The Black Experience

Seattle Public Schools is dedicated to creating a supportive and empowering learning environment that celebrates and uplifts Black students. SPS strives to foster positive academic, social, and emotional success for Black students by offering culturally responsive teaching, mentorship programs, and partnerships with community organizations that provide a range of resources and support.

By prioritizing representation of Black educators and staff, promoting student leadership, and hosting events like the African American Male Scholar Summit, SPS aims to not only address the unique challenges of our Black students but also celebrate their triumphs, affirm belonging, and provide pathways for greater success.

At Seattle Public Schools, our commitment to equity and inclusivity means that we are actively working to ensure that every student, regardless of their ethnic background or racial identity, has the opportunity to thrive.

We recognize that our Black students have been systemically disenfranchised historically, resulting in opportunity gaps and an inability to thrive at the same level as their peers.

Since the 2019 rollout of our five-year strategic plan, Seattle Excellence, SPS has been working to dramatically improve academic and life outcomes for Students of Color by offering culturally responsive teaching, mentorship programs, and partnerships with community organizations that provide a range of resources and support.

Initiatives & Programs

Seattle Public Schools has implemented several initiatives and programs to support our Black students and improve their academic success. One major driver of change is the Office of African American Male Achievement (AAMA), which works with Black boys and teens to reconstruct school systems and structures to meet their unique needs, advance public education as a tool for transformation and liberation, and create a strong learning environment that attends to the social, emotional, and educational needs of students.

Another driver has been the creation of a student leadership council. Seattle Public Schools welcomed the first AAM Student Leadership Council (SLC) 2020 to promote a network of student leaders across our district to support each other and advise district leadership on priority initiatives of the AAMA Department.

There’s also the Department of Racial Equity Advancement. Drea’s mission is to support the development of skills, knowledge, will, policy, and practice of all SPS educators, staff, and leadership to achieve racial equity and anti-racist systems change for all students and families in Seattle Public Schools. They achieve this by helping to connect school leaders to resources for equity improvement.

We have also hired more Black teachers and staff to reflect the diversity of our student body, and we are providing professional development opportunities for our teachers and staff to improve their cultural competency.

Courses

Each year since 2020, the Teaching and Learning team has worked with educators across the district to diversify its course offerings. We offer Black history and culture courses, such as African American Literature and Black Studies. Our African American History course is offered to high school students and provides a comprehensive overview of the contributions of Black people throughout history.

Community Resources for Supporting Black Students in Seattle Schools

In addition to the efforts of Seattle Public Schools, there are also many community resources available to support Black students in our schools, including: The NAACP Seattle King County Youth Coalition

The Seattle Public Library's African American Collection. SPS provides students and staff seamless access to a wide array of materials through the District in partnership with the public library. We encourage our community members to engage with these resources through their Library Link.

Continued Focus

As we continue to work through our Strategic Plan, we recognize that there is still work to be done to improve the Black experience in our schools. Some potential growth areas include improving our culturally responsive teaching practices, implementing restorative justice practices to address discipline disparities and improve our school climate, and providing targeted support for our Black students.

Improving the Black experience in Seattle Public Schools is a critical goal for us, and we are committed to providing resources and support for Black students. While there is still much work to be done, the efforts of Seattle Public Schools and community organizations provide hope for the future.

The Thriving Center