As we reflect on another transformative year of progress at the Alliance for Education, we are inspired by the brilliance, resilience and achievements of Seattle’s students and educators. Your support helps ensure every student receives the support they deserve.
Author: Lisa Chick, President, Alliance for Education
At the heart of our work is a deep belief in the potential of every student to thrive. This belief is realized every day through our collective efforts to advance educational justice and racial equity in Seattle Public Schools—and your continued partnership makes it all possible.
Meeting Critical Needs
Seattle’s students are filled with promise, and with the support of the Alliance’s Right Now Needs Fund, tens of thousands of students have what they need to succeed both in and out of the classroom. Since 2018, the Right Now Needs Fund has provided over 78,000 instances of assistance, distributing more than $4.9 million to ensure that students and families have access to essentials like food, housing and medical care. This resource is unique. Families access the Fund through their school with the help of teachers, counselors, social workers, and other school staff. The Fund empowers school communities to quickly and meaningfully meet the immediate needs of their students. In 2023 alone, the Fund distributed $1.1M, with 50% combating food insecurity and 21% addressing housing stability.
Over the past year, the Right Now Needs Fund received 1,500 more requests for support than in the previous year. Give today to help us meet the rising and immediate needs of Seattle students.
“The Right Now Needs Fund allows our social worker to provide basic needs like groceries, extra diapers, a coat with a warm hood or new glasses for our families. It makes such a powerful and tangible difference to our students every single day”
Dustin Cole, K-3 Special Education, Graham Hill Elementary
Championing Our Educators
Students learn best when their teachers are high quality, dedicated, culturally responsive and represent the diversity of the students they serve. The Alliance’s Seattle Teacher Residency (STR) brings precisely those teachers to Seattle Public Schools classrooms. Since its launch, 286 teachers have graduated from STR, with 60% identifying as people of color. These talented educators bring invaluable skill, perspective and connections to Seattle schools most impacted by poverty, helping students imagine themselves as the leaders and innovators of the future. One STR graduate shared the impact of this work:
I never really had a teacher that I identified with. I went into teaching because I realized I could help students and little Black girls like me find spaces they felt seen earlier than I did. I wanted to be the teacher they relate to and connect with.”
Evanni Roberson ‘21, K-5 Educator, Sand Point Elementary
Our STR teachers are staying in the classrooms that need them most; with a five-year retention rate of 79%, they build strong and enduring relationships with students and help create school environments where every student can succeed. Giving today will help us recruit, train, and retain exceptional teachers who reflect the rich diversity of Seattle’s students, giving them the inspiring educators they deserve.
Our Path Forward
Seattle Public Schools serves a vibrant community of 49,000 students and their families. Of those students, 17,482 come from low-income backgrounds, 1,631 are experiencing homelessness, and 7,085 are English Language Learners. The need for our work remains significant—as does the opportunity to create lasting change. Together, we are advancing educational justice and ensuring that every student receives the support they deserve to excel.
As we look to the future, we invite you to continue this journey with us. Please consider contributing to the Alliance for Education to advance our vital work before the year’s end. Join us in advancing student success, strengthening our schools, and building a brighter future for Seattle. Whether you choose a one-time donation or a recurring gift, every dollar you invest in the Alliance for Education creates a meaningful difference in the lives of Seattle’s students, families and educators.
Your generosity drives impactful, daily change—helping us expand proven strategies and resources that advance educational equity and justice for students and families across Seattle.
Thank you for your commitment to Seattle Public Schools. Your partnership is essential to achieving our shared mission of supporting excellence in education for students in Seattle by advancing racial equity and educational justice.