By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Education in Seattle got a recent boost as Mayor Jenny Durkan announced that the city will invest over $100 million education and education services – including a $95 million investment in K-12 education.
According to Durkan, the Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) will provide $95 million in school-based investment funds over six-years to provide support and resources to the Seattle Public Schools and educational-based programs and organizations.
In addition, DEEL will also invest $4.9 million over three years to expanded learning, college and career readiness programs through its Opportunity and Access investments. These investments will go towards 10 community-based organizations working in expanded learning, college and career readiness. The funded programs are expected to serve over 1,400 students furthest from educational justice. All programs will provide services to students during the 2020 – 2021 school year consistent with public health guidance and in alignment with SPS remote learning plans.
Durkan says that these investments are crucial to closing opportunity gaps and addressing race-based disparities in the region.
“At the City, we took a hard look at our investments so that we could best serve Seattle students furthest from educational justice,” said Durkan. “We know that access to high-quality education is crucial to closing the opportunity gap and setting students on a path to good-paying jobs. With nearly $100 million in investments, we focused on programs that address race-based disparities in education and push Seattle closer to achieving true educational justice.”
DEEL will also invests $1 million towards youth mentorship and educator diversity programs developed by The Academy for Creating Excellence (ACE), a local organization charged with engaging over 300 Black students, educators, community volunteers and parents.
Kitisha Jones, an administrator with Seattle Public Schools, has a son who participates in ACE, and says that she and her son can now look at the near future of education with optimism.
“With these resources I am hoping the students can get the tutoring and mentorships that they need, to help the parents because the parents are unable to give that full-time help,” says Jones. “So, I’m hoping that the money is used in a productive way and that they get it right.”
Dwane Chappelle, Director of DEEL, says the he is excited about the potential impact these investments will have on the community.
“The innovation and intentionality of our community partners never ceases to amaze me,” says Chappelle. “What I’m most excited about for these programs is the multi-generational focus that will connect young Black students with adult men in our community, as well as the intentionality to develop and sustain Black male teachers.”
Educators like Marcus Harden, co-founder and Chief Programs Officer of ACE Academy, agrees and is equally enthusiastic about the possibilities of what his and other organizations in the community can deliver.
“ACE is honored to be a part of an ecosystem of change that will eradicate our dual pandemics of racism and COVID-19 towards our mission of cultivating viable world citizens,” says Harden. “We are super excited to have this opportunity to partner with our families and young people, the city and other organization. We want to bring together a village concept for parents specifically of our young men in the community so we can bring back accountability and affirmation that we want to have as a city and continue to have through other great programs.”
