Advocacy

Protect Franklin Funding: Urgent Action Needed on the FEPP Levy Funding

Dear Franklin Community,

For many years, the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) levy has been a lifeline for Seattle Public Schools, providing essential school-based staff — at approximately 35 high-needs schools across our city, including Franklin High School. Losing this funding would eliminate six full time staff, including two student family advocates and academic interventionists, in addition to many other staff, and jeopardize programs like Saturday School, the PowerUp Summer Program and after school tutoring.

Here’s a list of what we will lose if the funding is not immediately restored for next year:

1.0 FTE Academic Intervention Specialist
2.0 FTE Student Family Advocates
1.0 FTE Attendance Intervention Coordinator
2.0 FTE Academic Interventionists
0.2 FTE Women’s Empowerment Groups & Source of Strength Program Liaison
3 Part-Time UW ECO Interns for Academic Intervention

Staff Extra Time:
- FHS Summer School Credit Retrieval Summer Program
- Rooms 310 & 217 After-School Tutoring
- Saturday Schools
- PowerUp Summer Program for Incoming 9^th Graders
- Multilingual Instructional Assistant Support for Family Events / Translation
Food:
- Saturday School
- After-School Tutoring
- Student/Family Support Room
- FHS Summer School
- College/Career Readiness Fairs
- Semester 1 P.U.S.H. Intervention Program
- SBA P.U.S.H. Intervention Program
- 9^th Grade Retreat
Personal Service Contract with the Good Foot (PowerUp Summer Program Supplies & 9^th Grade Retreat Facilitation).
Transportation/Venue Charges for PowerUp Summer Program & NACAC Field Trip
AP Exam Fees for Levy Focus Students.
APEX User Licenses for FHS Credit Retrieval Summer Program

These roles are not extras — they help our children thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Without them, students, families, and educators will face destabilizing layoffs and reduced support at a time when stability matters most for our community’s well-being.

Although the FEPP levy has been approved by voters, the City of Seattle has not yet finalized its implementation plan. This delay means school budgeting for the 2026-27 school year is happening without clarity on whether this critical funding will continue — and the uncertainty is already putting staff and programs at risk.

We need your voice now. Please contact Seattle City Council Members, the Mayor’s office, and Seattle Public Schools and urge them to commit to:

Extend FEPP funding for K-12 school-based investments and family support services for one additional year (the 2026-27 school year).
Clearly communicate their intent to fund schools with the renewed FEPP levy funds.
Be accountable to meaningful public input in their decision-making about how levy dollars are spent.

Your personal story — how FEPP-funded counselors, social workers, or interventionists have helped your child — can make a powerful difference.

Sample message you can use or adapt:

Subject: FEPP Levy Funding- impact on Franklin HS

Dear Seattle City and School leaders,

My name is [Your Name], and my child attends Franklin High School. I’m writing to urge you to support extending FEPP funding for the 2026-27 school year, to publicly commit to funding schools with renewed FEPP levy dollars, and to ensure that community input shapes these decisions. FEPP-funded staff are crucial to our children’s success, and continuing this support means stability for families and schools across Seattle. Thank you for listening and for your leadership.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Copy and paste these email addresses into your email:

spsdirectors@seattleschools.org

boshuldiner@seattleschools.org;

rob.saka@seattle.gov;

eddie.lin@seattle.gov;

joy.hollingsworth@seattle.gov;

maritza.rivera@seattle.gov;

debora.juarez@seattle.gov;

dan.strauss@seattle.gov;

robert.kettle@seattle.gov;