City of Seattle to invest nearly $95 million in educational supports

The City of Seattle will invest nearly $95 million over six years in K-12 educational supports through the Department of Education and Early Learning’s (DEEL) School-Based Investments (SBI).

Mayor Jenny A. Durkan announced on Monday that the investment packages are funded through the voter-approved Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) levy, and will fund programs beginning in the 2020-2021 school year.

“At the City, we took a hard look at our investments so that we could best serve Seattle students furthest from educational justice. 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,” said Mayor Durkan in a press release.

She explained that they chose to focus on programs “that address race-based disparities in education and push Seattle closer to achieving true educational justice.”

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In addition to helping K-12 educational supports, DEEL has awarded $4.9 million over three years to expanded learning and college and career readiness programs through its Opportunity and Access investments. It will allow students to leave school prepared to enter the postsecondary pathway of their choice, including two years of free college through Seattle Promise.