September 27th, 2012
Dear Superintendent Jose Banda and Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors,
The purpose of this correspondence is to provide Seattle Public Schools (SPS) with a proposal for
addressing the chronic failure of SPS in addressing the spiraling drop- out rate, low academic
performance, and low graduation rates for Native learners. Our collective and unified voice is proposing
that SPS, along with Native focused programs, institutions, organizations, and agencies work
collaboratively to establish a comprehensive Indian Education/Cultural Learning Center at the current
site of Wilson Pacific.
Our proposal for an Indian Education/Cultural Learning Center is supported by both research and our
belief that urban Native learners need a place of belonging, a place for affirming identity, and a program
which specifically provides culturally responsive methods for delivering educational services.
Centralizing culturally appropriate support services has proven successful, as seen with Indian Heritage
Alternative High School under the leadership of Bob Eaglestaff. We believe past efforts by SPS to
reinvent the wheel (NEAT, and RTI) are delaying the immediate needs of our urban Native learners, and
thereby stalling progress. Let’s move forward to consolidate our collective resources and address the
chronic academic condition of our Native learners.
Our vision is to eventually expand Indian Education/Cultural Learning Center to a K-12 program. We are
convinced the district has the collaborative spirit necessary for partnering with various tribal focused
entities for sustaining such an endeavor. Research supports the importance of involving Native
community by co- planning, co-designing, and implementing our proposal.
Potential partners for establishing our Indian Educational/Cultural Learning center include: United
Indians of All Tribes Foundation, Urban Native Education Alliance, Seattle Indian Health Board,
Northwest Indian College, Title I, Title VII, Antioch University, University of Washington, local
Community Colleges and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
We are proposing an alternative school and not a charter, magnet, middle college model, nor private
school. Our Educational/Cultural Learning Center would be an alternative program serving any SPS
student interested in a Native focused education. In addition the district would benefit through access
to Native resources such as: Indigenous knowledge and perspectives, resource clearinghouse, library,
and consultation services. All these resources enrich and enhance community through cultural sharing
exchanges with schools, the Licton Springs neighborhood, and with the projected on site elementary
and middle school.
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Our Indian Educational/Cultural Learning Center would serve as a comprehensive multifaceted hub for
both academic and cultural learning, engaging both Native and non-Native community. Cultural
continuity is necessary for cultural survival and this philosophy is embedded in our worldview and
experience as Indigenous First Peoples of this continent
The Indian Educational/Cultural Learning Center shall share space with the planned elementary/middle
school (BEX Levy Plan), and we, as a community and as stakeholders and partners plan on full access to
all facilities on site including but not limited to: gym, cafeteria, auditorium, class rooms, meeting rooms,
library, and office space. Our access would not be limited to school hours but also include access on
weekends, holidays, and evenings to best accommodate our Native community needs. The proposed
Indian Educational/Cultural Center is not contingent on the BEX Levy, but is a stand alone project which
could complement the BEX levy plan passes voter approval in February 2013.It is further recommended
there is discussion to create two locations which serve as Educational/Cultural Learning Center to
address the significant population of Native learners in North and South Seattle region.
We look forward to cooperatively and collaboratively co-designing and co-planning as we move
progressively ahead with SPS to accomplish our proposed plan for building our Indian
Educational/Cultural Learning Center. We believe this is the solution required for remedying the chronic
dropout rate, low graduation rate, disproportionate disciplinary action, and low performance
experienced by more the 50% of our Native learners enrolled in Seattle Public Schools.
We further recommend the district adhere to the directives outlined by members of the Urban Native
Education Alliance presented to the last two superintendents over the course of four years. These
directives address the immediate (acute) issues which impact student achievement. Urban Native
Education Alliance web site contains all research documents and references for supporting our proposal.
The Urban Native Education Web site is located at https://sites.google.com/site/uaianea/home.
Respectfully,
Sarah Sense-Wilson
Chair, Urban Native Education Alliance
Dr. Kelvin Frank
Executive Director, United Indians of All Tribes Foundation
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Karen Elliott
President, SPS Parent Advisory Committee Title VII