UPDATE on the Process for the 2010-11 School Year

This year there are two parallel processes, with interrelationships, that are happening at the same time:

• The first is the Superintendent’s recommendation to the School Board on boundary lines to support the new student assignment plan;
• The second is the staff’s preliminary recommendations on program placement to the Superintendent, based on the proposed boundary lines and our stated programmatic goals.

Currently, all the program placement recommendations outlined in the proposed new student assignment plan are proposals. They are proposals by staff to the Superintendent, guided by policy C56.00.

The Superintendent has proposed new boundary lines to the School Board about the new student assignment plan. At the same time, and based on the boundary lines proposed, staff has made a series of preliminary recommendations to the Superintendent about program placement options. We receive, and evaluate, program placement proposals throughout the fall. This year is no exception; proposals received are being reviewed. The main difference between this year and last is that normally we have internal review up until the point when we make final recommendations to the Superintendent. This year, because of the interest in programs because of the new student assignment plan, we have made public some of our preliminary recommendations so that our community members can see our thoughts as they evaluate the new student assignment plan boundaries.

Once the School Board votes on the proposed boundaries and they become final boundaries, staff will re-visit our preliminary program placement recommendations, along with other recommendations that may come in. This review will result in a set of final program placement recommendations to the Superintendent, in our traditional late December/early January timeframe, which the Superintendent will then evaluate and approve as appropriate.

Once the School Board votes on the final boundaries staff will be able to use that information to make the final program placement recommendations and the Superintendent will make her final decisions on any and all program placement recommendations.

If you have already submitted a proposal there is no need to resubmit. If you are interested in submitting a proposal please complete the form Proposal Form for 2010-2011 found on the left menu bar. This form must be submitted by November 6th, 2009 in order to be considered for the 2010-2011 school year.

It is the policy of the Seattle School Board that programs be placed in support of district-wide academic goals that address systemic needs and support quality education for all students. School Board Policy F21.00 delegates to the Superintendent the authority to make all program placement decisions. It is the policy of the Seattle School Board that programs be developed, replicated, and placed in support of district-wide academic goals that address systemic needs and support quality education for all students. This process addresses the development of new programs, the replication of existing programs, as well as the closing and/or relocation of existing programs throughout the district. (Reference: School Board Policy, Program Development and Placement, C56.00)

In making program placement decisions, the Superintendent should endeavor to:

1. Place programs in support of district-wide academic goals
2. Place programs equitably across the district,
3. Place programs where students reside,
4. Consider input from stakeholders in the decision making process,
5. Utilize physical space effectively to assure that space needs are met across the district,
6. Ensure that fiscal resources are taken into consideration, and
7. Fully analyze the impact of any decision before it is made by using data, research and best practice.