Program areas at Alliance for Education
Educational Investments: The Alliance brings together the philanthropic community and Seattle Public School (SPS) leadership to define and support strategic investments in SPS with a focus on increasing equity. Our strategic work includes: The Seattle Teacher Residency, the Right Now Needs Fund and Other investments advancing racial equity and educational excellence in Seattle Public Schools.Continued on Schedule O.The Seattle Teacher Residency (STR): STR accelerates student achievement through the preparation, support, and retention of exceptional teachers who reflect the rich diversity in Seattle Public Schools. We recruit, prepare, and support a diverse pipeline of high-quality teachers trained specifically to teach in Seattle's highest need schools, particularly Title I schools. Some highlights of our successes in 2023 include:- Teachers Trained: As of September 2023 (the beginning of the 2023-24 school year) there were 148 STR-trained teachers in more than 50 public schools in Seattle. An additional 22 residents were recruited for Cohort 11 and started the program in 2023. These residents will be eligible for service in Seattle Public Schools in spring 2024.- Students Served: More than 2400 students in over 30 Title I schools benefitted from teachers trained with critical content, social-emotional, and cultural competencies through the STR program during the 2023-24 school year.- Diversity: 52% of current STR residents are teachers of color or biracial and multiracial educators compared to 20% of other Seattle Public School teachers in a district where 54% of students are students of color.The Right Now Needs Fund: The Right Now Needs Fund is a vital program designed to directly support Seattle Public School students by addressing their most basic and immediate needs. To ensure that students can focus on learning, the Alliance disburses funds to all 104 Seattle Public Schools, tailored to the percentage of students receiving free and reduced lunch at each school. These funds are available to school community members and are approved by the school principal, allowing them to be used for essentials like warm clothing, food, shelter, and school supplies. Since its inception, the Right Now Needs Fund has allocated $4.7 million towards supporting students. In 2023 alone, over $1,100,000 was disbursed to meet the urgent needs of students and families, emphasizing the impactful and ongoing nature of this program. Other Investments: The Alliance raises dollars to support initiatives that advance racial equity and educational excellence in Seattle Public Schools. In 2023, the Alliance continued supports for Seattle Public School's Office of African American Male Achievement and school culture improvements.
Affiliated school activities:The Alliance provides fiscal support services for groups raising funds and conducting programs to benefit students and schools. In 2023, the Alliance disbursed over $900,000 for instructional support, scholarships, awards, materials, trainings, extracurricular programs, and other school-related activities through our fiscal sponsorship programs.