Investing in Equity for Seattle students

Right Needs Now Fund:

• $1.2M in funds distributed to students and families with immediate needs
• 18,471 instances of student support
• $550,000+ distributed for food
• $502,000+ distributed for shelter
• $160,000+ distributed for clothing support
• $25,000+ distributed for school supplies
• $12,000+ distributed for health services

Right Needs Now Fund COVID-19 Response:

• 5,665 instances of student support
• 63% for food
• 34% for shelter
• 1% for school supplies
• 2% for clothing support
• $535,210 spent since March 2020; in the past 12 months $815,803 has been spent

Research shows that teacher diversity has a direct positive impact on student success. STR plays a critical role in diversifying SPS’s teaching workforce. Residency participants commit to teaching at a Title 1 school in SPS for five years after graduation. This innovative program and partnership created a new pipeline of teachers who more closely reflect the diversity of the students they teach.

Culture: rituals, routines, and practices that honor students’ strengths. In collaboration with students, staff, families, and the community, AAMA will use transformative antiracist practices to disrupt patterns of systemic racism and rebuild the school system to support the advancement of Black boys and teens in education and life.

Conditions: policies, structures, and systems that support welcoming and safe learning spaces. AAMA works with district leadership, the school board, and school leaders to develop and implement policies, structures, and systems that support healthy development and learning for all Black boys and teens.

Competencies: skills and knowledge that educators need to reach and teach Black boys and teens. The district is committed to increasing integrated training on implicit bias, institutional and structural racism, and cultural competency; and growing the percentage of African American male educators and leaders in the district.

Community Connection: direct supports and networking opportunities for students to thrive. As part of SPS’s commitment to Black boys and teens, SPS will ensure that they receive the direct service supports, and community networking opportunities they need to navigate, thrive, and succeed not only in Seattle Public Schools but in life.

Spotlight: Foster Award

Every year, two outstanding school leaders are surprised – often in front of their whole school –with the Thomas B. Foster Award for Excellence. The award recognizes and honors outstanding Seattle Public Schools principals who have demonstrated success in advancing racial equity and educational justice to improve outcomes in their school setting. In addition to public recognition, each honoree receives $25,000 to be utilized on behalf of their school community.

The award was established by the Alliance for Education in honor of the late Thomas B. Foster, a Seattle attorney and senior partner of the Foster Pepper law firm. Mr. Foster exemplified excellence in his profession during a career which spanned the last half of the 20th century and had a personal commitment to public education. Endowed by the Foster family, the Foster Award has been offered to 19 SPS principals since 2000.

Recent praise for our School Fiscal Services:

“You guys have been great! Responsive, willing to meet to discuss our account and our fundraising efforts, proactive in encouraging us to sign up for GiveBIG and helping us navigate that process, generating donor lists for us. I’m so grateful.”

“Having used your services the last 10 years, I can only give you praise. You have always been available for anything I might have needed.”

“I am pleased with the services the Alliance has offered and provided, but more pleased with the warmth and quick response of the staff.”

Spotlight: Education Equity Fund

The Alliance launched the Education Equity Fund at the start of the pandemic, recognizing that students furthest from educational justice were going to be the most impacted by COVID-19. Launched within weeks of schools closing, the fund connected donors directly to a way to support students and teachers. More than $3 million in cash and in-kind donations were raised to provide students with computers, internet access, food and more, and to support teachers in meeting the demands of remote learning.