What’s the DEEL? Department of Education and Early Learning

Department of Education and Early Learning

6 Tips to Improve K-12 Student Engagement in a Remote Learning Environment

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When school buildings closed in March, educators were forced into hyperdrive to launch remote learning strategies for students and parents with varying degrees of access to technology tools. Suddenly educators were just as concerned with platforms and bandwidth as they were with curricula and classrooms.

It has been a steep learning curve, says Mimi Somsanit, Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning’s K-12 Summer Learning Project Coordinator. “Most of our summer programming has switched to a virtual environment to comply with the Department of Health’s social distancing guidelines due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Program providers have had to adapt and modify their summer work plans in different ways to ensure staff and students are kept safe while still providing meaningful experiences.”

Somsanit, who is responsible for supporting providers and tracking program progress for kindergarten through high school, says while programming looks a lot different, providers ultimately found successful strategies to help students.

[Read more…]

Fam & Ed Levy funding available for Summer 2017

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We are currently running a Request for Investment (RFI) process to fund new or expand existing summer learning programs for Summer 2017.  Here are the details:

  • Elementary funding available: Up to $94,546
  • Middle school funding available: Up to $477,531
  • Award duration: Programs will receive funding for the next three summers (2017, 2018, 2019)
  • New for this cycle: Preference will be given to summer programs that effectively serve Black males or Black females AND/OR regions of the Seattle School District not currently served by Levy summer programming, but all programs are welcome to apply
  • Application is posted here: http://www.seattle.gov/education/about-us/funding-opportunities/summer-learning_2017
  • Deadline: Friday, November 18, 2016 at 4:30pm

We will be hosting two information sessions on Mon, Sep. 26 and Tue, Oct. 4 (details on the website).  To see a list of the schools and organizations we currently fund for summer, please go here: http://www.seattle.gov/education/k-12-schools/summer-learning

Or Email Long Phan, Summer Program Lead, long.phan@seattle.gov

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We hope you consider applying for this opportunity to create high-quality summer learning experiences for your students!

Mayor Murray 2017-18 budget proposes additional funding for education and youth

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Mayor Ed Murray delivered his 2017-18 Proposed Budget to the City Council yesterday, and I am pleased to inform you of a few exciting new items included in the Department of Education and Early Learning’s proposed budget.

When Mayor Murray appointed me as director of DEEL, he made it clear that our mission would be to advance equity in education and help close the achievement gap that has long plagued our schools. This budget invests in our kids’ education and continues making progress toward ensuring everyone has access to opportunity.

First, the 2017 Proposed Budget includes $1 million to implement the first phase of the Mayor’s Education Summit Advisory Group’s recommendations, which will be announced soon. One of these recommendations is to fund an additional 200 high quality summer learning slots for middle and high school students, primarily focusing on African-American and other students of color.  Another recommendation will provide funds for a pilot innovation model at one high school modeled on the Families and Education Levy middle school innovation program.  This program significantly improves academic achievement by following a holistic approach that addresses academic skills, social emotional development, health, and family engagement.  And, the Mayor’s budget includes funding in the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department to expand the My Brother’s Keeper initiative that helps mentor African-American boys at Aki Kurose Middle School to five other middle schools.

Second, the proposed budget adds funding of $500,000 in 2017 to expand the Parent-Child Home Program to increase the number of young children who benefit from literacy education.

Third, the Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) Levy in DEEL’s 2017 Proposed Budget includes the planned addition of new SPP classrooms, from 32 in the 2016-17 school year to 53-60 classrooms in 2017-18. This increase means up to 1,200 more students will be served by the program in the next two years.

Finally, the Families and Education Levy (FEL) in DEEL’s 2017 Proposed Budget includes additional early learning preschool slots, funding for four new elementary schools, and increased summer learning funding for elementary and middle schools.

Additionally, Mayor Murray announced the creation of a Youth Opportunity Sub Cabinet that will be comprised of City department directors whose funding and programs focus on youth in Seattle. This group will serve as a structure to better align the City’s work with youth around common goals and outcomes.

I’m excited about the additional kids we’ll be able to serve with evidence-based and innovative strategies to help them succeed in school and in life. The budget shows Mayor Murray’s commitment to this goal.

Please let the City Councilmembers know that your thoughts about these investments by emailing the Council by using the Council website linked below or attending one of the two Council budget hearings scheduled for the following dates:

  • Wednesday, October 5, 2015 at 5:30 p.m., Seattle City Hall in Council Chambers
  • Tuesday, October 25, 2015 at 5:30 p.m., Seattle City Hall in Council Chambers

http://www.seattle.gov/council/

I would like to personally thank you for your continued support of and involvement with our programs and services, and to Mayor Murray for including these proposals as part of his 2017-18 Proposed Budget.

Sincerely,

Dwane

Dwane Chappelle, Director

Department of Education and Early Learning

Summer School in Seattle

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Denny International Middle School’s Summer of Learning

 

As August begins, the Westside Scholars at Denny International Middle School are finishing up five weeks of academics and enrichment classes. DennySummerLearning5

Over 200 scholars participated in Denny’s summer program this year which is funded by the City of Seattle, Families and Education Levy. The Westside Scholars Program is intended to offer extra academic support to incoming 7th and 8th graders as well as serve as an introduction to middle school for incoming 6th graders from all of Denny’s feeder elementary schools. The program is an excellent opportunity to become familiar with the building and future teachers as they transition to the next level of their education. Amongst the many enrichment opportunities such as Mariachi, Cooking and Cartooning, sixth graders participated in a unique Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) class twice a week that made science alive and active.  A tremendous staff of educators and community partners led and guided the scholars’ instruction and development.

Congratulations to our scholars and thank you to our staff and partners for making this happen for our community!

Go Dolphins!

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Looking for summer activities and learning opportunities for your student?

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Our belief is that high-quality summer learning is critical to closing the achievement gap.

Summer learning opportunities are focusing on students who meet some of the following criteria:

  • Children with no prior preschool experience
  • Children who have been identified as not meeting standards on
    • Teaching Strategies GOLD
    • Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA)
    • Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)
    • Washington English Language Proficiency Assessment (WELPA)
  • Students who failed at least one core course during the first semester
  • Students who received more than 5 absences during the first semester

In Summer 2016, the Families and Education Levy will invest a total of $2.3 million in high-quality summer learning programs that serve more than 2,000 of Seattle’s students.

  • If you are a school or community based organization interested in applying for funding, please see current “Funding Opportunities.”
  • If you are a student or parent interested in summer programs, please see our list below and contact the program directly.

Levy Funded Summer Programs

Elementary  Summer Learning–click here for details

Middle School Summer Learning–click here for details

High School Summer Learning–click here for details

DEEL is gearing up for a great summer!

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Long Phan, represented the City of Seattle’s Department of Education and Early Learning, at the White House last week for their Summer Opportunity Workshop. DEEL, together with Seattle Public Schools, and School’s Out WA is gearing up to go big this summer! Together we will be offering more jobs, more learning opportunities, and more healthy meals than ever. Check out this shout out of Seattle’s impressive summer plans in the White House fact sheet on summer opportunity!