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To: Seattle School Board, Office of the Superintendent for Seattle Public Schools

"Protect Our Kids: Say NO to Seattle Public Schools' Gamble with Student Mental Health!"

Seattle School Board
John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence
2445 3rd Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98134

Office of the Superintendent
Dr. Brent Jones
MS: 32-150 
PO Box 34165 
Seattle, WA 98124-1165

December 12, 2024

Dear Members of the Seattle School Board and Dr. Jones,

We are writing to express our concern regarding the district's recent contract with Talkspace to provide mental health services for students. While we appreciate the district’s dedication to supporting student mental health, we question whether this partnership effectively aligns with the goals of the City of Seattle’s Executive Order on youth safety.

Mayor Harrell has emphasized that, “students and young people need to feel safe to learn and grow,” and outlined a comprehensive approach to achieving this through investments in mental health care, improved safety, and community-based supports. In light of these objectives, we would like to ask:

  1. How does the partnership with Talkspace specifically address the safety and well-being of students as outlined in the Executive Order?
  2. What measures are in place to ensure that Talkspace’s virtual model provides meaningful, individualized care that fosters trust and emotional safety for students?
  3. How will the district assess whether this partnership strengthens community-based supports, as prioritized in the Executive Order?
  4. Given the emphasis on collaboration with schools and community partners, how was Talkspace chosen over local, nonprofit, or in-person mental health providers?
  5. How will Talkspace’s services be monitored to ensure they deliver high-quality care that reflects the needs and voices of Seattle’s young people and their families?

We understand the district’s claim that this program will give teens and young adults access to confidential, high-quality mental health support through Talkspace’s secure digital platform, addressing the urgent need for accessible mental health care amidst a youth mental health crisis. While this is an admirable goal, we are concerned about how Talkspace will achieve this given its questionable business practices:

  • Data Privacy and Confidentiality Risks: Talkspace has faced criticism for its handling of sensitive user data, raising doubts about its ability to provide truly confidential care. How can we ensure that students’ private information is fully protected on this platform? Even tech companies whose intentions may be to help children are now facing major litigation relating to their harmful data privacy violations. Schools and cities should be sure to read the fine print very carefully.(https://edtech.law/cases/nonconsensual-student-data-mining-powerschool-and-ixl-learning/)
  • Quality of Care: Talkspace’s model relies heavily on scalability and text-based communication, which often lack the depth and personalization required for effective mental health support. How will Talkspace ensure that each of the 55,000 students receives high-quality, meaningful care rather than generic, surface-level responses, especially in higher acuity circumstances?
  • Equity Concerns: Historically, digital platforms excluded students with limited internet access or technological proficiency. Today, marginalized communities face a new digital divide— they are most vulnerable to data privacy harms, excessive reliance on digital tech, and predatory business models. How will this program address these inequities?
  • Profit-Driven Model: As a for-profit company, Talkspace’s priorities may not align with the district’s goals. How will Seattle Public Schools hold Talkspace accountable to ensure its focus remains on the well-being of students rather than maximizing shareholder profits?
  • Lack of Transparency/Community Input: Many of us in the community were surprised by the announcement of this partnership. Was feedback solicited from parents, local organizations, and the larger mental health community? Were local concerns taken into consideration as part of the District's due diligence?
  • Issues with Other School Districts: https://studentprivacymatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Teenspace-Letter-2024.9.10.pdf

Given the stakes, we strongly encourage the board to reconsider this partnership and explore alternatives such as expanding in-school counseling programs and working with trusted local mental health organizations and clinicians. Such solutions would better align with the district’s commitment to student safety, trust, and community engagement.

Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. We look forward to your response.






Why is this important?

We’re asking the Seattle School Board to prioritize our kids’ safety and well-being over questionable business deals. By signing this letter, you’re helping ensure our students get real, safe, and effective mental health support.

Here are the reasons why our collective action is important: 

  • Student Well-Being at Risk: This partnership with Talkspace could compromise the quality and safety of mental health support for our children.
  • Privacy Concerns: Potential risks to students’ sensitive personal data.
  • Financial Accountability: Why is this money being spent on a for-profit company with questionable practices instead of proven local solutions and partnerships? This is not an investment in our students or our community.

Here are the reasons why this action is urgent:

This partnership potentially impacts the mental health of over 55,000 students in Seattle.

Partnering with a company like Talkspace could mean putting profit over care, leaving vulnerable kids without the support they need.

If we don’t act now, this could set a precedent for future decisions that prioritize cost over quality in our schools.

How it will be delivered

Emails, posts

Updates

2024-12-13 17:51:12 -0500

50 signatures reached

2024-12-13 02:16:48 -0500

25 signatures reached

2024-12-12 23:47:42 -0500

10 signatures reached