Seattle Education Association: A History of Advocacy and Activism
The Seattle Education Association (SEA) stands as a prominent voice for educators in Seattle, Washington, advocating for improved working conditions, student well-being, and equitable education policies. As an affiliate of the Washington Education Association (WEA), the SEA plays a crucial role in shaping the educational landscape of the city. This article explores the history of the SEA, its key accomplishments, and its ongoing efforts to champion the interests of its members and the students they serve.
Early Years and Formation
The Washington Education Association (WEA), the parent organization of the SEA, was founded in 1889 as the Washington State Teachers’ Association, starting with 124 members. For many years, the WEA (and later its affiliates like the SEA) focused on lobbying for teacher education requirements, school construction funding, and collective bargaining powers. This early advocacy laid the groundwork for the SEA's future role in advocating for Seattle's educators.
Collective Bargaining and Contract Negotiations
A central function of the SEA is negotiating strong contracts that define the rights and responsibilities of its members, as well as fair procedures for handling disputes. The SEA listens to its members to ensure they receive the pay and benefits they need to take care of themselves and their families and to stay sane in their busy professions. The SEA stands by its members to make sure their employment rights are honored and respected. The SEA works together to address workplace concerns, ensure fair evaluations and keep workloads and working conditions safe and reasonable.
The 2015 Strike: A Turning Point
In September 2015, the SEA organized its first strike in three decades, marking a pivotal moment in its history. The 5,000 members of the Seattle Education Association (SEA) organized their first strike in three decades to start the new school year. The strike, authorized by a near-unanimous vote of the members, highlighted the growing frustration among educators regarding several key issues:
- Teacher Evaluations and Standardized Testing: School districts across the country are facing federal pressure to link teachers’ evaluations to their students’ test scores, the SEA was able to end this widely discredited practice in Seattle.
- Compensation: Teachers had not received a cost-of-living increase in six years, making it increasingly difficult for them to afford to live in the city where they teach. Seattle is among the nation’s top 10 cities for highest cost of living.
- Student Support: Concerns existed regarding caseload caps for educational support associates, such as school psychologists and speech language pathologists, who provide vital support to some of the most vulnerable students.
- Recess: Recess has been vanishing in Seattle’s schools, particularly those that serve low-income students and students of color.
The strike garnered significant public attention and support. Drawing lessons from the 2012 Chicago Teachers Union strike, the SEA was able to mobilize parents and community members who have seen Washington State become an active battleground in the fight for public education. The active participation of members was outstanding. Between 95 and 97% were on the picket lines. Thousands came to the union’s meetings. The union included 40 people from all professions in the bargaining team. A daily leaflet provided educators with updates from the union. Parents organized a rally of more than 600 and gave a glimpse of the support the educators enjoyed. Soup for Teachers group formed to bring sustenance and solidarity to picket lines at every school in the district. The Coalition for the Schools Seattle Deserves united community organizations and joined singer-songwriter Kimya Dawson to host a benefit concert for the striking teachers. The Seattle City Council, led by councilmember Kshama Sawant, passed a unanimous resolution in support of the strike. Marching band students used their pep-band anthems to root on striking educators, and local businesses donated to the picket lines.
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Key Outcomes of the 2015 Contract
On Sept. 20, 2015, thousands of Seattle Education Association (SEA) members voted to approve a new contract with the Seattle Public Schools. While some members felt the union could have achieved more, the new contract included several important victories:
- An end to the use of standardized test scores in teacher evaluations-a huge blow to the testocracy in Seattle and across the country. This victory built on the years-long struggle of educators, students, and parents in Seattle in opposition to high-stakes tests.
- A guaranteed minimum of 30 minutes recess in every elementary school. The campaign for recess was launched by a citywide organization, Lunch and Recess Matter, which organized, petitioned, and rallied for the right to eat and play.
- Enforceable caseload caps for educational support associates, such as school psychologists and speech language pathologists, who provide vital support to some of our most vulnerable students.
- Race and equity teams. Students of color are three times more likely to be suspended or expelled in the city’s schools, so the union won “racial equity teams” at one-third of them. This demand was supported by Black Lives Matter activists, including Seattle NAACP members who issued a statement supporting the strike. The school district originally agreed to teams in only six schools, but the power of the strike pushed the district to agree to anti-racism committees in 30 schools.
- Lower student-to-teacher ratios for special education classes.
The new contract guarantees 30 minutes of recess for all students, introduces caps on caseloads for some school social workers, lowers student-to-teacher ratios for special education classes, and pushes back on declining real wages after six years of not receiving a cost-of-living adjustment from the state.
Ongoing Advocacy and Political Engagement
The SEA's advocacy extends beyond contract negotiations. The union actively engages in political endorsements and supports candidates who champion public education.
The Washington Education Association is a left-of-center teachers union that is the Washington state affiliate of the National Education Association. The union is politically active in endorsing and funding Democratic candidates for office in Washington through its political action committee. The union publishes an annual legislative agenda calling for a variety of pro-union education spending increases and class size limits, among other stances. The union and its affiliates have promoted a variety of left-of-center and far-left positions, including coordination with Black Lives Matter-related school groups and calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war of 2023-2024. In 2024, the WEA endorsed state Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D) for Governor at its endorsement recommendation convention and publicized opportunities for union members to volunteer on his campaign. The WEA also contributes to Democratic candidates in the state through its political action committee, the WEA-PAC. The union also endorses dozens of candidates for local school boards annually.
Social Justice and Equity
The SEA has demonstrated a commitment to social justice and equity within the education system. The WEA embraces left-of-center diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) ideology and supports left-of-center organizations including the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Welcoming Schools, the Anti-Defamation League, and the Teaching Tolerance Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center. The union also promotes resources regarding Black Lives Matter at School Week. Regarding immigration, the union promotes resources to establish “safe school zones” where school districts refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement officials. In 2023, the Seattle Education Association, an affiliate of the WEA, voted in favor of a recommendation that was brought forth by members to call for a ceasefire in Gaza as the war between Israel and Hamas began. The SEA was able to win “racial equity teams” at one-third of the city’s schools.
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Challenges and Future Directions
Despite its successes, the SEA faces ongoing challenges. These include ensuring adequate funding for public education, addressing the rising cost of living in Seattle, and advocating for policies that support all students, particularly those from marginalized communities.
The local legislature is being held in contempt by the State Supreme Court and fined $100,000 per day due to their failure to adequately fund public education. It was a mistake to agree to raises ranging from 3 percent the first year to 4.5 percent the third, which won’t even offset rising healthcare costs. School nurses will still have to split their time among several schools and won’t be able to provide the care that students deserve. We achieved lower student-to-teacher ratios in some preschool and special education programs, but the special education Access Program caseload increased by 30 percent. With the old ratios, Access students were able to participate in general education curriculum and settings with support; the new ratios put the inclusion model in jeopardy and will overwhelm Access case managers. We also acceded to the district’s demand to lengthen the school day by 20 minutes, reducing teacher planning time.
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