Refugee Support

Seattle Public Schools supports newly arrived refugee children (ages 5 to 21 and in the country three years or less) by improving students’ academic performance and social adjustment to schools. 

Goals:

• Ensure refugee students’ high academic performance and successful school integration.
• Strengthen the skills and knowledge of refugee parents, and schools for the benefit of refugee students.

Goal-oriented Activities for Students:

• Provide support that increases English proficiency and literacy skills.
• Implement programs that orientate students to schools or promote school readiness (e.g. teaching life skills, study skills and school navigation skills).
• Promote high school completion through credit retrieval programs or supports for Collection of Evidence, High School and Beyond Plans, and culminating projects.
• Promote high school graduation through programs that develop vocational skills.
• Promote career and post-secondary exploration or offer internships.
• Employ intervention strategies to monitor students’ academic and social integration progress.
• Refer students to school-based after school programs and other community resources.

Goal-oriented Activities for Families:

• Increase parent/family participation in schools.
• Offer interpreter services for parent/teacher meetings and conferences.
• Provide information to parents about navigating school system.
• Refer families to community resources.

Goal-oriented Activities for Seattle Public Schools:

• Offer opportunities for school staff to engage in authentic refugee experiences and events.
• Provide refugee cultural competency training for school staff.
• Provide information about refugee groups to school personnel.
• Train school personnel on creating welcoming environments for refugee families.

Goal-oriented Activities for All:

• Create mechanisms for problem-solving between parents and schools.