On November 18 an important step in the new student assignment plan process was taken as the School Board voted to unanimously approve the New Student Assignment Plan boundary maps. The New Student Assignment Plan and recently approved boundary maps will be phased in beginning in the 2010-11 school year for students at entry-grade levels - usually kindergarten, 6th, and 9th grades.

The final maps will reflect the changes included in an omnibus amendment submitted by the School Board Executive Committee that outlines adjustments for the McDonald, Whittier, Loyal Heights, Alki and Lafayette attendance areas. Two additional amendments were also approved that will be reflected in the final boundary maps. These include an amendment submitted by Director Martin-Morris that amends the Bryant and View Ridge attendance area boundaries; and an amendment submitted by Director Sundquist that shifts an area from the Lafayette area to the Alki area.

Staff will incorporate the approved amendments to the boundaries into a final set of maps. Those maps, and an updated address look-up tool, will be available on the district's Web site next week.

The School Board also approved a new Capacity Management Policy that puts systems in place to integrate planning for enrollment trends, functional capacity, demographics and program delivery models; facilities upgrades and capital program development. An annual evaluation of enrollment trends and school building capacity will support this integrated planning.

"The approval of the student assignment boundary maps and capacity management policy represent a sea change for Seattle Public Schools," said Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, Ph.D. "We now have a long-needed new student assignment plan that supports our goal of an excellent education for every student. At the same time, we are putting systems in place to ensure that future planning integrates all of the factors that contribute to an efficient, effective district that is structured to support student achievement."

Transition Plan Will Be Developed by Early January
The next step is for a full transition plan to be developed. The transition plan will consider, among other factors, sibling grandfathering, transportation and developing educational programs for buildings that will open in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
* Information will be gathered about students who currently attend school outside of their new attendance area boundary, and about the siblings of those students who may be entering kindergarten in 2010.
* A transportation eligibility analysis will be completed.
* The Superintendent will make program placement decisions for 2010.
* The process of preparing to begin classes in fall 2010 for Old Hay, McDonald, and Sand Point will be finalized and will include:

o Program design teams will be established for schools opening in Fall 2010.
o Principals will be named for schools opening Fall 2010

Enrollment Process for Fall 2010
Early registration is open through January 15, 2010. Any student who will be new to Seattle Public Schools in Fall 2010 is invited to register. Details of the enrollment process for fall 2010 will be announced as the transition plan is developed.
* Open houses will be scheduled for all schools prior to Open Enrollment.
* In late February, students currently attending Seattle Public Schools who are rising from elementary to middle school or middle school to high school; and those students who registered for kindergarten during early registration, will receive their assignment for 2010 in the mail. If that is the desired assignment, no further action is needed.
* Open Enrollment will be scheduled during March. During this time, students who wish to apply to change their assignment may do so. If there are more applicants than spaces available, the new tiebreakers specified in the New Student Assignment Plan will be used to determine assignments.