NAACP Ethnic Studies Letter of Support and Resolution 

Sign the Petition to Support the NAACP Ethnic Studies Resolution
 
We, the undersigned, urge Seattle Public Schools to institute a graduation requirement of ethnic studies and integrate ethnic studies into required courses at all schools in the district.

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• Seattle Public Schools is home to some of the worst racial disparities in the country, attracting a federal investigation by the Department of Education.
• Research demonstrates that ethnic studies courses – which focus the curricula on groups that have been poorly served by public education – increase achievement, credits earned, and attendance for the most marginalized students.
• Seattle Public Schools has declared its commitment to ending racial disparities, yet the current curricula and standards in Seattle Public Schools fail to reflect the diverse histories, experiences, and perspectives of its marginalized students.
• Ethnic studies courses benefit White students, who disproportionately have the privilege to be unaware of the realities of racism.  
• Beyond the classroom, ethnic studies courses are an important step in empowering students to become active citizens and agents of social justice within our communities.
• Portland Public Schools and the State of California have mandated ethnic studies for their students.
• It is time for Seattle Public Schools to do the same. 

NAACP Ethnic Studies Resolution

January 16, 2017
 
WHEREAS Seattle Public Schools is committed to ending racial disparities, demonstrated by its “Eliminating Opportunity Gaps” webpage highlighting district efforts, including the #CloseTheGaps campaign;
 
WHEREAS Seattle Public Schools has declared through its landmark policy, Ensuring Educational and Racial Equity, that it will “eliminate the racial predictability and disproportionality in all aspects of education and its administration” and it will “raise the achievement of all students while narrowing the gaps between the lowest and highest performing students;
 
WHEREAS Seattle Public Schools is home to one of the nation’s greatest racial disparities in achievement;
 
WHEREAS Seattle Public Schools’ advanced programs, such as the Highly Capable Cohort, disproportionally serve White, wealthy students;
 
WHEREAS knowledge of the histories and experiences of diverse groups of people is essential to thrive in a globalized community;
 
WHEREAS ethnic studies increase achievement, credits earned, and attendance for the most marginalized students, according to extensive research, and are consistent with the recommendations to close opportunity gaps developed by the Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education;
 
WHEREAS the State of California passed legislation in the fall of 2016 calling for the first statewide model curriculum for ethnic studies;
 
WHEREAS the Portland Public Schools School Board, by a unanimous vote, has mandated ethnic studies in Portland high schools by 2018;
 
WHEREAS the City of Seattle has outlined a plan to close the opportunity gap that includes more international schools which focus on global community and dual language programs; and
 
WHEREAS Seattle Public Schools’ Department of Equity and Race Relations is already training 31 Race and Equity Teams in culturally competent teaching;
 

 
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Seattle/King County National Association for the Advancement of Colored People advocates that: 

1. Seattle Public Schools institute a graduation requirement of ethnic studies, in addition to the state-mandated Native history curriculum; 
2. Seattle Public Schools integrate ethnic studies at every school beginning with the 31 schools with Race and Equity Teams – voluntary in 2017-2018, mandatory in schools with Race and Equity Teams in 2018-2019, and mandatory in all schools and a high school graduation requirement in 2019-2020; (the curricula must highlight and value the contributions that people of color have made to society).
3. Seattle Public School educators develop their ethnic studies curricula, during the paid workday, with the support of and materials provided by the Department of Equity and Race Relations and with ongoing guidance from marginalized students and families, from faculty of ethnic studies programs at colleges and universities, and from community groups, including multicultural, civil rights, and social justice organizations; 
4. the ethnic studies curricula and teaching methods be evaluated on a semester to semester basis to make necessary improvements to ensure that its content be relevant, meaningful, and effective to properly address and support the recognized community need; 
5. Seattle Public Schools, beginning in 2017-2018, update the community on the ethnic studies rollout regularly during School Board meetings and the superintendent’s State of the District address; and ​
6. Seattle Public Schools incorporate ethnic studies into every school’s Continuous School Improvement Plan by 2019-2020. 

 

Endorsing Organizations (as of June 22, 2017)

1. African American Leadership Forum (AALF)
2. Ballard High School Students & Teachers Against Racism Club (STAR)
3. Ballard High School Multicultural Committee
4. Center School People of Color Alliance (POCA)
5. CRREW (Collective for the Revolution of Race, Equity, and Whiteness) Collective
6. Denny International Middle School Student Race and Equity Team
7. Equity and Race Advisory Committee to Superintendent Nyland (ERAC)
8. Experience Math Enrichment (eMode)
9. Garfield High School Black Student Union
10. Jamil Suleman, local artist and activist
11. Jesse Hagopian, educator and writer
12. Jon Grant, Candidate for Seattle City Council
13. Kimya Dawson, musician, activist, and SPS parent
14. King County Councilmember Larry Gossett
15. Liza Rankin, Parent, Activist/Advocate Soup for Teachers
16. Macklemore, Artist
17. Michael Bennett, Seattle Seahawks
18. Multicultural Education Rights Alliance (McERA)
19. Neighborhood Action Coalition, districts 2, 3, 4, 6, 7
20. Nikkita Oliver, Local Artist, Organizer, and Mayoral Candidate
21. OneAmerica
22. Rainier Beach High School, Associated Student Body (ASB)
23. Robin DiAngelo, Scholar and Writer
24. Seattle Alliance of Black School Educators (SABSE)
25. Seattle City Councilmember, Kshama Sawant
26. Seattle Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
27. Seattle Human Services Coalition, including the Non-Profit Anti-Racism Coalition (NPARC)
28. Seattle University Master in Teaching (MIT) Program
29. Social Equality Educators (SEE)
30. The Central Area Chamber of Commerce
31. Urban Native Education Alliance (UNEA)
32. Seattle Education Association Representative Assembly