💸 School Funding, Student Voices:

DEEL Workshop Recap

In May, FEEST Student Organizers met with Mustafa from the City of Seattle’s Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) for a deep dive into how school funding works and what role levies play in shaping the future of education. The session was part of a broader collaboration between FEEST and DEEL to ensure students are informed, involved, and ready to take action around public education policy.

Our goals were to:
🔹 Demystify school funding
🔹 Explain how levies work
🔹 Make space for student questions
🔹 Identify opportunities for youth to engage decision-makers

FEEST helped set the stage to center student voice, and Mustafa brought years of expertise to the conversation, answering questions, breaking down the numbers, and sharing why youth perspectives are crucial in this moment.

Student Reflections

Here’s what some of our Student Organizers had to say:

“I learned what a levy is and how important it is for funding. I actually can’t believe this was my first time hearing about this!” – SPS student

“I learned how the levy supports so many things—community, school districts, and even FEEST.” – HSD student

“I learned how important the levy is to FEEST and how it helps youth like us be heard and listened to.” – SPS student

During the presentation, Mustafa invited our students to attend the May 12 Public Hearing. This was an opportunity to put this learning into action, as the levies we had just discussed were up for public input. That invitation was a real-world chance for youth to step into civic spaces and advocate for themselves and their communities. And they did just that!

Putting Knowledge Into Action

Image is of FEEST Staff and students at the May 12th Public Hearing!

After the workshop, Student Organizers took their new knowledge straight to the halls of power. On May 12th, they attended the Public Hearing and submitted public comment on how these levies impact their lives, their schools, and their vision for the future. We’re so proud of the students who showed up and spoke up!

We’re proud of our Student Organizers for showing up with curiosity, honesty, and courage, and deeply grateful to Mustafa for joining us in that spirit. This is what community-rooted policy learning looks like. And this is just the beginning.