On the first day of school, Mayor Bruce Harrell of Seattle announced new resources aimed at enhancing health, safety, and wellness for students throughout the city.
This initiative builds on his August 2024 Executive Order focused on youth safety, demonstrating a commitment to creating a supportive environment for students.
Throughout the past year, the City of Seattle and Seattle Public Schools (SPS) have collaborated to develop a robust three-pronged strategy designed to bolster school safety, reduce violence near schools, and support mental health.
This strategy includes school-based measures, violence intervention and community partnerships, as well as law enforcement support.
A major part of this initiative is the provision of free mental health therapy and resources for all Seattle youth aged 13 to 24.
To further support mental well-being, more than 40 new mental and behavioral health professionals have been added across 21 middle and high schools within the SPS system, increasing the total number of staff to over 60 dedicated to on-campus mental health support.
In addition, community safety teams have been established at select middle and high schools.
These teams are tasked with providing supportive services, preventing violence on campus, and fostering trusted adult relationships that help students navigate off-campus safely.
As part of improving safety around school areas, the Seattle Police Department will increase patrols during key times—before school, during lunch, and after school—depending on available resources.
Seattle Public Schools will also roll out a series of comprehensive safety measures at all school sites.
These include the introduction of a districtwide emergency notification system aimed at quickly securing multiple schools during emergencies.
Moreover, new security cameras, door and intrusion alarms, and key card access for school entrances will be installed across the district.
The initiative also encompasses increased security staffing at schools to ensure student safety.
“Our administration is committed to a great future for our city’s young people – providing the services and resources to keep them safe and support mental health,” said Mayor Harrell.
He emphasized that the programs were developed based on the feedback received directly from students and youth, showcasing the administration’s dedication to meeting their needs.
The Mayor also highlighted ongoing partnerships with Seattle Public Schools as a crucial element in serving students effectively.
In addition to these measures, the Mayor introduced the Every Child Ready Initiative earlier this year and proposed a renewal of the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise levy.
This renewal is expected to continue investments in health and safety services, doubling affordable childcare, and expanding the City’s preschool and Seattle Promise programs, which are nationally recognized.
Last fall, Seattle successfully completed 20 Safe Routes to School projects citywide, exceeding the goals set forth in the transportation levy aimed at enhancing safety around every public school.
These enhancements included new sidewalks, accessible curb ramps, crosswalks, flashing beacons, and traffic calming measures, along with student-led artwork to improve visibility on roads.
With funding from the voter-approved 2024 transportation levy, Seattle plans to invest $14 million to maintain this momentum, delivering at least 70 additional Safe Routes to School programs by 2032.
Additionally, the city is set to expand the use of automated school zone cameras, activating 19 new locations this year.
Data indicates that schools equipped with these cameras experience a 50 percent reduction in crashes throughout the day, along with a 71 percent decrease during peak drop-off and pickup times.
Moreover, an impressive 90 percent of drivers who receive a citation never re-offend, highlighting the effectiveness of these safety measures.
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