OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington State Commission on African American Affairs is conducting a survey of educators and mentors who work with Black students.
According to the commission, the survey is intended to provide Washington policymakers with more data to address the inequalities faced by Black students, who face a gap in educational opportunities and outcomes.
“Parents, caretakers, students, and others who assist African Americans students in their public-school experience are asked to complete our survey. It is anonymous and can be completed in 15-minutes,” the commission said via social media.
Black students in the Spokane School District were about 3% more likely to be taught by an educator with fewer than five years of experience and generally score lower than their white peers on a statewide level.
The state commission hopes more information from educators will yield important insights for addressing the challenges faced by students of color, who have comprised the majority of Washington public school students since 2023 according to The Seattle Times.
“If this state requires all students to meet the same educational standards, it must also assume the responsibility to provide adequate resources to allow all students a reasonable opportunity to achieve those standards,” the commission said.
The survey includes questions about the demographic composition of educators and mentors who work with Black students, as well as what policy changes they hope to see addressed by the state government.
