Public Testimony

The Seattle School Board welcomes members of the public to the Regular meetings of the Board and dedicates time at these meetings for public testimony.

It is important for all community members to feel welcome and safe in the Board’s business meetings. Audience members will be expected to treat all attendees with respect and civility, just as Seattle Public Schools expects of students in our schools.

Public testimony will be taken in person and by teleconference from those who sign up to provide testimony and who are placed on the testimony list per the process described below.

Per Board Policy 1400, the first 25 individuals who sign up for public testimony are placed on the testimony list. Additional speakers are placed on a waiting list and may be called to provide testimony during the meeting if individuals on the testimony list are not available when called to provide testimony.

When can I sign up for public testimony?

Sign-ups for public testimony generally begin at 8:00 a.m. the Monday before each regular Board meeting, and the public testimony list will generally be posted to the meeting agenda by close of business the Tuesday before the meeting (timelines are adjusted when meetings are held on days other than Wednesday). Signups after noon on the meeting day are only accepted in person at the meeting

The public testimony list will be posted on the meeting’s agenda by the close of business the day before the regular Board meeting. All meeting agendas are located on the Board agenda webpage.

How do I sign up for public testimony?

To sign up for public testimony, members of the public should use the public testimony sign-up form on the day and time indicated on the relevant agenda (usually 8 a.m. on the Monday before the meeting) and no later than noon on the scheduled day of the meeting. Signups after noon on the scheduled day of the meeting are only accepted in person at the meeting.

In-person sign-ups at the Board meeting are added sequentially to the end of the existing testimony list.

The sign-up form is available in Amharic, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Simplified Chinese.

Testimony sign-ups are not accepted by email or phone/voicemail. Please use the public testimony sign-up form.

Public Testimony at Regular Board Meetings is governed by Board Meetings Policy No. 1400.

There are twenty-five (25) speaking spots available at each Regular Legislative Board meeting. Each speaker on the public testimony list will have up to two (2) minutes to speak.

If you want to give (cede) your time to someone else, you must attend the Board meeting and announce this to the Board when it is your turn to speak. The person to whom you cede your time will receive the remainder of your 2 minutes and should speak to the same topic. As you have ceded your speaking time, you will not be able to speak again at the meeting.

If you have handouts to give to the Board, please bring 10 copies and give them to Board staff ahead of the meeting. No one should approach the dais with handouts.

Questions about Public Testimony

Submit Questions about Public Testimony