What memories do you have of desegregation in Seattle Public Schools?
Seattle Public Schools was among the first in the country to launch a racial integration effort without a court order. Under pressure from civil rights activists, the district beginning in the 1960s implemented a number of voluntary and mandatory programs to make schools racially representative of the city, a goal that carried the promise of better educational opportunities for students of color.

Fifteen years ago, the last of those efforts — a policy designed to maintain racial balance in city high schools —was ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in a 5-4 ruling. The Seattle Times is pursuing a series of stories in acknowledgement of this anniversary, and the legacy of racial segregation in Seattle schools today. To better understand how these efforts have shaped the city and its school system, we want to hear from you.

If you are a student, educator, parent, activist, researcher or community member with a story to share about Seattle's school integration programs, please fill out the form below. No story is too small or too recent. Whether you were required to bus across the city for integration in the 80s, or if you applied to attend a city high school outside your neighborhood in the early 2000s, we'd like to hear it. Reporters from The Seattle Times may follow up with your response and contact you.

We are also reporting on the effects of racial segregation has on present-day Seattle students and educators. If you have a tip related to this, please contact reporter Dahlia Bazzaz, dbazzaz@seattletimes.com or through encrypted messaging platform Signal at 206-464-8522.
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What is your name? *
First and last, please.
Which era(s) of the district's desegregation efforts did you intersect with? *
Check all that apply.
Required
Which desegregation efforts do you remember? *
Give us a sense of the impact these efforts had on your life, your friend circle/family, your job, your identity as a person.
Required
How did you experience those efforts?
Check all that apply.
How did these experiences shape you? How do you think they've shaped the district and the city? *
Give us a sense of the impact these efforts had on your life, your friend circle/family, your job, your identity as a person.
Do you have any objects, documents, or film/video/photos related to your time in Seattle schools while it was trying to integrate? *
These could be yearbook photos from your time in school, important School Board documents or research, notes from your employer, pamphlets or flyers advocating for integration. Please provide a description of what you have.
What neighborhood did you live in? *
What is your racial/ethnic identity? *
Would you be comfortable being filmed or photographed for a video documentary about this topic? *
Required
How can we get in touch with you? *
Phone number preferred, email address appreciated
Who else do you think we should be speaking with?
What questions do you have about these efforts you witnessed or experienced?
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