Sami West
Education Reporter
About
Sami West is a reporter covering schools in Seattle and across the Puget Sound region. She’s been on the education beat for over five years and has reported extensively on the countless ways COVID has impacted schools, students, and families. Her coverage has also focused on school finances, special education issues, the importance of early childhood education, and the growing youth mental health crisis.
Before joining KUOW in 2023, she wrote about education for Chalkbeat in Memphis, Tennessee, and two newspapers in Wisconsin. A Midwesterner at heart, Sami originally hails from Minnesota and holds degrees in journalism and English from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
When she’s not attending school board meetings or chasing other education news, Sami enjoys exploring the beautiful trails and abundant breweries of the Pacific Northwest with her husband and dog.
Location: Seattle
Languages Spoken: English
Pronouns: she/her
Professional Affiliations: Education Writers Association
Stories
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Education
Washington schools chief calls for changes to better fund special education
Washington’s chief of public schools wants the state to fully fund special education this legislative session.
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Education
Should school meals be free for all at Washington elementary schools?
A proposed law would provide free breakfast and lunch to students at all elementary schools across Washington, regardless of income.
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Education
Here's how much private and homeschooling in WA has jumped since the pandemic
Washington state has seen one of the largest spikes in private school enrollment in the country since the pandemic.
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Education
Seattle Public Schools wins nearly $2 million in vaping lawsuit
Four years ago, Seattle Public Schools joined districts across the state and country to sue JUUL Labs and other vaping companies.
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Education
No Bellevue middle schools will close — for now
The Bellevue School District has decided it won’t close or consolidate any of its middle schools, to the relief of many families.
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Education
New Seattle schools fiscal plan: No closures next year, but 'nothing is off the table'
The Seattle School Board on Wednesday gave its stamp of approval to a financial stabilization plan that includes no school closures for next school year.
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Education
Why are grades up and test scores down in Washington state? UW study examines grade inflation
Students in Washington state are getting better grades these days — but that might not be cause for celebration.
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Education
Seattle students push city to boost mental health funding in schools
The Seattle City Council is set to approve it's 2024 budget this week, and students are hopeful it'll include $20 million to expand mental health resources in schools across the city.
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Education
Seattle families are relieved — but still worried — now that school closures are off the table next year
With Seattle schools spared from closures next school year, some parents and educators breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday — at least temporarily.
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Education
Seattle will close schools… eventually
Seattle Public Schools has thousands fewer students enrolled than 5 years ago. That