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ADVOCACY AND upcoming Events
ENROLLMENT SIGN ON LETTER
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 4:30PM
SPS Board meeting
Meeting .
Public comment sign-ups likely open Monday, October 6 at 8am.
Meeting Materials
Relevant materials are typically posted 24 hours in advance of schedule meetings. Here’s the link to this .
We encourage you to share your perspectives with the district and board at this crucial time. SPS Board member contact information , and SPS also has a “Let’s Talk” .
Regular meetings are streamed live on .
Want to participate?
We hope everyone feels empowered to provide public comment at these meetings. Public comment is when those who sign up get to speak for two minutes to the Board and Superintendent. You can give public comment in person or over the phone.
Sign up for public comment. There are a limited number of public comment spots. Public comment is first come, first serve. Link.
Sending emails to board members is also helpful. Contact all board members and the superintendent by sending an email to schoolboard@seattleschools.org.
Want to share public comment, but feeling nervous or unsure of what to say?
Use our recent media statement or other communications to help craft your public testimony!
Email us and we will help support you! We have experience speaking in public and are ready to help out.
OPEN LETTER: The future of Seattle Public Schoolsfebruary 2025
state-level advocacy remains critical!
School closures are done for now - thanks to all of the community feedback and evidence showing the plan would not come close to addressing the budget deficit, SPS has paused their plan to close schools for the 2025-2026 school year.
To help SPS budget situation, we need Washington State to amply fund our schools. Check out advocacy opportunities through .
Thank you for all of your advocacy such as
Sign-on letters demonstrate unity and are a way to collectively use our voices in support of students. We send sign-on letters to SPS district leaders and School Board directors to ensure community perspectives are considered when they make decisions about the lives of students and the future of Seattle Public Schools.
Previous sign-on letters
May 19, 2024 - 🔗
Over 1,200 people signed a letter to SPS in oppose the proposal presented on May 8 that includes mass elementary and K-8 school closures to consolidate thousands of students into dozens more schools, among other sweeping changes. The letter urged SPS leaders to instead:
Work with the community to create and share alternative proposals
Focus alternatives on addressing student needs and outcomes
Show your work to the public
June 5, 2024 - 🔗
Over 600 people signed a letter to SPS in opposition to the expected SPS plan to eliminate K-5 and K-8 option schools and alternative programs, including Highly Capable Cohort, dual language, and others, and stand ready to work together to address the inequities in access to these essential programs. Option schools and alternative learning programs:
Provide diverse and inclusive curriculums
Are in high demand, with long waiting lists
Do not cost more money, and closing them won't save money
We want to acknowledge that neighborhood and option schools, around prioritized funding issues, have been pitted against each other in some cases. We believe that all school communities are important to the diverse fabric of our city and district, and deserve support. By showing support and valuing our option and alternative learning programs we are acknowledging the richness of our educational community. The current proposal of closing 20 schools has created an artificial competition between different school communities and All Together for Seattle schools stands proud in supporting and advocating to fully fund all of our schools.
Recap of past school board meetings
April 3, 2024:
The board held a budget work session; .
The district’s 2024-25 budget proposal closes a $104-$111 million budget deficit. In an update from the March board meeting, the district made two changes:
Proposed a $36.8 million interfund loan (from Capital Budget to Operating Budget) to help bridge 2024-25 budget gap. This loan must be repaid in full by June 30, 2026 and it is unclear what revenues SPS will identify to use to repay this loan.
Based on feedback from the Board, school leaders, and staff participants in the school staffing process, the district proposes to: restore discretionary equity funding in schools allocations for non-staff allocation, which is approximately $1.3 million.
To finalize the 2024-25 budget, there will be a public hearing on June 10th, and the Board will vote on the budget on July 2. However, the Board will need to approve the interfund loan prior to June 30th.
SPS unveiled the elements of what it described as part of a Well-Resourced School at the Elementary School Level:
Multiple teachers per grade level
Full-time support staff
Inclusive learning for EVERY student
Social and emotional learning support
Art, Music, and PE teachers
Stable operational budgets
Safe, healthy, and beautiful schools and grounds
Connections to the community
Strategic Plan. SPS needs to update its Strategic Plan, as is expiring. This next plan will set the goals and priorities for SPS from 2025-2030. In the April 3rd Board meeting, Board President Rankin proposed that community engagement related to this plan will occur from mid-April through mid-June, and that the Board will hold a one-day work session to finalize it. No information on these sessions have been provided yet to the general public.
The board did not conduct progress monitoring for its College & Career Readiness goals; find the materials .
March 20, 2024:
The board held a 90-minute budget work session; .
In January 2024:
The board held a 90-minute budget work session; . SPS has also updated its budget development website. Take a .
District staff shared ideas on how the district can balance its 2024-25 budget. Discussed were ideas that have significant student-facing changes, like moving to three-tier bell schedule, program adjustments and restructuring (such as K-8 and option schools), grade level reorganizations (such as moving 6th grade to some elementary schools), school closures and consolidations, as well as the lease or sale of non-school properties and delayed repayment of the Economic Restabilization Plan (rainy-day fund).
Staff also shared that there will be Phase II Well-Resources School meetings, but did not provide details.
In November & December 2023:
The board voted to approve the as introduced, which did not include Director Song’s proposed amendments. While this was disappointing for many of us, there will likely be opportunities for community voice as the policy elements are implemented.
The board approved a budget resolution that will determine the process by which next year’s school budget will be developed. It is called the.
District staff presented a summary of the Well-Resourced Schools meetings that occurred this past summer and early fall. You can see these results (starts on page 9).
Other ways to take action
Write an Op-Ed
Writing an Op-ed in your local media source can help create visibility of the issues.
Volunteer
Bring your skills to help us organize and plan in order to create a better future for our students and schools.
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