On Wednesday night, the Board members of Seattle Public Schools participated in a work session to discuss implementing the new student assignment plan. While one half of the work session was devoted to the budget, the other half focused on the transition plan and covered topics pertaining to grandfathering and siblings.
Here are some key areas of interest:
It will take several years to complete implementation of the new student assignment plan – and so this proposed transition plan is just the first step in implementation. Members of the Board will vote on this transition plan on January 20.
The rules for the current transition plan are good for only the 2010-11 school year – There will be subsequent transition steps in future years to phase in the plan but SPS needs data from the first year of implementation to determine those transition steps.
All current students and all new students who register early will get an assignment letter at the end of February (before Open Enrollment begins on March 1, 2010). Early enrollment has been extended through January 15. The assignment letters will be received three months earlier than in previous years. Assignment letters will include information about the Open Enrollment time line and process.
Grandfathering 2010-11 Kindergarten Students – The Board has taken into account concerns over splitting up siblings, and their goal is to accommodate non-attendance area Kindergarten students in older siblings’ schools “to the greatest possible extent”. They want to assure families that elementary school siblings will not be required to attend different schools.
Students entering Kindergarten for 2010-11, and who enroll during or after Open Enrollment will be assigned to their attendance area (or linked*) elementary school. This includes students currently in a SPS Special Education Preschool. Students will be assigned to their attendance area (or linked) elementary school unless their IEP calls for services not available at that school.
*A linked school is one that provides services that an attendance area school may not.
Students can still apply at any school during Open Enrollment. Students who apply during Open Enrollment will receive assignments at the end of May. After Open Enrollment, students on a wait list, which is active through September 30, will be assigned on a first come, first served basis. Under the transition plan for the 2010-11 school year, the tiebreakers go by: 1) siblings, then those who live in the attendance area but are grandfathered at another school, followed by a lottery.
Next Steps
Open Houses (Jan 19-Feb 12) Open houses are available at all schools. Schedules will be coordinated and posted online.
Late February – information or assignment letters mailed to all students, including early registration students.
Late Feb. through Mid-March – School visits offered during the school day at all schools.
March 1-31 – Open Enrollment.
Late May – Open Enrollment letters mailed.
There were many items discussed during this lengthy workshop. For more information, the workshop Power Point slides are available to view here. You can also watch the two videos of this workshop here.