
By Aaron Allen
The Seattle Medium
The clock is ticking and time is running out for graduating seniors enrolled in Seattle Public Schools to apply for the City of Seattle’s Promise Program and attend two years of college for free at any Seattle College campus.
Launched in 2018, the Promise Program was designed to place students on a direct path from high school to college and graduate with a degree, certifications, post-secondary credentials or transfer to a four-year college or university and to aid and guide them throughout process.
The program — which aims to boost career opportunities for all students, especially first-generation and under-served populations, and prepare students to participate in our region’s vibrant workforce and economy without taking on overwhelming debt – is currently accepting applications for the 2020-2021 school year.
A partnership with the City of Seattle’s Department of Education and Early Learning and Seattle Public Schools, the program was developed under the leadership of Dwane Chappelle, Director of the Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL), based on a national Promise Program model. In developing the Seattle model, Chappelle and his staff began applying its fundamentals and principles to the Seattle School District, building on its foundation of providing resources to ensure that children, particularly Black and Brown children and underrepresented youth, are provided with non-discriminatory access to a quality learning environment and free access to the college experience.
“This combination is what sets the program apart,” said Melody McMillian, Seattle Promise program director in a release about the program. “Students are met where they have need, supported by peers who are also going through the program, and guided individually by an advisor all along the way. The design is deliberately holistic and is improving student success.”
When talking to Chappelle about the program, one can sense his enthusiasm towards the education and well-being of our children, and he has worked hard to enhance the opportunity for children in Seattle to attend college as more of a promise than a goal.
A native out of Oakland, California, Chappelle comes from a family deeply involved in education. His mother’s 40-year career as a teacher in the Oakland School District inspired her son to follow in her footsteps. A graduate of Grambling State University, where he received his undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice, and a masters in Education from Texas Tech University, Chappelle has begun to implement his own legacy as an educator. The former principal of Rainier Beach High, where he worked tirelessly in improving the graduation rate, has a desire to create opportunities for all children through education.
Chappelle’s vision and optimism regarding the Seattle Promise is changing the way one gets into college, giving young people a head start and enhancing their dreams, goals and future, preparing them to take on the challenge.
“Utimately, my vision is that the end goal is that we are transforming the lives of our young children here in Seattle to make sure that they have a better economic future,” says Chappelle. “We want to close race-based opportunity gaps, and provide young people with opportunity so that when they graduate from high school they have a menu of options they can choose, Seattle Promise being one.”
According to Chappelle, the program is about more about preparing people for the work force and to be self-sufficient as opposed to just earning degrees. The program allows students to earn certificates, degrees and other post-secondary credentials through programs at North Seattle, Seattle Central and South Seattle Colleges to help them attain livable wage jobs in the region.
In addition, the program provides equity scholarships for other needs like books, child care, housing and other basic needs students may have.
While Chappelle and his staff can take credit for the implementation of the program, he is quick to point out that the program would not exist if it weren’t for the leadership of Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and the generosity of taxpayers that have allowed the program to thrive. In 2017, Durkan issued an Executive Order to create the Seattle Promise College Tuition Program, which builds off Seattle Colleges’ successful 13th Year Promise Scholarship. In 2018, Seattle voters overwhelmingly passed the Mayor’s Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise levy, which expanded Seattle Promise to include graduates from all Seattle public high schools. As a result, this is the first year that the program, which provides up to two years or the completion for 90 credits for free, will accept students from all public high school in Seattle.
“I cannot forget this [because this is big],” says Chappell. “The taxpayer voted and paid because this is what they wanted, to make sure that each and every student could have an opportunity to participate.”
Because this is such a big opportunity for kids in our community, Al Sanders, Communications and Outreach Manager for DEEL, cannot emphasize enough the importance of students meeting the Feb. 15 application deadline in order to participate in the program this year, which includes having their FAFSA (financial aid forms) prepared by the deadlines set by the program as well. Applicants for the program can be disqualified by one of two ways: not having their documentation in order and not graduating from high school in a timely manner. Beyond that anyone can qualify for assistance.
“As a part of this program they will walk you through [your paperwork], there are classes, workshops that will allow you to get the help you need to fill out these forms,” says Sanders.
According to officials, “the Department of Education and Early Learning’s mission is to transform the lives of Seattle’s children, youth, and families through strategic investments in education.”
“We envision a city where families, youth and the children of the community have consistent opportunities and equitable access to high-quality educational services, support, and outcomes,” its mission statement continues.
Seattle Colleges and the Public Schools are working hand in hand to provide the necessary guidance and resource to ensure the success of this program. Through counseling, seminars and other resources institutions are giving young people every opportunity to better their lives through education.
“The partnerships between our Mayor, Seattle Public Schools, the Department of Early Learning, Chancellor and College presidents everyone wants to make sure that our young folks here in Seattle are equipped with the tools that they need in order to be successful,” said Chappelle.
Denise Juneau, Superintendent of the Seattle Public Schools expresses her support of the Seattle Promise program and encourages all young people to take part in this opportunity.
“I want all of our graduates to see themselves in meaningful and fulfilling careers, earning living-wages in a city they love,” says Juneau. “Seattle Promise is one of the programs that is going to help us get them there.”
Application deadline is Feb. 15, 2020. To find out more about the program or to apply, please visit https://seattlepromise.seattlecolleges.edu or call (206) 934-4100.