See most recent updates here.
Vision
Neighborhood engagement in support of student achievement.
Goal
Assist residents – children, youth and adults – in improving access to quality academic and vocational training opportunities designed to enhance academic achievement and the employability and self sufficiency of Rainier Beach residents
Priorities
- Mobilize community for student success
- Have accountability for increasing academic achievement
- Maintain accountability and sustainability of the South Education Initiative (keep the $)
- K-16 options in neighborhood
Other Projects to Watch
[To be updated soon]
Partners
- Aki Kurose Middle School
- The New School
- Stuart Foundation
- Seattle Debate Foundation
- Seattle Urban Academy
- South Lake High School
- Rainier Beach Library
- Rainier Beach High School
- Dunlap Elementary School
- Community For Youth
- Office for Education, Department of Neighborhoods
Hello,
Last year, I was just getting involved in the coalition when I had a significant loss in my family. I stopped going to meetings and I apologize. I want to become more involved in the coalition. I just recieved the email about the new meeting system & updates. I’m a little unclear about how to access the actions tabs letting me know what meetings to plug into. Where can connect to folks invovled in the education actiong team. I think the message said you would be piggy backing on other meetings.
The Southeast Seattle Education Coalition met with Seattle Public Schools Superintendant Marie Goodloe-Johnson about challenging her to have higher expectations for Southend School turnaround than they currently have. Here is a report out of that meeting.
Top two highlights
1. She showed up
2. We made sure she knows we were not there for a feel good session.
Most controversial occurrence
1.We were subject to a “divide and conquer” approach. When asked about the fact that students don’t have text books the Superintendant said “Talk to the principal”. In effect she wants us to focus on site based action to distract us from holding the district accountable. Building principals are busy enough aren’t they?
Lessons Learned
1. We need to do our own report card on the district and publicize it as far and wide as the district did their report card
2. We need to be more concise in our messaging, she did not leave with a clear understanding of what we wanted. (what we wanted was for the District to change its goals for South end schools from achieving level 3 status to achieving level 5 status.)
Most surprising things heard
1. It’s what I didn’t hear. She did not do homework in terms of what is happening in the neighborhood – she was not aware of the neighborhood plan update activity in spite of being told about it when she attended the RBCEC Action Team Meeting in February of 2010
2. That after asking what “being valued” looks like and being told about half a dozen times, still asking what being valued looks like.
Rainier Beach implications
1. School district needs to be invited to the Rainier Beach Neighborhood Plan Advisory Council meetings to learn about the implications of their work on the neighborhood.
2. We need to complete the community based resources analysis being brought to bear to support RB schools to prove that south end based community based organizations can be viable partners with the district.