The budget challenges facing Seattle Public Schools are widely recognized, but here in Wallingford, the implications hit particularly close to home — for my family and for many others at John Stanford School, which is not scheduled for closure, but still rumored to be considered for significant change. Students have been bracing for impact as the district initially proposed, then reversed, plans to close 21 schools, ultimately narrowing it down to a potential four “under-enrolled schools” (and leaving the wildly underfunded budget issues still largely unsolved). The plan is a revised version of the earlier proposal, which was canceled after receiving immense backlash from parents, students, and community members. The new plan is projects to save about $5 million, which is less than the $30 million the district had originally hoped to save through school closures and consolidations and far less than the $94 million dollar budget deficit.
- North Beach Elementary: Will consolidate with Viewlands Elementary
- Sacajawea Elementary: Will consolidate with John Rogers Elementary
- Stevens Elementary: Will consolidate with Montlake Elementary
- Sanislo Elementary: Will consolidate with Highland Park Elementary
This uncertainty has left our community, especially those at John Stanford International School (JSIS), anxious about the future. John Stanford is not just any school; it’s a highly rated “option” dual-language immersion (DLI) elementary school with a long waitlist each year. Its programs, offering instruction where students spend half-days learning in Spanish or Japanese alongside English, are incredibly popular and keep many students in the public school system. Beyond language learning, DLI programs are known for fostering academic achievement, cognitive development, and cultural competency, preparing our children to thrive in a global society.
Recently, concerns arose that John Stanford might transition from an option school to a neighborhood school, which could limit enrollment for the many students currently enrolled and living outside its geozone. Many of these families are heritage families like mine, for whom the chance for children to learn not just a language, but a culture so important to our family, is the reason we chose to live in this neighborhood and frankly, a big part of what has kept us in Seattle as job opportunities and aging parents across the country might have otherwise initiated a move. While the $94 million budget deficit is in part due to declining enrollment in Seattle Public Schools and a decrease in federal funding, it seems that option schools, though they encourage families to remain within the SPS system, may not align pristinely with Seattle Public School values as expressed in recent community meetings. The insecurity of our future at JSIS raises questions about the future of the DLI program as a whole and options schools as a concept.
A dedicated group of parents from our community drafted an impactful letter addressed to Superintendent Jones and the Seattle School District Board of Directors, advocating for the preservation of our DLI programs.
Click here to sign the letter in support! Sign the Letter
Letter in Support of DLI Programs
Date: October 2024
Statement in support of preserving Dual Language Immersion Japanese Language Option Programs in Seattle Public Schools
October, 2024
Dear Superintendent Jones and Seattle School District Board of Directors,
As members and supporters of the Seattle-area Japanese and Japanese American community, we believe that the deep ties we have to Japan, and to our Japanese heritage, should not be forgotten by Seattle’s educational leaders. Citizens from both Seattle and Japan have worked over many decades to promote and maintain a thriving community of rich cultural vibrancy that has evolved with each generation.
Evidence of our shared legacy includes the Kobe sister city relationship, Seattle’s oldest and one of its most active; century-old cherry trees in the University of Washington’s Quad; the Song Of The Earth mural commemorating Japanese farmers’ imprint on Pike Place Market; icons like Ichiro, Nintendo, and Pokémon as household names; and the hustle and bustle of Uwajimaya, one of the largest Asian grocery retailers in the Pacific Northwest. Japan has had and continues to play a central role in Seattle’s business and civic communities.
Our community places great importance in keeping alive the lessons of the injustices faced by Japanese Americans. Many of our community elders lost almost everything due to forced incarceration and racism of WWII, but with resilience have become a strong force for peace, equity, and the preservation of a culture that was subjugated for many years. Their history cannot be forgotten.
The Japanese American community is dispersed throughout the Seattle and Puget Sound area, in part due to the legacy of being uprooted and incarcerated, losing livelihoods and properties. Option schools like John Stanford International School, which is about to celebrate its 25th year as a Dual Language Immersion program, attract families from across Seattle. Allowing students from any neighborhood to enroll is an important equity approach for the families in our community.
Both the Japanese and Spanish language cohorts are popular, with waitlists every year. Families travel from all over the city to participate, including native speakers, 4th or 5th generation heritage families who wish to foster culture and language in their children, and other families who want their children to grow up as multiculturally minded citizens. Schools like John Stanford go to great lengths to integrate the culture and heritage of Japanese Americans into the curriculum through daily classroom practices, lessons on significant cultural holidays like Obon, and through community events such as Japan Night. Many children bring bento for lunch, comparing onigiri (Japanese rice balls) and other items, which they would not feel safe or comfortable doing in a traditional neighborhood school.
Access to Dual Language Immersion programs helps build strong social relations across cultures, languages, and socio-economic standing. Students develop a sense of belonging in a non-homogenous community. These programs prepare our students to thrive in a multinational and multilingual society. Teachers foster an appreciation of multiculturalism and diversity. DLI programs are a form of restorative justice for families whose linguistic heritage was lost to assimilation out of fear of xenophobic and racist practices. Research shows that DLI improves outcomes for all kids.[1]
We sign this statement in support of the continued preservation of the successful Japanese language Dual-Language Immersion Option School models in John Stanford International and McDonald International Schools. They are cost effective, an attraction for families to choose to remain in the district, and importantly, contribute in significant ways to the Seattle School District’s equity and educational goals while addressing the injustices faced by Japanese American families.
Signed,
Let’s unite as a neighborhood to ensure that our schools reflect the rich diversity and values of Wallingford.