Policies
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0010 Instructional Philosophy
It is the moral, legal, and ethical imperative of Seattle Public Schools to ensure that all students are afforded the opportunity to graduate from high school ready for career, college, and life; prepared to pursue individual goals; and be contributing and included members of their communities and society. The Board of Directors of Seattle Public […]
View0020 Goals for the District
District Goals The Board adopts these District Goals consistent with Board Policy No. 1010, Oversight and Progress Monitoring: 1. The percentage of students in second grade that meet or exceed key grade-level standards for foundational literacy skills will increase from [TBD - spring 2025 data for baseline] in June 2025 to [+ 10 percentage points] […]
View0025 Guardrails for the District
District Guardrails The Board adopts these District Guardrails consistent with Board Policy No. 1010, Oversight and Progress Monitoring: The Superintendent will not allow a student’s school assignment, family income, race or ethnicity, need, or identity to determine access to high standards, rigorous programming, high-quality teaching, and supports. The Superintendent will not allow the existence of […]
View0030 Ensuring Educational and Racial Equity
The Seattle School Board is committed to the success of every student in each of our schools and to achieving our mission of ensuring that all students graduate ready for college, career and life. We believe that the responsibility for student success is broadly shared by District Staff, administrators, instructors, communities and families. We are […]
View0060 Financial Planning and Budgeting
Financial planning or budgeting for any fiscal year, or part thereof, shall be derived from a minimum four-year plan in full compliance with state law and shall not risk fiscal jeopardy or deviate materially from the Board’s goals and resulting District strategic plan. Without limiting the above, for any financial plan or budget, the Superintendent […]
View0061 Administration of the Annual Budget and Financial Reporting
Administration of the Annual Budget With respect to execution of the budget and the ongoing condition of the District’s financial health, the Superintendent shall not cause or allow a material deviation from the annual budget or policy adopted by the Board, cause or allow any fiscal condition that is inconsistent with achieving the Board’s goals […]
View1000 Legal Status and Operation
Legal Status The Board of Directors of the Seattle School District is the corporate entity established by the State of Washington to plan and direct all aspects of the District's operations to the end that students shall have ample opportunity to achieve their individual and collective learning needs. The policies of the Board define the […]
View1005 Responsibilities and Authority of the Board
Responsibilities of the Board The Seattle School Board is charged with setting policy for, and collectively providing governance and oversight of, the Seattle School District on behalf of the people of Seattle. The Board fulfills this governance role through the following functions: Vision and Values: The Board will set student outcomes goals that reflect the […]
View1010 Oversight and Progress Monitoring
Adoption of District Goals and Guardrails The Board shall establish and maintain Goals and Guardrails in partnership with the Superintendent. The Goals and Guardrails guide the District’s strategic plan and are based on the community’s vision and values for Seattle Public Schools’ students and District strategies to improve student outcomes. Requirements for District Goals The […]
View1105 Director Districts
It is the responsibility of the Board of Directors to establish the boundaries of the internal director districts of the school district, and to redistrict the director districts as necessary. The Board of Directors, with the assistance of the administration, Educational Service District, King County, and the State Redistricting Commission, shall prepare a plan for […]
View1111 Oath of Office
Each newly elected, re-elected, or appointed Director shall take an oath or affirmation to support the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Washington and the laws of the State of Washington and to faithfully discharge the duties of the office to the best of their ability. The oath or affirmation must be […]
View1112 Board Member Orientation
Orientation Materials The Board will help newly elected or appointed Directors to understand the policies and procedures of the Board. To facilitate this process, new Directors will be provided with access to: Washington State School Directors’ Association publications (e.g., Open Public Meetings and Conflict of Interest); District Goals, Guardrails, and Strategic Plan; Board Policies and […]
View1113 Board Member Residency
School Board Directors are responsible for ensuring they fulfill all residency requirements as stated in this policy and as provided in state law. State law requires that a Director must remain a resident and registered voter of the Seattle School District to serve as a School Board Director. If a Director’s residence changes to a […]
View1114 Board Member Resignation and Vacancies
Resignation Upon receipt of a Director's written resignation, the Board will acknowledge and announce the resignation at the next Regular Board Meeting. The resignation is effective immediately unless otherwise stated. If a future date is stated, the resignation may be withdrawn any time prior to the effective date. Vacancies In case of a Board vacancy, […]
View1210 Election of Officers
Election of Officers As required by state law, the Board shall annually elect from among its members a President and Vice President to serve one-year terms. Under this policy, the Seattle School Board also annually elects a Member-at-Large to serve a one-year term using the same process as is provided for the legally required officer […]
View1220 Board Officers and Duties of Board Members
President The position of Board President is established as required by state law and is charged under Board Policy with the following responsibilities: Board Calendar: Propose Regular meeting dates in collaboration with the Superintendent for approval by the Board. Board Special meetings may be called by the President or majority of Board directors per Board […]
View1225 Legislative Program and Advocacy
The Board will represent the District’s interests in legislative action to promote the welfare of public education in the state of Washington or will direct those interests to be represented through the Superintendent or a designee. As a public entity, the Board must operate within the bounds of state and federal laws affecting public education. […]
View1240 Committees
The Seattle School Board establishes committees to advise the Board in support of the Board’s oversight and policy responsibilities. Committees will promote Board unity of action by making recommendations to the full Board on areas within their committee charter. Committees may not interfere with the delegation of authority from the Board to the Superintendent. Committees […]
View1250 School Board Student Representatives
The Seattle School Board recognizes the value of student representation to ensure student voice and input informs the Board’s work. The Board will appoint four Student Representatives—consisting of two high school Juniors and two Seniors—to provide student perspectives on Board decisions and discussions. As representatives of the District’s students, School Board Student Representatives will communicate […]
View1310 Board Policies, Manuals, and Superintendent Procedures
Policy and Procedure Manuals State law charges the Board with the responsibility for establishing written policies for the Board’s own governance and for District operations (e.g., RCW 28A.150.230 and RCW 28A.320.015). Seattle School Board policies and supporting procedures are organized into numbered series, beginning with 0000 and ending with 6000. While each policy and procedure […]
View1400 Board Meetings
Each month, the Board will generally convene two meetings of the full Board. The Board convenes (1) regular meetings; (2) special meetings, including Board committee meetings; (3) emergency meetings; (4) public hearings; and (5) closed sessions or executive sessions as necessary to fulfill Board responsibilities. Except for the limited exceptions provided in this policy and […]
View1450 Absence of a Board Member
Each Board Director shall notify the Board President, Superintendent, and School Board Office prior to being absent from a Board meeting whenever possible. A majority of the Board may excuse a Board member’s absence from a meeting if requested to do so. The Board may declare a Director position vacant by resolution after four consecutive […]
View1610 Conflicts of Interest
No Director shall be beneficially interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract made by, through or under the supervision of such Director, in whole or in part, except to the extent allowed by state law. A Director shall disclose and have noted in the official minutes any remote interest, as defined by state law, in […]
View1620 Board-Superintendent Relationship
The successful operation of schools requires a close, effective working relationship between the Board and the Superintendent. The relationship must be one of mutual respect, trust, goodwill, and candor. As the legally designated governing body, the Board retains final authority within the District. The Superintendent is the Board’s professional advisor to whom the Board delegates […]
View1630 Evaluation of the Superintendent
The Board shall establish evaluative criteria and shall be responsible for evaluating the performance of the Superintendent as provided by statute. The Superintendent shall have the opportunity for confidential conferences with the Board members on no less than three occasions in each year, the purpose of which shall be the aiding of the Superintendent in […]
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