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Special Education 2009-10 Assignment Information:

For students requiring Resource services or Integrated Comprehensive Services: The Open Reassignment period begins June 15, and continues through September 30. During this time, your child can be reassigned to any school with space available and/or change to a different school's waiting list upon request. (When changing to a new waiting list, the student is added to the end of the new list, and the previous waiting list spot is dropped and cannot be reinstituted.)

Although Enrollment Services accepts both faxed and mailed applications to change a student's assignment and/or waiting list school, applying in person is strongly recommended. If you fax an application based on information we give you over the phone, the situation is likely to be different by the time your application gets processed.

Note: If, on a given day, more than one student is placed on a waiting list for the same school, grade, and program, then tiebreakers will apply to those students for that date only.

 PLEASE NOTE: If you have not already applied for the 2009-2010 school year, you may submit an application at any time.

For students requiring Contained Services or other assignments made through the Special Education Department: Students assigned by the Special Education Department have needs that exceed the levels of service that are typically available in all District schools. In these circumstances the location of where the services can be provided is at the discretion of the District. In most cases assignment of the student is to a classroom located closest to the student’s home that is able to provide the necessary services. Because a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) outlines the service levels a student needs to be successful in their academic program, changes to a child’s program would need to occur through the IEP process. Lateral transfers (self-contained to self-contained) will be considered based on space available.

PLEASE NOTE: Please be sure to involve the appropriate special education supervisor to assist you with any requests for assignment changes for students who were placed through the Department.

Risers - Special Education and Open Enrollment -

Parents of Special Education Risers should complete the enrollment process at anytime during the open enrollment period, through the enrollment office. In addition, for families with special education risers, there will be a special enrollment opportunity on Saturday, March 21, 2009 between 1:00 - 3:30 at the central office. Enrollment staff and special education supervisors will be available to address specific questions that parents have about their child's school selection for the 2009-2010 school year. Please look here for additional Riser - Open Enrollment information for the 2009-2010 school year

Special Education Parent Communicator - February, 2009 - This document was put together to help provide information about the anticipated changes for the 2009-10 school year. The question and answer section of this document may help clarify changes that are being implemented for the 2009-10 school year. If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact the special education office at 252-0058.

Building Closures and Special Education Services
Please click here for a message from Carla Santorno, Chief Academic Officer, and Fred Row, Interim Executive Director Special Education/Special Education Consultant. Please click here for the link to the capapcity management web site: http://www.seattleschools.org/area/capacity/index.dxml

Special Education Review

Seattle Public Schools continues to review what is working and what needs to be improved across our system. As part of that process, the district commissioned a series of external program and services reviews, including services for students with special needs. The goal of the review, conducted by an expert national group, The Urban Special Education Leadership Collaborative Education Development Center, was to recommend ways to increase academic achievement, graduation rates, and other outcomes for students who receive special education services. For information about the report:

Special Education Review Report Overview and Highlights

Special Education Review Report - Full document

Updated May, 2009