Seattle Public Schools Strategic Planning Process: 2025–2030
Strategic Plan Objective
Building Our Future, Together
Seattle Public Schools is creating a new strategic plan that will guide our work through 2030. A strategic plan is a roadmap for the future of our school district. It helps us determine how we will achieve the goals for our district.
We’re doing this work with the community. Families, students, educators, and community members are helping us shape the direction of the district. Together, we’re imagining what’s possible—and building a path to get there.
Why This Matters Now
We’re creating this plan at a time of leadership transition. Seattle Public Schools will welcome a new superintendent in the near future. That means this plan is doing two things at once:
- 2025-26 school year: We’re identifying key actions that students and families will experience starting next school year. These are the programs, supports, and priorities that are already underway or ready to launch.
- Long-Term Priorities: At the same time, we’re laying the groundwork for big decisions that will shape the future of our schools—such as how we invest our resources and how we support every student to succeed. These priorities will help guide the next superintendent and district leaders for years to come.
2019-24
Seattle Excellence Strategic Plan
Student Outcomes-Focused Governance
2024-25
Year 0 Stabilization
Draft strategic plan development
2025-30
New Strategic Plan:
Launch, Implementation, Evaluation, and Refinement
Planning Timeline
We’re taking this work step-by-step, with clear phases and milestones:
Phase 1: Listening and Learning (Fall 2024 – Spring 2025)
- Worked with experts to better understand how we use resources across the district
- Finalized the goals and community guardrails
- Reviewed data on student needs and school experiences
- Held listening sessions with principals and school leaders
- Created interim goals and guardrails to make sure we are on track to meet our goals
Phase 2: Strategy Design and Community Engagement (Spring – Fall 2025)
- Draft clear, multi-year priorities
- Develop specific strategies for classrooms, schools, and central office
- Hold community meetings and focus groups to get input
Phase 3: Implementation and Progress Monitoring (2025–2030)
- Based on results, adjust strategies as needed
- Refine strategies and implementation plans
- Launch the plan across the district
- Track our progress toward goals
Ways to Get Involved
- Additional opportunities for community engagement specific to the strategic plan will follow engagement related to the superintendent search.
- Please be on the lookout for additional focus group and community meeting opportunities.
How We’re Staying Accountable
Our governance model helps us stay centered on student success and community values:
- The School Board sets clear goals for student learning and creates “guardrails” to protect those values.
- The Superintendent and staff develop strategies to meet those goals.
- We track our progress and stay transparent about results.
