After one year of implementation, early impact data shows Seattle Promise program enhancements made in response to COVID-19 are serving increasingly higher numbers of students of color, first-generation, and low-income students to persist and succeed at Seattle Colleges.
DEEL’s fall 2022 newsletter is available now! This issue features investments in Seattle Preschool Program Summer Extension, International Baccalaureate programming at Rainier Beach High School, and educator diversity. Also highlighted is DEEL’s proposed 2023 budget, a spotlight on our new Early Learning Division Director, Leilani Dela Cruz, and supportive student and family resources from preschool to postsecondary.
From July through early October, DEEL’s school and community partners welcomed the Families, Education, Preschool and Promise (FEPP) Levy Oversight Committee (LOC) to observe programs in action and learn more about each investment area. Field trips were organized for nine DEEL-funded programs ranging from preschool through postsecondary.
Rainier Beach High School’s (RBHS) uniquely accessible IB-for-All program served 75 percent of 2022’s graduating class, representing 156 seniors, on their paths to universities and careers in 2021-22. International Baccalaureate (IB) has historically been perceived as an exclusive program, but RBHS is breaking the mold—students are taking IB courses in record numbers, representing one of the highest percentages of dual-credit scholars matriculating to postsecondary programs in Washington State.
Mayor Jenny A. Durkan, DEEL, and partners from education, philanthropy and STEM industries announced a new partnership with the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship (WSOS) to strengthen pathways to college and career advancement for Seattle Promise scholars pursuing jobs in the trades, Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and health care. Seattle is the first city in Washington State to become a municipal partner for this competitive scholarship, ensuring Seattle Promise scholars have access to continued financial aid and support as they successfully complete the Seattle Promise program and transition to furthering their education at another institution.
Following record enrollment in the Seattle Promise program in Fall of 2020, the program is now celebrating record setting degree completion rates. In 2021, more than 80 Promise scholars completed their post-secondary degrees exceeding national two-year and three-year college completion trends. Enrollment for the Seattle Promise program is open now.
DEEL’s fall 2021 newsletter is here! In this issue, we share stories about how the education community continues to support students throughout the pandemic from early learning to postsecondary.
Meet Kyra and Lul, two Seattle Youth Employment Program (SYEP) interns who joined DEEL’s Communications Team for the summer! Work-based learning helps inspire and prepare students with the skills they need to achieve their post-secondary goals. We’re proud to have welcomed these two bright young people to our team to learn about social media management, communication strategy and what it’s like to work at a public agency.
The Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) is seeking feedback from Seattle youth and adults who have experienced homelessness or housing instability. You can help inform how funding can better support people experiencing homelessness by completing the following surveys: Youth Survey (ages 10-21): tinyurl.com/hhsyouth2021 Adult Survey (ages 22+): tinyurl.com/hhsadult2021 Please help us… [ Keep reading ]
Upward Bound Academic Youth Counselor Roberto Lopez shares his insights on the City of Seattle’s Upward Bound program, available to rising 9th to 11th graders at Garfield and Rainier Beach.
