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In This Issue
State Budget News
Transition Plan
School Reports Meeting Feedback
Parent/Teacher Conference Schedule Survey
SPS Curriculum Adoption Committee Application
SPS Curriculum Adoption Survey
Save the Date:  Next General SCPTSA Meeting - Monday, Feb. 7 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

/http://www.seattlecouncilptsa.org/
State Budget News
 
As you likely have heard by now, the State of Washington is facing major budget problems.  How will this impact public education?  Visit the Washington State PTA website for more information.

http://www.wastatepta.org/advocacy/interim_session/2011_13_budget_highlights.pdf

Read the Gov. Gregoire's letter to the Washington State PTA.

http://www.wastatepta.org/advocacy/interim_session/Message_from_the_Governor.pdf

Stay tuned for more next month from Seattle Council PTSA on how you can understand and participate in your local school and district budgeting processes.
Transition Plan for the new Student Assignment Plan

The 2011-12 Transition Plan for the new Student Assignment plan will be introduced at the School Board meeting on Wednesday, January 5, 2011.  Amendments to the plan will be accepted through Monday, January 10, 2011.  The Transition Plan will be voted on Wednesday, January 19.  The most recent information about the Transition Plan is posted on the SPS website.

http://www.seattleschools.org/area/board/10-11agendas/120910agenda/nsap1209.pdf

The most recent presentation discusses the following:
  • Non-Attendance Area Kindergarten Siblings (pages 13-18): Surge capacity has generally been maxed out making it difficult to accommodate out-of-area kindergartners. Safety net features are proposed to allow siblings to be at the same school.
     
  • West Seattle Feeder Patterns (pages 24-36) and other West Seattle Issues (pages 37-41): Recommendation is no change to feeder patterns at this time.  Review and monitor 2011-12 data to determine if adjustments are needed for 2012-13. 
  • Garfield Overcrowding (pages 44-57): Options include changing Garfield's southern boundaries and shifting more students to Franklin and Rainer Beach High School; creating an additional pathway for APP students to the IB program at Ingraham HS; and creating a split schedule.
     
  • AS #1 (page 60):  The most recent plan is to keep the current program and work out a plan to increase enrollment and improve academic achievement.
  • Tiebreakers (pages 62-71):  Tiebreakers for ICS and ELL general education students, as well as for the Montessori, Spectrum and APP programs are outlined in the presentation.
  • Geozones for Option Schools (page 73):  Proposals for changing the Geozones for Nova, Thornton Creek, TOPS and Salmon Bay were discussed.
     
  • General capacity and overcrowding issues will be addressed in the Capacity Management Report to be presented to the School Board in January 2011.
School Reports Community Meetings: Presentation and Feedback

Wondering how your school is doing overall? If you weren't able to attend the recent regional School Reports meetings, read the school summary reports and comments from the events here:

http://www.seattleschools.org/area/strategicplan/schoolreport.xml

Thanks to everyone who attended these meetings.
SPS Parent/Teacher Conference Schedule Survey
 
SPS is inviting families to provide input about the Parent/Teacher Conference Schedule for 2011-13 school years.  The survey is available until 4:00 P.M. on Monday, January 3.
 
The survey is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Z8JGDDY

This survey will take only 2 to 5 minutes of your time.  Seattle Public Schools (SPS) is in the process of applying to the State Board of Education for a waiver to allow the three full-day parent-teacher conference schedule to continue. The three-day model replaces the prior model of seven half-day/early dismissals.
 
While SPS has received anecdotal feedback that families like the three-day schedule, they invite families to complete a survey on this topic so they can more accurately assess parent views.  Responses will be summarized, posted on the SPS website and shared with school board members.
Serve on an SPS Curriculum Adoption Committee -- Deadline Jan. 6!

Seattle Public Schools will be adopting instructional materials for the following content areas:

� Elementary General Music
� Middle School Language Arts
� 9, 11, and 12 Science and
� 9-12 Social Studies

The district is looking for a diverse group of volunteers to serve on these curriculum adoption committees. For more information and to apply, see the SPS Curriculum Adoption webpage.  Applications can be found under each content area listed in the left hand column.   Applications are due January 6, 2011.
Give your opinion on a Curriculum Adoption Survey

To assist in the curriculum adoption process, your input is requested. Families and community members are invited to go to the SPS Curriculum Adoption webpage and complete the appropriate survey. Surveys are under each subject under "Adoption."
Sincerely,


Lauren McGuire
Seattle Council PTSA