

Before you tour

Bitter Lake Community Center hasn’t published

A typical day.

Ask what changed after the four findings Washington DCYF ranked Serious, most recently in March 2025.It does not publish whether a finding was fixed. The rest carry its lower risk levels.

Sources and dates

Where every fact on this page came from, and when Shortlist last checked it against that source. Anything Shortlist could not source is named here rather than left blank.

What kind of place is this

Not yet reported: established.

Who will be with our child

Will it fit our family

  • Ages served, Schedule, Accepts subsidy — Checked July 2026 · seattle.gov
  • Hours, Days / week, Holiday closures — Checked July 2026 · seattle.gov

Licensing and contact

State record

Every state visit and complaint on file, shown in full and never edited. Open a date to read what the state wrote.

Do you run Bitter Lake Community Center? Shortlist has no tuition, ratios or policies for it, because the state does not publish that. Add what is missing. It is free and takes about ten minutes.