Families often tell us that SEEC admissions look different from anything else they have encountered in their preschool search. That is true, and the difference is easier to navigate once you understand the structure. This guide walks through the whole process in plain language, from first application to first day of school.
Who SEEC serves
SEEC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution, serving children from eight weeks old through age five in classrooms inside the National Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of American History. Because SEEC was created to serve the Smithsonian workforce first, applications are sorted into three lists by employment status: Smithsonian employees, federal employees, and the general public. Families from all three lists enroll at SEEC every year. The lists simply determine the order in which spaces are offered.
The application
Families begin by submitting an enrollment application along with a non-refundable, sliding-scale application fee based on family income. You can apply at any point in the year, and you do not need to tour first, though we always encourage a visit. Questions about the fee, financial aid, or military child care benefits are answered on our affordability page.
The enrollment lottery
Applications received by April 1 are entered into the annual lottery, through which children are selected from the application lists by random number. The lottery is how SEEC fills the spaces opening for the coming school year fairly, without rewarding whoever happened to apply first. Families whose children are not selected are placed on the waiting list for the remainder of the year.
One meaningful exception exists. Siblings of currently enrolled SEEC children of Smithsonian employees receive priority status at the time of application. If no opening is immediately available, those siblings are placed on a separate Sibling Waiting List.
After the lottery: rolling review
Missing the lottery deadline does not close the door. Spaces open throughout the year as families relocate or children age into new classrooms, and post-lottery applications are reviewed on a rolling basis as space becomes available. Many SEEC families first walked through our doors in the middle of a school year. If you are starting your search in spring or summer, it is still worth applying now. The admissions page lays out the full timeline and key dates.
Applying while expecting
Because infant spaces are limited and the youngest classrooms serve babies from eight weeks old, many families begin the process while expecting. You are welcome to apply before your child arrives. Our enrollment team at seecinfo@si.edu can help you think through timing, so that your application is in the right cycle for the start date your family needs.
Confirming a space
When a space is offered and accepted, families confirm it with a registration fee and an enrollment deposit. A welcome packet follows, with enrollment forms, health documentation requirements, and details about your child’s classroom placement. Before the first day, we schedule a family orientation and a transition visit, so your child can meet their teachers and begin to feel at home.
A note on what admissions cannot tell you
Paperwork and timelines describe the process, but they cannot describe the school. They will not show you a toddler studying a triceratops skull before morning snack, or a preschool class sketching in a quiet gallery. For that, you need to see the Full-Time School in person, and we would love to show you.
Ready to see a museum classroom for yourself? Request a tour and start the conversation.