Sami West
Education Reporter
About
Sami West is a reporter covering schools in Seattle and throughout the Puget Sound region. She’s been on the education beat for over six 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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Gender-inclusive policies spark federal investigation of Washington schools agency
The U.S. Department of Education has opened a broad investigation of the Washington state superintendent’s office over its gender-inclusive schools policies.
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Washington ACLU sues Trump administration over attempts to dismantle free Head Start preschool program
With the help of the ACLU, the agency that represents Head Start programs across Washington state is suing the Trump administration over efforts to eliminate the long-standing federal preschool program.
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Seattle Public Schools back in the hot seat for ineffective school choice waitlists
Parents and educators are calling for better enrollment management at Seattle Public Schools, as new data suggests these practices — including a confusing waitlist system — have driven hundreds of families out of the district.
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Proposal to keep trans athletes out of girls' sports fails in Washington state
Washington state’s governing body for middle and high school athletics has rejected a proposal to limit participation in girls’ sports to students assigned female at birth.
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Could Washington state be on the brink of fully funding special education?
The House on Wednesday passed Senate Bill 5263, which boosts special education funding multipliers for students in pre-K through 12th grade and eliminates the state's 16% cap on special education funding.
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Seattle Public Schools sued by Washington AG over alleged 'illegal' treatment of pregnant, nursing employees
The lawsuit filed Tuesday alleges Washington’s largest public school district routinely failed to provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant and nursing staffers as required by state law.
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Washington schools chief says no to Trump, yes to DEI
Washington’s top education leader says he won’t sign the U.S. Department of Education’s recent letter ordering K-12 schools to certify they’re in compliance with federal civil rights laws and are halting any “illegal” diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
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Washington schools grapple with conflicting policy on trans sports
Transgender student athletes, and the schools they play for in Washington, are facing some new uncertainty, as they face conflicting guidance from state and federal officials.
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Proposal to limit transgender athletes' participation in sports blocked in Washington state
Washington state’s governing body for middle and high school athletics has determined proposed rule changes limiting how transgender students can participate in sports would violate state laws.
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Transgender sports policies at heart of federal complaint from Washington school district
The Kennewick School Board has lodged a federal Title IX complaint against Washington state officials. At issue: the state’s current policies that allow transgender students to compete on sports teams consistent with their gender identity.
