What's New

Several times a year, we project enrollment figures for the coming school year. These figures are important because they help us anticipate state funding and allow us to plan the number of staff for each school building. This is a process all districts statewide follow each fall to match the number of teachers with the actual enrollment levels of schools.

To stabilize staffing and classrooms as soon as possible, we use the headcount from the fifth day of school as the official enrollment. This year's count was 53,259 students. Overall, we have more students at SPS this year, but fewer enrolled than we projected in June 2017. This means we are starting the year significantly under our projected enrollment.

Seattle Public Schools has partnered with King County and American Traffic Solutions to deter drivers from illegally passing buses that are loading and unloading students.

Exterior cameras have been added to 120 of the 379 First Student buses that transport our students each day. The cameras capture video of vehicles that appear to be illegally passing the bus when its stop paddle is fully extended.

If you are intending to refer your child for Advanced Learning testing, the deadline is September 22. It’s easy and can even be done on your Smart Phone's web browser. You will need a Source account. Need help? We're here!

Seattle Public Schools is committed to educating children regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, country of origin or immigration status. We will do whatever it takes to make sure every student thrives and want to reassure you, that we will do everything within our power to make sure all of our children are safe, honored and respected while in our care.

We are looking forward to putting our summer learning into action and collaborating with you throughout the year to ensure your child’s academic strengths and needs are known and supported. It is going to be a great year!

Many school bell schedules will change this fall. Schools will also have a 75-minute early release every Wednesday (except the first day of school).

First day of school for 1st through 12th grades is Wednesday, Sept. 6.
First day of school for kindergartners is Monday, Sept. 11. On this page we have pulled together many required documents and critical information to help staff, families and students prepare for the upcoming first day of school.

Five new school buildings will open their doors to students on Wed., Sept. 6.Community celebrations will be held to commemorate the opening of Olympic Hills, Cascadia, Licton Springs, Eagle Staff, and Meany schools.

Last year was challenging because of our budget deficit, but together we demonstrated what can happen when we work together on behalf of all students and our larger community. This letter is to update you on our finalized 2017-18 budget, the Legislature’s two-year budget passed in June, legislative policy changes and anticipated effects on Seattle.

The Seattle School Board adopted the 2017-18 school calendar at the June 7 board meeting.

Listed below are the first and last day of school and school break dates for the 2017-18 school year.

Sept. 6, 2017 First day of school
Sept. 11, 2017 Kindergartners first day of school
Dec. 18, 2017 – Jan. 1, 2018 Winter break (no school)
Feb. 19 – 23, 2018 Mid-winter break (no school)
April 9 -13, 2018 Spring break (no school)
June 22, 2018 Last day of school

The Seattle Public Schools Admissions Center is excited to announce our new online enrollment registration system for new students, resulting in reduced waiting time and paperwork for our families! The online registration is now available.

This summer our district and school websites are receiving a major facelift. Our first priority for the website redesign project is to ensure families, students, staff, and community can easily find critical district and school resources.

School Choice Waitlist Update: District staff have been moving waitlists since April, and the School Board voted July 5 to expand the number of waitlists moves for this coming school year. Families affected by the newly approved moves will be contacted by Admissions staff this summer as choice seats are available.

You may have seen recent news stories raising questions about Seattle schools using homeless designations to improve student athletic eligibility. While confidentiality laws prohibit us from sharing how the students who raised the allegations are being cared for today, we can speak about the systems we are responsible for managing (e.g. academic, athletic and support systems), and what we have been doing since these concerns were raised in March.

Jump Start takes place each morning Monday through Friday, the week of August 21-25, 2017.

Important Dates for Kindergarten Families

• Aug. 21 - 25 Jump Start
• Sept. 6 - 8 Each family meets with their kindergarten teacher
• Sept. 11 First day of school for kindergarten students (grades 1 through 12 will start school on Sept. 6)

Join us on July 13 or August 25 to celebrate the unveiling of the Andrew Morrison's murals at Robert Eagle Staff Middle School, Cascadia Elementary and Licton Springs K-8.

As we close out the 2016-17 school year, I want to thank you, our students and staff, for an incredible year. Last week, close to 3,000 students earned their diploma from Seattle Public Schools.

There will be a special School Board work session on June 28 to discuss the budget, waitlist process and a path forward. The work session will take place at the beginning of the regularly scheduled School Board meeting.

All students, staff, families, and friends are invited to join Seattle Public Schools in the Seattle Pride Parade on Sunday, June 25 at 11 a.m. You can ride on the yellow school bus float or march alongside. We will provide snacks and fun items you can hand out to the crowd.

Congratulations to the reading teams of Loyal Heights, Graham Hill and Leschi elementary schools who took home the 2017 Global Reading Challenge. The Seattle Public Library reading competition for fourth and fifth graders helps cultivate the joy of reading as the students delve into the annual book selection.

With commencement season and end of the 2016-17 school year upon us, our school halls are filled with excitement. From the first days of kindergarten to graduation day, Seattle Public Schools has a deep commitment to every student’s educational journey.

As Seattle Public Schools seniors complete their last exams and try on their graduation regalia, many experience excitement and joy alongside the uncertainty that often accompanies major life transitions. District partnerships, such as The 13th Year program, take aim to ease this type anxiety and prepare every student for life after high school.

Seattle Public Schools offers several summer learning opportunities.

From the Summer Staircase program for elementary students struggling to keep up, to credit recovery classes and career exploration programs for high school students, we're here to help students avoid summer learning loss with academic enrichment programs.

Upcoming dates and locations for Seattle Public Schools high schools graduation ceremonies.

Please join Seattle Public Schools for a community meeting about potential Magnolia School boundaries and related scenarios that may impact Magnolia and Queen Anne area schools.

The district received and processed nearly 6,000 choice enrollment applications for next school year. More than 3,200 students received a requested choice assignment, and more than 2,800 students received their first choice.

Although more than 50 percent of the students who participated in the choice process received a placement, many students are still on school waitlists. Typically, staff do not move waitlists that positively or negatively affect staffing at attendance area schools. Due to the $50 million budget shortfall for 2017-18, the district is conducting additional analysis around waitlist moves.

As a result of this additional analysis, waitlists at attendance area schools will not move until district staff review updated spring staffing allocations in mid-June. Waitlist moves at option schools will continue through August 31 based on current school staffing and available seats in classrooms.

District staff are working to build a 2017-18 school year schedule that best serves the 54,000 students enrolled with Seattle Public Schools. Although we have published several key school year dates, such as 2017-18 first and last day of school, the final calendar will be introduced to the School Board on May 17 and voted on at the June 7 School Board Meeting. The final calendar will reflect the new weekly, early release day for students as well as holidays, and snow make-up days etc.

Advanced Learning referrals for the 2018-19 school year of students currently in kindergarten through 7 grade will be accepted online beginning Monday, May 15. Applications for students in grades 9 through 12 will be available in January 2018.

A recent partnership between two John Muir educators, Seattle chefs, and a local nonprofit is just one of the many inspiring examples of how our teachers are changing the lives of their students.

The Changing the Narrative cooking class developed out of a larger project at the school to help work with educators, students, families, and community partners to collaboratively change perceptions and dispel negative stereotypes about black men. Now these boys are working to give back to their school community so a group of next year’s fifth graders can have the same opportunity.

Seattle Skills Center is teaming up with the Seattle Maritime Academy to help train tomorrow's mariners. Every day, Seattle Public Schools is working with our community partners to help students thrive and eliminate opportunity gaps.

The community is invited to attend the Seattle Public Schools Scholarship Fund Awards Ceremony on May 11 at 7 p.m. in the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence Auditorium.

At the awards event, 26 graduating seniors from each high school will recognized for their personal tenacity, contribution to their community, and academic accomplishments.

Seattle Public Schools appreciates everything our great teachers do each and every day in their classrooms. So, this year, we are celebrating twice as much and twice as long.

Today, just like every day, is a great day to thank a teacher! Join us in giving thanks with your photos and personal story along with the hashtag #ThankATeacher.

Magnolia Elementary School will open in Fall 2018. If Magnolia is opened as an attendance area school, new boundaries will have to be established to assign students to the school. As part of the ongoing work to explore potential boundaries, a community meeting is scheduled for May 1, 2017.

Date: Monday, May 1, 2017 
Time: 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Location: McClure Middle School Gym, 1915 1st Avenue West

Restoration of the $24 million still left a shortfall of $50 million. We prioritized classrooms, restoring all but about 50 positions, which is a 1.5 percent reduction. Central administration was reduced by the greatest percentage amount at 4.7 percent.

The Friday before spring break, central office departments were informed of the specific reductions. These cuts required a combination of closing vacant positions and reducing positions. We have now addressed the $74 million shortfall.

Congratulations to the many schools in our district who have received the 2016 Washington Achievement Awards from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Of the 280 winners, 23 were from Seattle, and a number of our schools are repeat winners.

Please help the Superintendent and School Board in congratulating our schools for their incredible work and support of students.

The annual Seattle Public School Family Survey is scheduled to be distributed the week of April 17. Please ensure that your contact information is up to date with your child’s school by March 16.

Open Enrollment for School Choice for the 2017-18 school year was February 13 to February 24, 2017. School choice applications will be accepted until May 31, but will not receive priority tiebreakers.

The results of Open Enrollment will be available online April 17 and sent out by mail to students granted new assignment in late April.

Visit our Assignment Lookup webpage to view the Open Enrollment Results.

During my frequent school visits, I witness how our schools demonstrate what a district can accomplish when it is committed to providing opportunity that helps every student thrive. I am grateful for our talented, passionate educators, school leaders, central office staff, community partners, and families who collaborate to ensure every student has an excellent and equitable education.

Within the classroom and beyond school grounds, from math instruction to music education, our educators and staff are innovating and collaborating to help ignite a lifelong-passion for learning in Seattle students.

Join us for the Naramore Art Show at Seattle Art Museum to celebrate the success of many of our highest achieving art students.

The show, which is on display in the free Community Corridor, runs until May 28. The awards ceremony and teen night out will be May 5, 6 until 7: 30 p.m.

On Monday, April 3, the Levy Cliff budget restoration recommendations were presented to the School Board. Eighty eight percent of the restored $24 million budget will go back directly to classrooms and academic supports, including over 200 positions. In addition to schools’ baseline staffing, restoration funding will support academic needs including: retention of mentors for first year teachers, funding designated for an elementary English language arts curricula adoption, and our commitment to eliminating opportunity gaps.

Prioritizing classrooms means central office, as appropriate, took the most significant cuts. Schools will take less than a 1.5 percent reduction and central office reductions will equal 4.7 percent.

Fifth graders took the spotlight on March 4 in the All City Honors Elementary Orchestra and Band Concert. The concert brought together more than 150 students from across the district who are invited by their music teachers to participate in the event.

The Seattle Public Schools music and arts department is committed to improving arts-based education across all schools in our district. From critical thinking and communication skills to collaboration and cross-cultural skills, arts education has a critical role to play in developing vital skills needed to succeed in life.

At the board work session on Wed., March 22, the School Board reached consensus on restoring schools’ baseline funding, also known as the Weighted Staffing Standard (WSS). Restoring WSS returns approximately 175 positions to schools.

At this point, that means that less than 2 percent of all school staff will be reduced. Central administration is still scheduled for a 5 percent reduction. Thank you to the School Board for responding to our family, staff, and partners’ priorities and moving to restore school supports so quickly. We hope to have new school staffing allocations communicated by April 7.

Seattle Public Schools faced a $74 million budget shortfall for next school year. Recent bipartisan action in the Legislature reduced that shortfall by $24 million.

Delay of the Levy Cliff resolves one-third of the budget shortfall we are facing next year. We can now prepare, with greater certainty, school and central budgets for the 2017-18 school year. It also allows us to reduce far fewer staff and provide our students and families some stability in the short term as the Legislature continues to work on long-term budget solutions.

We find ourselves in a unique position, of being extremely thankful and relieved, but still facing a $50M budget shortfall. Without full funding from the state, the district will still need to make painful cuts. We are working with our partners to identify restoration priorities.

Seattle Public Schools serves a rich and diverse community and we are dedicated to providing safe, welcoming, and inclusive schools for all students regardless of their religion, race, ethnicity, country of origin, immigration status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Prior to the federal guidance concerning transgender students provided in May 2016, our district established the Superintendent Procedure Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action: Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students procedure, which defines the rights that all transgender and gender nonconforming students attending Seattle Public Schools possess. It is a procedure that is here to stay.

Seattle Public Schools faces a $74 million budget shortfall for 2017-18 due to the state's delay in fully funding education.

As a district, we must advocate for both short and long term funding solutions. It is important the Legislature’s proposed solutions address our 2017-18 deficit as well as ensure we can offer our students a 21st century education for years to come.

As Black History Month comes to a close, Seattle Public Schools continues our commitment to improving academic outcomes for all Seattle students, especially those who have been historically underserved.

Our paramount work is to ensure every student has equitable access to a high-quality education. Narrowing opportunity gaps by addressing the whole child, academics, and social and emotional well-being, will make success for all a reality.

Seattle Public Schools is integrating social and emotional learning to help eliminate opportunity gaps for all students. RULER is currently used by 60 schools across the district.

From time to time, our normal operating hours or transportation services may be adjusted due to ice or snow.

If inclement weather makes a schedule change necessary, the decision will be communicated through the following methods: phone calls, email messages, social media, and local news channels.

Seattle Public Schools is in the process of changing the way we track vaccination records and will begin using an online immunization system called School Module.

This system, created by the Washington State Department of Health allows us to view your child’s immunization record quickly and determine if your child has all the required vaccines needed for school.

Magnolia Elementary School is scheduled to open as an attendance area elementary school in Fall 2018 to help relieve capacity challenges and accommodate future growth in Queen Anne and Magnolia. Please join SPS Enrollment Planning and the principals of Catherine Blaine, Coe, and Lawton at the upcoming community meeting to learn more about boundary changes and share feedback with district staff.

Seattle Public Schools values our students, our staff, and our families. We are committed to educational excellence for every student. We will work thoughtfully, diligently, and transparently to achieve the best outcomes possible for SPS students, while acknowledging that any budget cuts are not in the best interest of our students while facing unprecedented budget challenges.

Eliminating opportunity gaps is the issue of our time. Under the leadership of Superintendent Nyland, the entire school district is focused on developing strategies to ensure each student is known, challenged, and supported. Substitute teachers are taking up this challenge with culturally responsive teaching.

The Daily Journal of Commerce newspaper annually honors a regional, newly constructed building: the Hazel Wolf K-8 at Pinehurst School building is a finalist for this year’s award. Voting is open at djc.com until Feb. 28.

Open Enrollment ends Fri., Feb. 24, 2017. If you would like to request a different assignment for your student, you must submit a school choice form. Forms submitted after Feb. 24 do not receive tiebreaker priorities. Please submit your school choice form today!

Use our Assignment Lookup Tool to check your student’s school assignment for next year.

Your student’s school assignment may have changed due to new schools opening in Fall 2017 and new school boundaries approved by the School Board. In addition, some program locations have changed through updates to the Student Assignment Plan. Information on the school boundary changes is available on the Growth Boundaries webpage.

Through positive, intentional partnerships with educators, community organizations, and families, we can support the unique strengths and needs of every child in our care. Every day our educators, staff, and community partners extend themselves just a little further to meet the needs of our students.

Seattle Public Schools is committed to educating children regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, country of origin, or a student’s immigration status. We will do whatever it takes to make sure every student thrives and I want to reassure you, we will do everything within our power to make sure that all of our children are safe, honored, and respected while in our care.

The Musical Pathways Project, active in eight Southeast and Southwest Seattle schools, augments schools’ instrumental music departments with additional music teaching artists from two Seattle orchestras.

Alan Sugiyama passed away on January 2, 2017. Our deepest condolences go to Al Sugiyama's family and friends. Sugiyama, a champion of public education and a great friend to the Seattle community, was elected to the School Board in 1989 and served two full terms.

The Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors and Superintendent Larry Nyland presented the District’s Citizen Service Award to Kenny Alhadeff for his decades of service in support of district needs and initiatives.

Superintendent Nyland shares 2017-18 budget updates and highlights activities that have taken place that align with the district’s legislative agenda and help raise the visibility of the budget issues with our community and state representatives.

Over the past few months, staff and the School Board have been working to address the projected budget shortfall and unless the state takes action by February 28, the district will need to move forward with the budget reduction plan.

On Monday, January 16, many of us honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by participating in marches, service days at schools, and advocacy in Olympia for the full funding of education. In his message to families and community, Superintendent Nyland reaffirms the district's commitment to realizing the dream of Dr. King.

An open letter to the Washington State Legislature from Members of the Seattle Public Schools African-American Male Advisory Committee

We call on the Washington State Legislature to fulfill the citizens’ responsibility to the children of our state by performing its paramount, court-ordered duty of amply funding public education in Washington state.

In his January 12, letter to families, Superintendent Nyland shares an update about the School Board's consensus of how to address $63.1 million of the district’s budget deficit. Initial reductions brought the $74.2 million dollar shortfall down to $44 million and included use of our reserve fund and other non-staff related reductions. The Board has approved a $4 million dollar reduction of central office. This is 5.3 percent of the central budget, larger than the school based reductions. These cuts will be determined in consultation with the School Board. Over the next few weeks, we will address the remaining $11.1 million dollar gap in order to start next school year with a balanced budget, which is required by state law.

Special Meeting of the Board on Jan. 11, was recorded. On January 4, at the regular Board meeting, the Seattle School Board delayed the Student Assignment Transition Plan vote in order to analyze the budget implications and gather additional data and feedback from SPS staff and the community. Because the original SAP vote would have been televised, Seattle Public Schools will broadcast the January 11 meeting.

School Board will vote on the 2017-18 SAP on January 11 The Seattle School Board will discuss and take action on the 2017-18 Student Assignment Plan (SAP) on January 11, 2017 at a special meeting of the board. The meeting is public and the community is invited to attend.

For decades, our state’s support of public education has depended more and more on the use of local levy resources to backfill against underfunded state responsibilities. And when the state does provide funding, in nearly all cases, it underfunds the true cost of the work. Local levy revenues must make up the difference. Currently, the state pays 70 cents for every dollar it takes to fund critical education supports—including teacher compensation.

You are invited to attend a community meeting focused on next year’s projected budget gap. The district’s budget office will be presenting the current budget challenges and soliciting feedback. Seattle Council PTSA leadership will be sharing information on how to get involved.

Next meeting will be Tues., Jan. 3, 6:30 until 8 p.m., at Franklin High School. Interpretation in Chinese, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese will be available.

Many celebrate the new year with revelry and festive parties. Our return to school on January 3 may not have as much celebration, but it does begin with opportunity and hope. As we enter this season of hope and opportunity, as well as challenge, our focus remains on unconditionally believing in our children and the importance of instilling positive beliefs, resilience, and hope.

On December 7, the Seattle School Board elected new officers for the 2017 calendar year.Board member Sue Peters was elected president, Leslie Harris was elected vice-president, and Scott Pinkham was elected member-at-large.

The new board officers assume duties immediately and serve in their roles through the 2017 calendar year. They bring a wealth of experience to the executive committee as well as a commitment to authentically engaging our families, community, and staff.

Health Warning: Mumps There are 11 confirmed mumps cases in King County. If a case of mumps occurs at a school, students who are not up to date with the MMR vaccine may be asked to stay home from school.

It’s important to know the signs and symptoms of mumps and what you can do to protect your child and others from getting mumps. Mumps is a disease caused by a virus and typically starts with a few days of fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness and a loss of appetite; the person may also be develop swollen cheeks or jaw.

This is the largest budget deficit we have faced since the late 1970s and has the potential to erode many of the programs, supports and services students are currently receiving. Closing the $74 million gap will be the most difficult challenge we’ve faced in decades. Right now there are many unknowns. These unknowns will cause challenges and disruptions to the good work that our schools, educators and central office staff are doing.

The Washington State Legislature’s failure to adequately address public education funding may result in a significant budget shortfall next school year. In 2017-18, the district’s ability to serve students in the way they deserve will be challenged. Unless the Legislature takes appropriate action to address school funding, the district has a projected deficit of approximately $74 million for the 2017-18 school year. This is the largest budget deficit we have faced since the late 1970s and has the potential to erode many of the programs, supports, and services students are currently receiving.

The Washington State Legislature’s failure to adequately address public education funding may result in a significant budget shortfall next school year. In 2017-18, the district’s ability to serve students in the way they deserve will be challenged. Unless the Legislature takes appropriate action to address school funding, the district has a projected deficit of approximately $74 million for the 2017-18 school year. This is the largest budget deficit we have faced since the late 1970s and has the potential to erode many of the programs, supports, and services students are currently receiving.

Districts, like Seattle, are forced to make up the financial difference by passing local levies and by asking our community and families to cover the cost of basic services.

The state only pays 70 cents for every dollar it costs to provide our students with the bare minimum services.

I know that the district’s vision of every student prepared for college, career, and life is possible, but it is only possible through relationship and partnership. It is only possible when we are united in our commitment to each and every student’s success. So, I want to take this opportunity to thank you. Thank you for your commitment to Seattle Public Schools and to our students. Thank you for believing in public education

To improve K-12 students’ academic access and achievement, the Seattle Education Association (SEA) and Seattle Public Schools (SPS) agreed to add 20 minutes of core instructional time to the school day starting in the 2017-18 school year. This action also brings our instructional hours into alignment with other districts in the region.

In addition, SEA and SPS agreed to add teacher collaboration time into the work day to support common planning time and improved student outcomes.

Thank you to the 11,000 plus family members, teachers, principals and community partners who responded to last month’s survey on how to add 20 minutes to the instructional day and provided guidance on when to implement the one hour of teacher collaboration time per week.

The 2016 State of the District drew hundreds of attendees on November 7, 2016. Moving at a lively pace, the event alternated between updates on progress, examples of success and challenges, and student performance.

The emcee, Zachary Stowell, Assistant Principal of Catherine Blaine K-8 explained that the State of the District event was “about telling the story of Seattle Public Schools, students and the community; a story of hope, social justice and a commitment to ensure that every single student in our thriving city is successful.”

On Nov. 16, 2016, the Seattle School Board approved changes to the 2013 Growth Boundaries plan for implementation in the 2017-18 school year.

Many schools will retain their current boundaries. Overall, as a result of the board vote, there are only two changes to elementary school boundaries, and the new Meany and Eagle Staff middle schools will open with minor adjustments to their previously approved boundaries.

Presentation by Tom Ahearne to School Board, lead counsel, Network for Excellence in Washington Schools, at the November 16, 2016 School Board meeting. In his presentation he explains the state’s failure to fully fund education and the impact on school districts.

Seattle Public Schools continues to remain dedicated to maintaining positive school climates that promote student learning and development.

We are committed to building school communities where all students, families, and staff are safe, respected, and engaged. We expect all students to be treated positively and with respect without fear of bullying or intimidation. Our commitment to the well-being of each and every student is stronger than ever.

Congratulations to all Seattle Public Schools recognized at the Puget Sound Educational Service District's 2016 School of Distinction Award ceremony.

We have 11 schools this year, with nine repeating from previous years!

Seattle Public Schools (SPS) and Seattle Education Association (SEA) are united in our commitment to the success of every student in every classroom, every day.

An unwavering commitment to ensuring racial equity in education anchors our work. This commitment was demonstrated last week with the launch of the #CloseTheGaps campaign and highlighted on Wednesday, October 19 as educators across the district led conversations and lessons with their students focused on racial equity and social justice.

Join us Thurs., Nov. 3, from 6 p.m. at the South Shore K-8 School to discuss potential funding changes for the 2017-18 school year.

You're invited to join Superintendent Nyland for the annual Seattle Public Schools State of the District on Nov. 7, at 5 p.m. in the Franklin High School Performing Arts Center

Join us for a lively evening of learning, reflection and celebration. Hear directly from our students, school leaders and community partners and leave inspired and committed to our collective work.

Seattle Public Schools is pleased to welcome John Krull to serve as chief information officer. John joins SPS with a powerful technology, business and teaching foundation.

Eliminating opportunity gaps and ensuring educational excellence for each and every student is the issue of our time.

As a result, we are announcing a new campaign that demonstrates our collective commitment to eliminating opportunity gaps and accelerating learning for all students—specifically for our black students and other students of color. The campaign is called #CloseTheGaps. We are kicking it off the week of October 16-22, 2016, and we are asking you to join us.

Seattle Public Schools seeking input on 2017-18 School Schedule Changes.

Seattle Public Schools and Seattle Education Association are partnering to increase students’ access to core content, improve instruction and accelerate student achievement.

As the district plans to make this schedule adjustment, we want to hear from families and stakeholders on how the additional time should be added and how and when to schedule the collaboration time.

The Source, Schoology and other student tools can be found with the link called "Student Portal" on the top of the Seattle Public Schools district and school websites.

Seattle Public Schools, along with the Puget Sound Educational Service District and neighboring districts, have committed to addressing chronic absenteeism.

Attendance has been proven to be one of the most powerful predictors of academic achievement and can have a dramatic impact on key milestones, including third grade reading, 9th grade achievement, high school graduation, and life success.

On Friday, September 16, 2016, a small but mighty group of educators and a committed group of African American men demonstrated to anyone lucky enough to be John Muir Elementary School, that in our community we have enough love, enough resolve, and enough commitment to ensure that every child in Seattle thrives.

Join us at one of five community meetings this fall to learn more about the upcoming school boundary changes for the 2017-18 school year. Interpretation services will be available; see the schedule below for languages.

Rainier Beach High School is one of 20 schools from across the country to be named a “School of Opportunity” by the National Education Policy Center.

A warm welcome to our students and families as we enter the 2016-17 school year. Our schools, the heartbeat of our community, are ready to go! This summer, we worked hard to prepare for a great school year. Our staff are eager to care for, support and challenge each student to pursue excellence.

Seattle Public Schools is opening five school buildings for the 2016-17 school year. Seattle voters approved the Building Excellence IV (BEX IV) capital levy in 2013, which enabled the district to build or modernize 17 schools to address capacity needs.

School Choice has ended and waitlists have been dissolved for the 2016-17 school year as of August 15, 2016.

The August 15 waitlist dissolution date was established in order to provide greater predictability around student assignment and minimize staffing disruption for schools and families prior to the start of school.

Helen Joung has been selected as the executive director of schools for the Southwest region for Seattle Public Schools. She comes to the position after serving as principal of Olympic Hills Elementary for the past four years.

The executive director of schools position is critical to students’ success. Executive directors focus on school improvement, accountability, principal performance and work to effectively engage the communities of their schools.

Ninety three percent of Seattle Public elementary schools have on-site care programs.

Programs offer fee-based before and after school, school break, and (usually) summer care for elementary school-aged children. Many also offer preschool for 3-5 year olds (full day or part day). These school-based programs are operated by licensed community care providers or Seattle Parks and Recreation/ Associated Recreation Council.

In the McCleary versus Washington state ruling, the state Supreme Court directed the state Legislature to provide ample, equitable and dependable basic education funding.

Because the state has failed to fulfill its constitutional obligation to fully fund education, Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn has brought a lawsuit against multiple school districts including Seattle Public Schools.

Effective July 1, Seattle Public Schools appointed Wyeth Jessee to Chief of Student Supports, a new district division that will focus on the implementation of the Multi-Tiered System of Supports model.

Multi-Tiered System of Supports is a framework designed to accelerate academic and social/emotional learning behaviors for all students through high quality instruction and intervention.

The events of this last week have left our nation and community in a state of grief. Students’ safety and emotional well being are a primary concern of Seattle Public Schools.

We have collected several resources to help adults talk with their students about troubling events.

When Superintendent Larry Nyland spoke at Roosevelt High School’s graduation ceremony on June 17, he was not just marking a major moment for students but also celebrating his 50th graduation anniversary from the very same high school – and more.

All schools’ start and end times will change for the 2016-17 school year.

We have gathered resources to help families as they restructure their schedules, including before and after school childcare, after school activities and nutrition programs.

An adoption committee of families, staff and community members has selected materials from three vendors as finalists to consider for use in elementary reading and writing.

The selection of finalists completes round 1 of the adoption process. In round 2, the finalists will be field tested in 30 primary and intermediate classrooms across the district.

How does Seattle Public Schools determine where funding goes? Learn all about it in our Budget Book.

The recommended budget for fiscal year 2016-17 – known as the Budget Book – has been posted for review, and the community is invited to participate in a public hearing.

The recommendations were informed in part by surveys of more than 1,500 families as well as student focus groups.

Seattle Public Schools is recognizing Erin Okuno and the Southeast Seattle Education Coalition (SESEC) for being the district’s nominees for a 2016 Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) Community Recognition Award.

Erin and SESEC were recently recognized by WASA for their outstanding work for district families and students.

Students and staff at Broadview-Thomson K-8 teacher surprised and congratulated teacher Shana Brown who was recently recognized by the United States Department of Education as a great educator.

Dozens of Seattle Public Schools educators gave up some Saturday time this spring to learn media arts such as graphic design, video and podcasting.

The Media Arts for Every Secondary Classroom series of professional development offered trainings over four Saturdays, with the final training held at Amazon headquarters in South Lake Union.

The classes were for teachers of any subject.

Congratulations to the 30 winners and the more than 200 district middle and high school students who are participating in the Naramore Art Show at the Seattle Art Museum.

The winners were honored at the Awards Ceremony on Friday, May 6, but the show continues in SAM’s free Community Corridor until May 22.

The Alliance for Education named NOVA High School Principal, Dr. Mark Perry, their 2016 winner of the Thomas B. Foster Award for Excellence.

The first week in May is set aside each year for thanking and honoring teachers, and all of our instructional staff, for all they do to serve the students of Seattle Public Schools.

Tell us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram about a teacher who has influenced you or your student and how you plan to celebrate teachers during the week. Be sure to use the hashtag #ThankATeacher when sharing.

Garfield and Roosevelt High Schools were recently ranked among Niche’s top ten “2016 Best Public High Schools in Seattle Metro.”

Class sizes will be smaller for students in kindergarten through third grade beginning this fall, thanks to funding from the 2016 Legislature.

The funding comes with strict class-size requirements for the primary grades. Because these requirements must be followed in order to receive the funding, this could impact how classes are organized: It may mean more split-grade-level classes.

The Seattle Public Schools 2015-16 Conservation Champions have been announced.

The 25 winners include Alki Elementary School Custodial Engineer, Amy Fields, the whole Green Team at Hamilton International Middle School and Licton Springs K-8 second grader, Aoife Bryan.

Nationally, April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The district is distributing prevention materials to families and students this week.

The materials were selected by the Task Force for the Prevention of and Response to Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault and were shared with principals and assistant principals at leadership learning events earlier this year.

Shana Brown has been selected by the United States Department of Education to be recognized as a great educator. She will be among several honorees in attendance at the National Teacher of the Year ceremony, Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at the White House.

A full-time social studies and English/language arts teacher at Broadview-Thomson K-8 School, Shana also serves as a teacher leader in the integration of Native history curriculum into K through 12 social studies.

The Ballard High School newspaper earned the top Best in Show award at the National High School Journalism Convention in Los Angeles.

The first place award is the highest placement in a national competition for the Talisman newspaper, which was also nominated in 2014 and 2015 as a finalist for the high school equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize, the Pacemaker award.

Seattle Public Schools values administrative professionals for the work they do for students, families, employees, volunteers, business partners and community members. Whether they work the front desk at an elementary school or manage files at the central office, they serve a key role in keeping the district functioning efficiently. Administrative professionals keep our district running smoothly.

We encourage you to express your gratitude to your administrative professional colleagues for the support they provide and highlight their importance to the district.

Working with the City of Seattle and Seattle Police Department, all of the district's 98 schools will support safe and secure places for victims of crime and discrimination directed toward the Seattle's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) communities.

Congratulations to Ingraham High School's Rocketry Team for participating in the 2016 NASA Student Launch challenge, held April 13 through 16, 2016 near NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Help Seattle Public Schools honor our parent volunteers on National Volunteer Week!

Take a moment to say thank you to a school parent volunteer for their service this week. And hop over to our Twitter page to share your parent volunteer stories!

For students who play an instrument in a band or orchestra, or sing in a choir at Ballard High School, March has been both a busy and exciting month. And for teachers and families who guide and support Ballard’s young, accomplished musicians, the word ‘proud’ can’t begin to describe their feelings over the last 30 days.

Student artwork from Van Asselt and McDonald International elementary schools is currently on display at the Schack Art Center in Everett. The display is part of the Youth Art Month Exhibition designed to encourage support for quality school art programs.

Congratulations to "The Book Thieves" team from Thornton Creek Elementary School for winning Seattle Public Library's Global Reading Challenge.

Students from Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School recently competed in the 2016 Washington Chinese Language and Talent Competition held at Chief Sealth.

Seattle Public Schools is pleased to announce the launch of its Accessible Educational Resources Portal for technology, communication and educational resources.

The portal is now linked from every Seattle Public Schools website, including the district and school sites, on the bottom of every page with the link titled "Non-Discrimination Statement."

As part of the growth boundaries approved in 2013, there will be boundary changes for 18 attendance area elementary and nine middle schools in Fall 2017.

Meetings are being held in April 2016 to begin sharing information about the boundary changes that will be implemented for the 2017-18 school year.

Mia Williams, Aki Kurose Middle School principal, named the Washington State Middle School Principal of the Year by the Association of Washington School Principals. Williams earned the prestigious state award because of her passion to provide exceptional learning experiences for her school's students and remarkable contributions to the profession.

“Under Mia’s leadership, Aki Kurose has consistently been one of the highest growth schools in the entire district. Year after year, students at Aki have shown some of the strongest annual academic growth,” says Superintendent Nyland.

Seattle Public Schools, United Way of King County, and Seattle Sounders FC are teaming-up to make sure every student eats breakfast every morning because students who eat breakfast do better in school.

To drive home the point, Seattle Sounders midfielder, Cristian Roldan, visited West Seattle Elementary School where he talked with students about how important it is to fuel up on healthy foods every morning.

Black history month this year was filled with exciting and educational experiences in our district. Many schools ensured that their students were privy to the African American story as a part of the greater American story.

The new facility for the Hazel Wolf K-8 program at the Pinehurst site garnered international attention and recognition.

The building project, designed by NAC Architects of Seattle and officially named Pinehurst School, was a finalist for the “Future Projects Education Award 2015” by World Architecture News.

Ballard High School Wind Ensemble on their way Carnegie Hall

The ensemble has been accepted into the "New York International Music Festival" in April, 2017.

Join us for "A Community Conversation to Impact Educational Inequities: An Introduction to the Mayor's Educational Summit" on March 15.

This meeting is hosted by Seattle Alliance of Black School Educators, the City of Seattle, Seattle Public Schools and the United Black Christian Clergy.

Washington Middle School’s Senior Orchestra recently joined musicians from around the world performing at the Wintergrass Festival in Bellevue.

Several Seattle Public Schools community partners recently joined the district during a training session on the RULER Approach curriculum in order to better serve students' emotional needs during the school day.

RULER stands for Recognizing, Understanding, Labeling, Expressing, and Regulating emotions.

The Department of School Family Partnerships and African American Male Scholars Think Tank is hosting regional community meetings to inform and get feedback from students, families, school staff and community stakeholders about the African American Male Scholars Initiative, to inform recommendations to the superintendent.

Seattle Public Schools congratulates our great teachers and staff who were recently recognized by Superintendent Larry Nyland and the Seattle School Board for their outstanding work in the district between October and January of the 2015-16 school year.

School vaccination regulations in Washington state have changed for the upcoming 2016-17 school year. The Washington State Department of Health now requires two doses of chickenpox (Varicella) vaccine for all students in grades K through 12.

Students who do not have two doses of vaccine by the start of classes in September, 2016, could be excluded from school. Find out what you need to do!

Cleveland High School is one of six schools and school districts named STEM Lighthouse Schools by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).

Seattle Public Schools is celebrating our successful partnership with the City of Seattle and the Seattle Preschool Program and may be considering more preschool opportunities for families.

Seattle Public Schools welcomed Seattle Alliance of Black School Educators and Dr. Ivory Toldson White House Deputy Director to John Stanford Center for a recent symposium dedicated to closing the Opportunity Gap for African American males and other students of color.

Seattle Public Schools is proud to announce a partnership with the U.S. Department of Education to eliminate chronic student absenteeism and further close the opportunity gap.

Part of President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper: Every Student, Every Day Campaign, the newly created Success Mentors Initiative is designed to pair students with mentors to help students improve attendance and succeed in school.

Thank you to Seattle voters, families, PTSAs and staff for your support.

"On behalf of the 52,000 students served by Seattle Public Schools, I want to express my immense gratitude. We need the support and collaboration of our entire community to reach the goal we have for our students – that they graduate from high school prepared for college, careers and life. The consistent strong approval for Seattle levies is just one of the many ways in which our community shows that support." Dr. Larry Nyland

Based on the initial ballot count released by King County Elections on February 9, Seattle’s voters showed strong support for the renewal of two school district levies. If the trend continues as all votes are counted, both levies will be approved.

“On behalf of the 52,000 students served by Seattle Public Schools, I want to express my gratitude to Seattle voters,” said Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Larry Nyland.

Superintendent Larry Nyland is looking to recruit new members for the district's African American Male Scholars Advisory Committee to the Superintendent for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 school years.

The nomination deadline for recruits is Friday, February 19, 2016.

Seattle voters have the opportunity to renew funding for two levies on Tuesday, February 9, 2016.

At Seattle Public Schools, we are committed to success for all students so they can graduate from high school prepared for college, careers and life. These two levies play an important role in our ability to meet our goals.

Both levy measures will replace expiring levies that voters previously approved. They are part of Seattle Public Schools' long-term levy plan and will support public education for Seattle's students.

Seattle is growing, and Seattle Public Schools is running out of classroom space due to increased enrollment and state mandated reductions in class size (which require more classrooms). A list of providers who have been notified they need to make alternative plans for the upcoming school year has been posted.

Seattle Public Schools is submitting two school levies to Seattle voters for renewal for the February 9, 2016, special election: they are the Operations Levy and the Buildings, Technology and Academics IV (BTA IV) Capital Levy.

Quickly find information about technology services provided to Seattle Public Schools students, families and the public.

Holocaust survivor George Brady and teacher Fumiko Ishioka recently shared their story of Hana's suitcase with students from several Seattle schools.

Hana's suitcase is both the title of the book, Hana's Suitcase, and an actual suitcase that belonged to George Brady's sister, Hana Brady, who died at a young age, inside the concentration camp at Auschwitz. And here's how it all came together.

Seattle Public Schools, Seattle's Department of Transportation, and Seattle Parks and Recreation are teaming up to create a safer walkways for students as part of a partner program called, Safe Routes, designed to improved student access to schools, to encourage more kids to walk and bike to school.

So far, a dozen Seattle schools have safer routes to school because of the program. Here’s a glimpse into this project at Mercer International Middle School

Franklin High students got a surprise visit from well-known rapper, Lupe Fiasco, Wednesday, as the school held their eighth annual Power Justice Freedom Summit in celebration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.

Winter Music Concert, 2015 - Carmina Burana from James Taylor on Vimeo.

Congratulations to the musicians of Denny and Sealth and their music teachers, Mr. Morales, Mr. MacIntyre, and Mr. Goetz, on a terrific Winter Concert!

The audience was treated to performances ranging from Jazz favorites to classical masterpieces to the March of Nutcracker, all in holiday style. Go Dolphins and Seahawks!

The Seattle Seahawks and Roosevelt High School honored special education teacher, Tom Ledcke, for his work as club adviser for Roosevelt's Unified Sports club and Unified Drama program.

Tom dedicates countless hours to the clubs in order to include students with disabilities in basketball, soccer and acting on the stage. When Tom started his programs only two students showed-up to participate. Now, dozens of students with disabilities take part

Twenty three Seattle Public Schools are being recognized with Washington Achievement Awards from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).

The awards acknowledge the schools for improvements in areas including reading, English, math and overall outstanding academic success.

Mercer International School has continued its success, earning the award for the past several years and  honors this year in three categories: overall excellence, reading growth and math growth.

Forget about memorizing the capitals of the nifty fifty. This is what Geography looks like at Roosevelt High School: To learn about the impact of industrialization, students create a SIM on paper of how their village is transformed by the Industrial Revolution starting in the 18th century, with all of its sooty impacts on people and the environment. Then they go back and plan a 1850s city from scratch, using theory and further analysis to create a better post-industrialized place using their geographic perspective.

About a year ago, Loyal Heights Elementary parent and filmmaker Terence Brown set up his camera and sat down with a group of students who were just finishing fifth grade. He wanted to capture their thoughts about how it feels to be 11, not really a kid but not quite a teenager.

Jalen, a third-grader at Emerson Elementary, is one of a select group of Seattle Public Schools students studying dance at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School through PNB’s DanceChance program. Twice a week he takes time out of his school day to take the bus to PNB for classes.

The annual Naramore art exhibit is on display on the first floor of the Seattle Art Museum. The exhibition of Seattle Public Schools middle and high school art is a time-honored tradition, named for Floyd J. Naramore, an architect who designed local public schools from 1919 to 1941.

The Creative Advantage is a partnership between Seattle Public Schools and the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture that aims to ensure that every student at every district school has the opportunity to learn through the arts every year, from kindergarten through 12th grade.

It’s a daily ritual, the walk around the perimeter of the Bailey Gatzert Elementary playground: Teacher Daren Chamberlin leading 20 pre-kindergarteners, like little ducklings in a row.

Huge congratulations to Shelly Ellis, named National Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year by SHAPE America.

Shelly, who teaches physical education and health at Broadview-Thomson K-8, earned the regional honor this fall to place her in the running for the national award. The top honor was announced Friday, March 20, 201

Artwork submitted by two Seattle Public Schools high school students were named Regional Award Winners, and three additional students received awards for their artwork in the Regional High School Art Show, an annual event hosted by the Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD).

Teaching math is one way that Seattle Public Schools prepares students for college and careers, and the new state-mandated Smarter Balanced assessments this spring will help teachers and school leaders keep track of student progress.

During one week in February, eighth-graders from TOPS K-8 work with and for people experiencing homelessness and others in need. They sort fresh vegetables into bags at the Rainier Valley Food Bank. They serve coffee and doughnuts at the St. Francis House. They prepare food for and serve residents of the Compass Center. They make meals-to-go for Operation Sack Lunch.

The counseling teams at Madison and Denny middle schools each received a Career Guidance Award of Excellence 2015 from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The award recognizes middle and high schools that operate highly effective, inclusive guidance and counseling programs. Congratulations!

No student should be left out of physical education. In this video, learn about the great things they're doing in the Adapted P.E. Program at Green Lake Elementary to make P.E. accessible for students with disabilities.

As a member of the Seattle School Board from 1969 through the 1983-84 school year, Richard Alexander helped see the district through one of its most contentious periods: the busing and school desegregation debates. His support for desegregation hit home when someone planted a burning cross on his front lawn and teachers picketed in front of his house.

Imagine you’re an eighth-grader working on a project about native peoples in North America by video conferencing and sharing documents electronically with students in Mexico City. Or maybe you’re a special education teacher who is able to bring a student “into the classroom” from home to join in a small group discussion with other students in the class.

James Whittaker let students in on the secret to getting rich and solving the world’s problems at the same time: coding.

“The new lower classes are going to be the people who can’t code,” Whittaker told a Java class at Ingraham High School on Dec. 8 to kick off Computer Science Education Week. Whittaker is a Distinguished Engineer at Microsoft.

Noah Zeichner, who teaches Global Leadership, American Government and Theory of Knowledge at Chief Sealth International High School, is one of only 50 teachers worldwide named a finalist for the Global Teacher Prize. The prize recognizes “one exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession” and comes with a $1 million award.

The Ballard High School Talisman newspaper was named a finalist for the prestigious Pacemaker award, sometimes referred to as the Pulitzer Prize of scholastic journalism. It was the first time The Talisman placed at a national level.

As indicated in our last letter addressing the inadvertent release of student information by our now former law firm, Seattle Public Schools obtained a court order to recover the records from the one individual who received them.

The student information that was given to a parent by mistake includes directory information on over 7,400 students, including date of birth, grade and school assignment. The files also include student identification numbers, special education assignments, disability categories and special education transportation information. We believe this information includes substantially all of the special education students in the district.

Recreating a Lego minifigure in 3-D, down to every precisely measured ridge and notch, is remarkably complex.

"Riffing on the Dream," the provocative film created by Chief Sealth International High School's Black Student Union, won the Gold Jury Prize for Youth Visions at the third annual Social Justice Film Festival.

Late Tuesday night Seattle Public Schools learned that a law firm retained by the district to handle a complaint against the district inadvertently sent personally identifiable student information to an individual involved in the case.

The district promptly removed the law firm from the case and is working to ensure that all improperly released records are retrieved or destroyed.

With the passage of I-1351, we've received a number of questions about how this will affect our district. It is too soon yet to know exactly how I-1351 will impact Seattle Public Schools in the wake of the Supreme Court McCleary ruling and actions anticipated during this Legislative session.

Seattle Public Schools celebrates with the City of Seattle and says a resounding thank you to Seattle voters for their approval of the pre-school initiative.

Connectors University, a 10-week series of classes offered by Seattle Public Schools. The idea is to empower families with information on how to navigate the school system, how to create a college-going culture, and how to support children’s academic success. Participants become “connectors” between their schools, their students and the larger community.

Eleven Seattle schools are among the winners of the 2014 School of Distinction award, which recognizes schools with the highest sustained improvements in reading and math over the previous five years.

Three short films by students from the Ballard High School Digital Filmmaking Program were winners at Fresh Film Northwest. This competitive regional festival is coordinated by the Northwest Film Center in Portland, Oregon.

Students in Chief Sealth International High School’s Black Student Union had question for their fellow students: What questions do you have for us?

District directs career-planning firm to destroy all student data.

Seattle Public Schools previously partnered with a company to assist students, parents and school counselors in career planning and to create authentic High School and Beyond plans, a state graduation requirement.

While bouncing from foster families to homeless shelters, a Chief Sealth student still somehow managed to find dressy clothes to wear to class. The girl knew that to stay in the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism, she was required to don business attire on Tuesdays.

Frank E. Inslee died Monday night. The father of Gov. Jay Inslee inspired thousands of Seattle Public Schools students as a biology teacher, high school coach and athletic director for the district.

Leadership at Seattle Public Schools understands the value of overnight field trips for our students. We also place a high priority on student safety both at school and on school-sanctioned trips. In light of recent events, the district updated our field trip policies and increased training for staff to help ensure student safety.

Beth Fortune, who teaches Orchestra and Eclectic Strings at Washington Middle School is one of only 25 semi-finalists nationwide for the 2015 Grammy Music Educator Award. She was selected from 7,000 applicants.

Seattle Public Schools continues to see an increase in students every year, with more than 53,000 students attending our 97 schools in the 2014-15 school year.

Lyon Terry, a 4th grade teacher at Lawton Elementary, was today named Washington State's Teacher of the Year. The announcement was made by State Superintendent Randy Dorn at a celebration at EMP that included Terry and eight fellow regional award winners.

How much should a student with a disability be encouraged to participate in physical education class? How much space does the student need? What if the student experiences sensory overload in P.E.?

While classes have begun for students in Grades K-12, the youngest students in Seattle Public Schools are waiting for their first day. Families of preschoolers can find September start dates and times as well as contact information for SPS preschool programs below.

All Seattle Public School students in grades K–12 will be able to access their personal email accounts from district computers beginning this fall. This change comes at the request of district principals with approval of senior leadership.