(The Center Square) – The Seattle Public Schools’ School Board has approved a $1 million contract with Seattle Parks and Recreation to provide student services and activities through summer 2024 as students recover from pandemic-era education challenges.
Seattle Parks and Recreation Department will deliver student support and tutoring services during the current school year and upcoming summer through the contract funded by the city’s Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise Levy, as well as “other sources,” according to an action report.
The tutoring and learning activities for Seattle’s elementary and middle school youth comes at a time when studies revealed that Washington state lost multiple months of learning in math and reading since the COVID -19 pandemic.
Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee previously required the closing of public schools to in-person instruction from March 2020 to September 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise Levy is a seven-year levy totaling $619 million towards Seattle’s youth. It was approved by voters in November 2018. It has a rate of $0.37 per $1,000 of assessed value. The median Seattle homeowner is estimated to pay approximately $296 this year towards the levy.
The department is providing expanded learning opportunities to multiple schools through in-person small group settings. The department offers middle school Community Learning Center programming – also known as CMC – at Aki Kurose, Denny, Mercer and Washington Middle Schools.
Aki Kurose will receive additional programming that focuses on social emotional well-being, mental health, and college readiness.
Seattle Parks and Recreation also works with the James Baldwin Elementary School, where staff offer academic interventions and social emotional learning to students.
Community Learning Center programs are out-of-school time programs coordinated by Seattle Parks and Recreation staff professionals. This includes culturally based mentoring, math and reading tutoring, and recreation opportunities.
Seattle Parks and Recreation has been providing expanded learning programming at Seattle Public Schools sites over the last 20 years.
The Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise Levy is intended to help students achieve academic success from preschool through middle school in historically underserved groups.
The contract between Seattle Public Schools and Seattle Parks and Recreation was approved at the Wednesday school board meeting. Student services are now set to begin following the approval.
