The Alliance engages the community in its public schools through a variety of
outreach strategies. Our goal is to pull people with diverse experiences
together to articulate a shared vision for Seattle Public Schools that advances
the specific goal of raising student achievement.
For example, consider the concept of smaller learning communities within our
large high schools. Experts say smaller, more personalized learning
environments are crucial to academic achievement. Parents, families, and
neighborhoods play a central role in supporting these learning communities. In
our school district, most of our high schools are now implementing this new
model with exciting results. The Alliance assists these schools by raising
awareness and developing effective parent and community engagement programs as
well as community-based learning partnerships.
Alliance for Education believes a great school system requires a strong
community coalition of support and strong education policies that advance
academic achievement. Accountability at every level assures that all students,
especially those furthest from meeting standards, get the help they need to
achieve and succeed in school.
Education is everybody's business—whether you're a teacher, a parent, an
employer—we all share responsibility for the academic success of Seattle's
children.
- Of the students in Seattle Public Schools who began 9th grade in the fall of
1999 and were expected to graduate in 2004, only 50.1% graduated on time. The
other 48.9% dropped out or were still enrolled at the end of four years.
- In the U.S., high school dropouts are nearly 3 times as likely to live in
poverty as those who earn a high school diploma.
- Most Washington State high school graduates' hourly earnings are $7.54 to
$12.21 more than those who dropped out.
More Facts and Resources >>
Related Resources
www.seattleschools.org
www.partnership4learning.org
www.k12.wa.us