News & Media
Press releases, media coverage, blog updates, and resources for journalists.
Latest from the Blog
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OSPI Exploitation – Erasure, Whitewashing, and Fakequity
A guest blog by Dr. Verónica N. Vélez As a facilitator of and contributor to the OSPI Ethnic Studies framework that was released in October 2021, I was shocked and deeply disappointed to receive the news that WAESN had been removed from the list of professional development providers for educators. As someone who was invited…
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Puma Poetry Slam – fruits of Ethnic Studies in elementary school
Concord International Elementary School (CIES) is situated in the South Park neighborhood of Seattle, WA. South Park is home to the largest group of Spanish speaking people in the city, which is one reason CIES was chosen as a dual language immersion school. Students have the opportunity to learn core subjects like math and literacy…
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Anonymous Survey Reveals Educator Despair, Poor District Communication
by Tracy Castro-Gill and Ari Robin McKenna On Tuesday Nov. 9, Seattle Public Schools (SPS) Human Resources Department (HR) sent an email to parents, and then 39 minutes later to educators — almost as an afterthought — announcing the unexpected closure of schools just three days later on November 12th, sending parents without work flexibility…
In the News
15 Seattle parent advocacy groups supporting education
The Seattle’s Child article lists 15 parent advocacy groups in the Seattle area, including WAESN, and highlights their roles in supporting families, influencing policy, and amplifying parent voices in education.
September 25, 2025
SERIES | Stop Performative Politics, Recenter Youth of Color, and Invest in Ethnic Studies Now
WAESN Youth Advisory Board and NAACP Youth Council leaders argue that political gestures around ethnic studies in Washington State are too often performative rather than substantive and call on lawmakers and school leaders to meaningfully invest in ethnic studies that center youth of color, support educators, and transform curriculum and pedagogy.
November 15, 2024
SERIES | After Decades of Advocacy and Minimal Action, It’s Time for Washington State to Invest in Ethnic Studies and End ‘Curriculum Violence’
After decades of advocacy with only token progress, the WAESN’s Executive Director, Dr. Castro-Gill, and Director of Policy and Public Affairs, Oliver Miska, push Washington State to seriously fund and implement ethnic studies and to end the “curriculum violence” that harms marginalized students via biased content, exclusion, and identity erasure.
October 1, 2024
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