By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Seattle Public Library’s After‑School Homework Help program has regained momentum since its pandemic hiatus—offering drop-in academic support across nine library branches and reaching over 6,000 students in 2024. The initiative aims especially to serve students furthest from educational equity, and it helps build confidence as much as skills.
The program began in 1989 at the Douglass-Truth Homework Center and expanded by 1998 to include Columbia, Lake City, Southwest, and Rainier Beach branches. Operations paused during the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed in 2022, continuing the Library’s commitment to educational access for K–12 students.
Today, nine branches offer Homework Help: Broadview, Columbia, Douglass-Truth, High Point, Lake City, New Holly, Northgate, Rainier Beach, and South Park. Each location hosts one to three sessions per week. Participation is entirely free and does not require registration.
According to Shelley Mastalerz, Teen and Young Adult Services Program Manager, the program is designed to meet the needs of a wide age range of students in an inclusive and welcoming setting.
“What’s wonderful about Homework Help is it’s a drop-in program, so there’s no registration. It’s for K through 12 students, so we reach a variety of ages,” Mastalerz said. “We have volunteers from the community who help support the students, but also some of our volunteers were actually Homework Help students themselves, so it feels very much like it’s their own little communities at each of these branches, and it’s really wonderful to see.”
Students do not need a library card or proof of enrollment to attend. The program is open to all K–12 students regardless of school or district.
“The program works with all schools and districts,” said Elisa Murray, Seattle Public Library communications strategist. “We have kids in private school as well as home school students. It really doesn’t matter where you’re from. We don’t check any ID or any library cards. You can just come on in as a K through 12 student from any area.”
The program prioritizes branches near schools serving students furthest from educational justice. End-of-year surveys show that 80% of participants speak a language other than English at home.
Tutors volunteer their time to work one-on-one or in small groups with students in any subject. While they are not trained in specific academic content, they receive guidance in relationship building, fostering a growth mindset, and providing culturally responsive support. Students don’t need to bring homework—they can read, build learning skills, or engage in enrichment games.
“Our volunteers are from all different backgrounds, and they have all different strengths and what they’re bringing to the table,” Mastalerz said. “We’ve had retired schoolteachers, and we have a mix of any subject.”
According to Mastalerz, the approach is centered not just on academics but also on social and emotional development.
“The big thing that we talk about is orienting our volunteers to talk a lot about social-emotional learning and growth mindset,” she said. “We call it Homework Help, but we really want them to know it’s actually about relationship building with these youth and creating positive skills for their entire life and not just academic life.”
High school students can also receive help with college essays, SAT/ACT preparation, and other goals. Each Homework Help session also includes snacks.
“New this year, we’re offering teen sessions at four branches,” Murray said. “We have former students who return as volunteers, highlighting the intergenerational aspect and the importance of this program to them.”
The program is part of the Seattle Tutoring Coalition, which coordinates support for students citywide. In 2024, it hosted 650 Homework Help sessions and served 6,146 students. A total of 189 volunteers helped students improve their literacy, math skills, homework comprehension, and readiness for college.
Student progress is monitored both informally and through annual surveys. According to the latest results, 76% of students said they gained a better understanding of their homework, and nearly 70% reported improved grades. Eighty-three percent said they visited the library more often with their families. The program also saw a 39% increase in drop-in attendance compared to the previous year, with 63% of students participating two to four times per week.
For students who can’t attend in person, the Library offers free one-on-one virtual tutoring through Tutor.com. The service is available seven days a week in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, and covers all academic subjects, test preparation, and college and financial aid support.
More information about virtual tutoring is available at www.spl.org/VirtualTutoring. For Homework Help schedules and locations, visit www.spl.org/programs-and-services/learning/student-success/homework-help/homework-help-map.
