The Seattle Human Rights Commission (the Commission) expresses deep concern about the widening achievement gap between African American and Caucasian students in Seattle.
The Seattle Times recently cited that Seattle schools have the largest achievement gap between black and white students in the State. The racial achievement gap is exacerbated by school segregation and disproportionate minority suspension rates in Seattle, all of which are an affront to the guidance put forth in Article 7 of the United Nations’ International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), which calls for the adoption of:
Immediate and effective measures, particularly in the fields of teaching, education, culture and information, with a view to combating prejudices which lead to racial discrimination and to promoting understanding, tolerance and friendship among nations and racial or [ethnic] groups.
The Commission calls upon City Officials to thoroughly investigate the root causes of the racial disparities in achievement in Seattle Public Schools. Furthermore, the Commission encourages Seattle Public School leaders to promote more equitable outcomes by identifying effective methods of supporting African American youth, as they are Seattle Public Schools’ most adversely affected students.
###
For more information:
Marcel Baugh
(404) 791-4737
marcel.baugh13@gmail.com
Margaret Bayaban
(206) 795-5358
margaret.babayan@gmail.com
Danielle Wallace
(678) 463-3390
wallace.danielle.marie@gmail.com