The Seattle Public Schools (SPS) attendance boundaries (the map areas that determine the school in which your child is guaranteed a spot) will be changing starting with the 2010-2011 school year.
Following is some basic information about the new student assignment plan, answers to frequently asked questions, and a list of ways you can comment, including a schedule of community feedback meetings. You can learn more at http://www.seattleschools.org/area/newassign.
Background
To go to public school in Seattle, every student must be assigned to a school. Seattle Public Schools is responsible for making this assignment. Families have said they want an assignment plan that is equitable, understandable, and predictable—as well as one that encourages greater family participation, brings needed services closer to students, fosters diversity, and is feasible and cost effective to implement and sustain.
On June 17, 2009, the Seattle School Board approved a new student assignment plan. It contains several changes to the current process. The new plan will be implemented in phases, beginning in the 2010‐11 school year; the assignment rules for the current 2009‐10 school year will remain the same.
Basic Assignment Plan Changes
Today, a student can apply for an assignment to any school. However, the process is complicated: families must choose among multiple schools, rank their choices, fill out forms, and wait to see where a child will attend. It also puts some families at a disadvantage: those who apply during a formal Open Enrollment period have priority over those who apply at other times—or who move into the District after the period closes.
The general idea behind the new plan is that students will receive an initial assignment to an attendance area elementary‐, middle‐, or high school. This assignment will be based on their address. A student can choose to apply to a school outside their attendance area; that assignment will be based on a series of tiebreakers.
If a student is currently enrolled at a school outside their attendance area, they can stay through its highest grade under a process called grandfathering—as long as the services they need are available at that school.
Next Steps
Seattle Public Schools is now developing attendance area boundary maps that will determine initial student assignments. The boundary maps will be presented to the School Board and the public for comment this fall.
After reviewing these comments, we will submit the boundary maps—including any revisions—to the School Board for a vote on November 18, 2009.
What You Should Know
1. Seattle Public Schools is creating new attendance area boundaries for the 2010‐11 school year.
2. New boundary maps will be released this fall.
3. You will have the chance to review the maps and comment on them.
4. SPS will review these comments. Based on this review, some revisions may be made.
5. Boundaries will be voted on by the Seattle School Board on November 18, 2009.
The boundary maps will first be seen at the Board Work Session on Tuesday, October 6th from 4-8 p.m.
A full list of public meetings is available here. Please note that they include community feedback meetings where you can comment on the new attendance area boundary maps and the new student assignment plan. Comments may also be submitted via e‐mail to newassign@seattleschools.org and by postal mail to: Seattle School Board, P.O. Box 34165, MS 11‐010, Seattle, WA, 98124‐1165.
I'm wondering how this will be phased in. I have read rumors the new assignment plan and boundary maps will begin with high school. Many families in the Pinehurst area could see an assignment shift for their children now that Jane Addams K-8 is operating.
Christina –
My understanding is that this will impact students enrolling for kindergarten, 6th grade and high school starting in Fall 2010.
The Pinehurst neighborhood reference schools are: Olympic Hills, Northgate, and Sacajawea. Jane Addams is not a reference school, but rather an alternative school. AS #1 (the old Pinehurst Elementary) is also an alternative school. Under the new system, students will be guaranteed a spot in their reference school, but not in an alternative school.
Olympic Hills, Northgate, and Sacajawea are loved by many of the families who attend them, but they also have many challenges that in the past have caused neighborhood families to choose schools outside their reference area, or private schools.
This is definitely a very important issue for families in our neighborhood.
Pinehurst (AS1) has been a great school for my daughter…we live in the neighborhood and Olympic hills seemed WAY to complicated to find as a new resident to this area. I recommend you stop by if you are curious! The entrance is located on 117th street and the office is on the right side when you walk in. 🙂