CITY OF SEATTLE
RESOLUTION __________________
title
A RESOLUTION supporting the Seattle Public Schools' Proposition 1 and Proposition 2 and urging Seattle voters to vote "Yes" on Proposition 1 and Proposition 2 on the February 12, 2019, special election ballot.
body
WHEREAS, as of October 2017, there were approximately 53,775 students enrolled in Seattle School District No. 1 (SPS) in 103 school buildings across the City of Seattle; and
WHEREAS, the students enrolled at SPS are increasingly diverse and come to the classroom with varying needs. For example, SPS-enrolled students speak 154 languages and/or dialects; 33.9 percent of SPS students are eligible for free and reduced-price meals; 21.7 percent of SPS students speak a home language other than English; 4,280 SPS students are currently experiencing housing instability and/or homelessness; and 6,748 special education students are enrolled at SPS; and
WHEREAS, investing in public education and strengthening equitable access to high-quality education helps students and their families optimize their potential. Equitable access to high-quality education will prepare and build future leaders to participate in our workforce while strengthening community and civic life; and
WHEREAS, the opportunity and academic achievement gap persists for SPS students and disproportionately impacts students of color, students who are experiencing housing instability and/or homelessness, students needing special education, and students who are English Language Learners (ELL). For example, in the 2016-2017 school year, the adjusted four-year cohort graduation rate for all students was 79 percent, yet for Alaska Native/Native American students it was 50 percent, for Black and Latinx students it was 71.4 percent and 64 percent, respectively. Students needing special education had a 54 percent graduation rate, ELL students had a 55.7 percent graduation rate, and students experiencing homelessness and/or housing instability had a gra...
Click here for full text