Cohort Model (Stages 2 and 3)
The Washington Department of Health Decision Making Tree for K-12 Students at Public and Private Schools, recommends phasing in small groups of students, starting with elementary students and students receiving special education services. To mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Seattle Public Schools is taking a cohort approach.
A cohort is a small group of students that stay together throughout the school day. We will meet a 1 to 15 teacher-student ratio, or less, in all classrooms.
Teacher-Student Ratios
- Kindergarten and first grade classrooms will support up to a 1:15 teacher-student ratio.
- Preschool, including Special Education Preschool, will operate in small subgroups with a maximum group size of 6-10 students.
- Intensive Service Pathway classes (SEL, Moderate Intensive, Focus, Distinct, and Medically Fragile) will meet the cohort ratio of 1:15 or less.
Cohort Zones
Working with five architectural firms, SPS facilities has organized elementary and K-8 schools into "cohort zones" with separate entrances/exits and bathroom facilities to reduce physical interaction between different groups of students.
Recess
Outdoor access and physical movement are important for learning. Students will be released for recess with their cohort zone and will only interact with students from their specific classrooms. The playground structures will be wiped down once a day. Playgrounds will remain closed to the public during non-school hours to support social distancing. Cohorts will have their own playground equipment that can be easily cleaned and disinfected between use.
Meals
In order to reduce interaction between groups of students (classroom cohort), breakfast and lunch will be eaten in the classroom.
School Day Schedules
Bell Schedules (Start and End Times)
School start and end times for students receiving in-person instruction may need to change because of transportation. If start and end times change, it is likely bell schedules would revert back to the 2019-20 schedule. Transportation is building routes in response to the January family survey. More information will be shared as soon as possible.
Intensive Service Pathway Schedule
District staff is negotiating for students enrolled in Special Education Intensive Service Pathways to be the first large group to return for in-person learning beginning on March 1. The district’s current bargaining proposal for PreK-12th grade students enrolled in Special Education Intensive Service Pathways includes four, full days of instruction (M/T/TH/F). To learn more and view sample schedules and the district’s bargaining proposal please visit the bargaining updates announcement.
The district and SEA are scheduled to conclude bargaining in mid-February. By February 22, 2021 plans for in-person learning will be confirmed and communicated.
PreK-1 Grade Schedule
Negotiations regarding PreK-1 in-person learning and the schedule are also underway. Conversations continue about how to best support PreK-1 students and staff while adhering to health and safety protocols and prioritizing consistency of teachers for our youngest learners. Families and staff have shared how important it is for students to remain with their current teacher. Recognizing some teachers may not be able to return to provide in-person services this spring, we are working to minimize the change in student assignments.
The district shared a revised proposal with SEA that keeps students in an A or B group with two days of in-person instruction for each group. To learn more and view sample schedules and the district's bargaining proposal please visit the bargaining updates announcement.
The district and SEA are scheduled to conclude bargaining in mid-February. By February 22, 2021 plans for in-person learning will be confirmed and communicated.
Curriculum
Priority Standards
In a typical school year, student learning is aligned to the Washington State Learning Standards. This year, educators across the district, state, and country need to prioritize some of these learning standards to address disruption to instruction in Spring 2020 and the constraints of the remote learning schedule in 2020-21.
The SPS Curriculum, Assessment, and Instruction team has selected priority standards from the Washington State Learning Standards for each grade-level and course. Whether students are learning remotely or in-person, they will be supported in mastering these standards.
Grading
At Seattle Public Schools, we are focused on anti-racist, equity-aligned grading practices that support greater accuracy, anti-bias, and student motivation and growth mindset in classroom grading.
On August 12, 2020, the SPS School Board voted to temporarily suspend portions of the district's high school grading policy (Policy 2420
) so that students taking high school or middle school courses will earn "A-C-" or "Incomplete" final grades as measures of their learning progress.
Elementary will be reporting progress toward prioritized standards for the 2020-21 school year.
This revised grading scale, along with associated grading practice guidance given to educators, seeks to minimize harm to students and promote equity during remote learning and our response to the pandemic.
Specialist and Support Services
Students receiving in-person learning will continue to have access to specialists including physical education, arts, music, etc. How instruction is provided, in-person or remote or a combination is still being determined. We are reviewing best practices from other districts and their reopening plans and schedules.
Athletics
Washington Interscholastic Activity Association (WIAA), the governing body for high school athletics and activities provided guidance on January 6, 2021 based on Governor Inslee's "Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery" plan announcement. Seattle Public Schools has plans to begin sports during Phase 2 as approved by WIAA. The Athletics Department has been working since fall to establish safety protocols and is ready to begin when Seattle enters Phase 2.
The Metro League adopted a two-season sports model for this year only. This format protects participants’ safety while providing student-athletes the best possible quality athletic experience.
Season 1: Feb. 22 to April 17
- Boys: Football
- Girls: Bowling, Soccer, Slowpitch Softball, Swim and Dive, and Volleyball
- Co-Ed: Cross Country and Golf
Season 2: April 19 – June 12
- Boys: Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Swim and Dive
- Girls: Basketball and Fastpitch Softball
- Co-Ed: Tennis, Track and Field, and Wrestling
Seasons and/or sports may need to be adjusted based on Puget Sound Region's metrics.
As February 22nd approaches, the Metro League reminds all its students and families to follow all pre-participation protocol such as completed online athletic registration (including updated physical examination on file). Each Metro school will continue its established comprehensive COVID-19 safety plan and protocols. The League also urges families to remain aware of COVID-19 protocols surrounding travel and quarantines.
Health and Safety Protocols
Reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission is everyone's responsibility. Local, state, and federal health guidelines have informed the development of the SPS COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols . The district has been using these protocols since the beginning of the pandemic, and while there have been COVID-19 cases at some school sites, they have been isolated and contained.
These health and safety protocols are updated as our understanding of COVID-19 continues to evolve.