Murray announces new city education department

Kate Harloe

Kate Harloe Jul 12, 2025

Feb 6, 2018

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                <h1>Murray announces new city education department</h1>
                <h2><p>On Tuesday, Mayor Ed Murray shared his plan to create a cabinet level education department to “close achievement gaps in Seattle Public Schools.” KUOW’s Ruby De Luna said the city’s new “Department of Education and Early Learning” will coordinate with the school district and other local organizations to</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/kate-harloe-crosscut-com/">Kate Harloe</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Feb 6, 2018</time></p>
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            <p>On Tuesday, Mayor Ed Murray shared his plan to create a cabinet level education department to “close achievement gaps in Seattle Public Schools.” KUOW’s Ruby De Luna <a href="http://kuow.org/post/seattle-unveils-city-education-department-address-achievement-gaps?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">said</a> the city’s new “Department of Education and Early Learning” will coordinate with the school district and other local organizations to create and oversee various programs. Murray isn't interested in “mayoral control” of schools, according to <a href="http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2024445879_earlylearning1xml.html?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">Seattle Times reporter</a> Daniel Beekman. He just wants to close Seattle's achievement gap. “Ninety percent of white fourth graders read at grade level, compared to 56 percent of African-American students,” said mayor Murray. “And when you open up those numbers by gender, they actually get worse.”  — K.H.</p>
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On Tuesday, Mayor Ed Murray shared his plan to create a cabinet level education department to “close achievement gaps in Seattle Public Schools.” KUOW’s Ruby De Luna said the city’s new “Department of Education and Early Learning” will coordinate with the school district and other local organizations to create and oversee various programs. Murray isn't interested in “mayoral control” of schools, according to Seattle Times reporter Daniel Beekman. He just wants to close Seattle's achievement gap. “Ninety percent of white fourth graders read at grade level, compared to 56 percent of African-American students,” said mayor Murray. “And when you open up those numbers by gender, they actually get worse.” — K.H.

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By Kate Harloe

Kate Harloe is Crosscut's Community Manager &amp; Editorial Assistant. After graduating from Hamilton College, Kate completed two seasons of work for the Southwest Conservation Corps before moving