Community Engagement
Community Engagement: What is the Community Vision for Seattle Public Schools?
Superintendent Brent Jones is leading a community-wide effort to reimagine a System of Well-Resourced Schools that is safe, equitable, and offers students and families the programs, services and resources they need to succeed and thrive in the neighborhoods where they live.
To provide district leadership and the School Board with authentic input, a series of community engagement efforts were conducted to help shape a vision grounded in the values and aspirations of the diverse community served by SPS.
The collective themes in this report are compiled directly from the input of participants about what they value, appreciate, and desire to see in our schools.
The community vision will provide a foundation to frame challenges and opportunities for SPS in the coming years – and help guide future strategic planning and resource allocation decisions, including funding for Well-Resourced Schools, SPS Funding Our Future planning, renewal of the Seattle Excellence Strategic Plan, and the BEX VI Levy.
To ensure everyone has the opportunity to understand these proposals and share feedback, we are hosting a series of meetings.
Community Recommendations
SPS is committed to hearing your voice. The goal for the well-resourced schools conversations is to gather input from our community so that SPS can make effective decisions about major initiatives and issues.
Through this process, we heard that families want:
- schools to be central hubs for families and community,
- security measures to keep students safe,
- robust and inclusive music, arts, and sports programs,
- high-quality instruction in core subjects with equity and diversity reflected in the curriculum.
- regular accessible communications to families from the schools, and equitable access to special education, multi-lingual and highly capable advanced learning services.
SPS is committed to hearing your voice. The goal for the well-resourced schools conversations is to gather input from our community so that SPS can make effective decisions about major initiatives and issues.
Read the report from the community engagement
What is a well-resourced school?
A Well-Resourced School:
- includes access to high-quality educators and modern classroom resources, textbooks, and technology
- offers curriculum that is inclusive and representative of diverse cultures, backgrounds, and abilities
- prioritizes safety through proactive security measures
- fosters a supportive environment where students feel valued and supported socially and emotionally
Our aim is for all our schools to reflect community values and provide a complete education that prepares students for success throughout their lives. Read more about the background and what is informing the proposal.