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Seattle Public Schools’ Office of African American Male Achievement

About AAMA

Seattle Public Schools’ Office of African American Male Achievement (AAMA) was created in August 2019 as an innovation center within SPS focused on cultivating the strengths of Black boys and teens. As a driver of systemic change, professional development, and direct support, AAMA provides resources, focused programming, and data capacity. The Office’s small team also works with students, families, and educators to promote school culture, conditions, competencies, and community connections that enable students to succeed.

Seattle Public Schools is the first district in Washington, and one of only a few across the nation, to create an office that intentionally cultivates the cultural and academic strengths of Black male students while simultaneously addressing their needs. The Office was established with philanthropic funding stewarded by the Alliance, exceeding an initial goal to raise $3.7M as of December 2022.

Mission and Theory of Change

The Office approaches this work through a framework for systems change rather than student intervention. The Office works to ensure that the educational environment across the system supports the brilliance and excellence of Black boys and teens.

The Office is one department within a larger ecosystem of Seattle Public Schools services. The generational work of rectifying systemic educational inequities began long before AAMA’s establishment and will continue long after. The Office believes that effective equity strategies—those that shift practices, policies, and programs to support communities who have been historically least served—can facilitate the redesign of schools to benefit every learner.

Reports

The investment in and implementation of a targeted universalism approach by Seattle Public Schools has made a lasting impact on Black boys & teens across the district. Read more in the reports from the Office below.