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I still don’t understand why! Noted tho: Other districts we are compared to do opt-in bussing, have longer walk zones (eg 1.5 mile for elem, we do 1 mile), and option school bussing for a fee. Not saying these are things we should so, but let’s be clear what our peer districts do when we compare.
January 29, 2026 at 4:52 PM
I still don’t understand why! Noted tho: Other districts we are compared to do opt-in bussing, have longer walk zones (eg 1.5 mile for elem, we do 1 mile), and option school bussing for a fee. Not saying these are things we should so, but let’s be clear what our peer districts do when we compare.
Reposted by The Bulletin
Comparison is helpful but total amount is important to note. So we’re spending more compared to others on SEL, but how much are we actually spending overall?
January 29, 2026 at 3:56 AM
Comparison is helpful but total amount is important to note. So we’re spending more compared to others on SEL, but how much are we actually spending overall?
Reposted by The Bulletin
I believe CAI is Curriculum and Instruction
January 29, 2026 at 3:28 AM
I believe CAI is Curriculum and Instruction
This is @janedemel.bsky.social taking over the live posting of the Seattle School Board meeting. Now they're talking about .... (drumroll please) ... the Current Budget Situation!
January 29, 2026 at 2:44 AM
This is @janedemel.bsky.social taking over the live posting of the Seattle School Board meeting. Now they're talking about .... (drumroll please) ... the Current Budget Situation!
NEW: @thebethocracy.bsky.social recaps last week’s Seattle school board meeting — including the long-awaited return of board committees!
Issue 15 -- January 21, 2026 Seattle Public Schools Regular Board Meeting Recap
Board members discuss restoring committees, updated the rules about cops on campuses, and extended the student representative program.
thebulletinsea.org
January 26, 2026 at 12:59 AM
NEW: @thebethocracy.bsky.social recaps last week’s Seattle school board meeting — including the long-awaited return of board committees!
NEW: Big changes are coming to highly capable programs in Seattle Public Schools — including new cohorts in West and South Seattle. Julie Letchner recaps the board meeting HC update:
Issue 14 -- Board Gets Update on Highly Capable Program
Two new highly capable cohorts are coming to West and South Seattle -- but so are changes to identification practices.
thebulletinsea.org
January 25, 2026 at 5:30 PM
NEW: Big changes are coming to highly capable programs in Seattle Public Schools — including new cohorts in West and South Seattle. Julie Letchner recaps the board meeting HC update:
Vancouver (WA) Public Schools announced that Rocky Torres-Morales, currently the Assistant Superintendent here at Seattle Public Schools, will be VPS's new Superintendent:
Announcing our next VPS Superintendent Dr. Rocky Torres-Morales
Dear VPS families, staff, and students,
Over the last several months, our community has played an essential role as we searched for the next Superintendent of Vancouver Public Schools.
In August, we...
vansd.org
January 23, 2026 at 3:54 AM
Vancouver (WA) Public Schools announced that Rocky Torres-Morales, currently the Assistant Superintendent here at Seattle Public Schools, will be VPS's new Superintendent:
NEW: What protections from ICE are in place for our own kids at SPS?Julie Letchner provides a detailed overview of the district's policies, which are already being put to the test.
Issue 13 -- ICE Protections on SPS Campuses
Immigration enforcement activity has ramped up across the country in recent months. Though Seattle has not been specifically targeted in the same way as other cities, Seattle-area immigration arrests ...
thebulletinsea.org
January 22, 2026 at 4:38 AM
NEW: What protections from ICE are in place for our own kids at SPS?Julie Letchner provides a detailed overview of the district's policies, which are already being put to the test.
This is @janedemel.bsky.social taking over from @thebethocracy.bsky.social in live posting the Seattle School Board meeting.
Sorry, I have to jet. Tagging @janedemel.bsky.social via @thebulletinsea.org to take over.
January 22, 2026 at 3:26 AM
This is @janedemel.bsky.social taking over from @thebethocracy.bsky.social in live posting the Seattle School Board meeting.
The fabulous @thebethocracy.bsky.social is live posting the school board meeting starting now!
The January 21, 2026 Seattle School Board meeting will start soon. The agenda can be found here: www.seattleschools.org/board-meetin...
There seems to be some sound issues, hopefully they figure that out.
There seems to be some sound issues, hopefully they figure that out.
January 21, 2026 – Regular Board Meeting – Seattle Public Schools
Agenda – FINAL Post, 1/21/2026Regular Board MeetingWednesday, January 21, 2026, 4:30 p.m. Board of Directors2445 – 3rd Avenue SouthSeattle, Washington 98134206-252-0040www.seattleschools.org The meeti...
www.seattleschools.org
January 22, 2026 at 12:46 AM
The fabulous @thebethocracy.bsky.social is live posting the school board meeting starting now!
Reposted by The Bulletin
Had to brief the teen at dinner today - when ICE is in the neighborhood and you're trapped at school, this is what will happen. Ug. Not exactly fun to parent thru this.
NEW: Six SPS schools sheltered in place today after credible reports about ICE spotted near campuses in the South End. A procedure developed to protect students against armed threats now has to be used to protect them against the armed federal government.
Issue 12 – SPS Schools Shelter In Place Due To ICE Reports
Credible reports of ICE near SPS campuses triggered an immediate response.
thebulletinsea.org
January 21, 2026 at 5:10 AM
Had to brief the teen at dinner today - when ICE is in the neighborhood and you're trapped at school, this is what will happen. Ug. Not exactly fun to parent thru this.
Reposted by The Bulletin
I just don’t know what the fuck y’all are expecting from children who have to repurpose their plans for active shooters to deal with their own government sending ALSO ACTIVE SHOOTERS to try to steal their friends and teachers.
NEW: Six SPS schools sheltered in place today after credible reports about ICE spotted near campuses in the South End. A procedure developed to protect students against armed threats now has to be used to protect them against the armed federal government.
Issue 12 – SPS Schools Shelter In Place Due To ICE Reports
Credible reports of ICE near SPS campuses triggered an immediate response.
thebulletinsea.org
January 21, 2026 at 4:15 AM
I just don’t know what the fuck y’all are expecting from children who have to repurpose their plans for active shooters to deal with their own government sending ALSO ACTIVE SHOOTERS to try to steal their friends and teachers.
NEW: Six SPS schools sheltered in place today after credible reports about ICE spotted near campuses in the South End. A procedure developed to protect students against armed threats now has to be used to protect them against the armed federal government.
Issue 12 – SPS Schools Shelter In Place Due To ICE Reports
Credible reports of ICE near SPS campuses triggered an immediate response.
thebulletinsea.org
January 21, 2026 at 4:04 AM
NEW: Six SPS schools sheltered in place today after credible reports about ICE spotted near campuses in the South End. A procedure developed to protect students against armed threats now has to be used to protect them against the armed federal government.
NEW: What is “life readiness” and why is the Seattle Public Schools board focused on it? And what are district lobbyists saying about the 2026 #waleg session? Julie Letchner covers what we learned from Wednesday’s school board work session:
Issue 11 -- January 14, 2026 Seattle School Board Special Meeting Recap
The board hears updates about "Life Readiness" and about the state legislative session.
thebulletinsea.org
January 18, 2026 at 6:57 PM
NEW: What is “life readiness” and why is the Seattle Public Schools board focused on it? And what are district lobbyists saying about the 2026 #waleg session? Julie Letchner covers what we learned from Wednesday’s school board work session:
Reposted by The Bulletin
FWIW 15 years ago this was also an issue for some in SPS. This isn’t new. When I mentored low income HS students through graduation then onto college for a nonprofit, some kids (mostly in non-honors, non-AP classes) finished with decent grades but had to take remedial math in college.
January 15, 2026 at 3:23 PM
FWIW 15 years ago this was also an issue for some in SPS. This isn’t new. When I mentored low income HS students through graduation then onto college for a nonprofit, some kids (mostly in non-honors, non-AP classes) finished with decent grades but had to take remedial math in college.
Reposted by The Bulletin
This is a weirdly ignorant question: counselors are liaisons essentially. Tier 2 interventions can take myriad forms from check-ins to tutoring to pullouts etc.
Rankin also asks about the Tier 2 supports for students. Will that be via counselors, or what? Torres-Morales says there are a lot of Tier 2 strategies, but not necessarily through counselors.
January 15, 2026 at 3:04 AM
This is a weirdly ignorant question: counselors are liaisons essentially. Tier 2 interventions can take myriad forms from check-ins to tutoring to pullouts etc.
Reposted by The Bulletin
Currently, one of the best ways to show colleges if you’re actually ready is to take normed exams like AP, SAT, etc. Without this corroboration, high school grades and graduation status are analyzed by colleges using known outcomes for students from that school
President Topp asks if graduation rates "should be" an indication of what students can do, or is it just not an indication or a student actually being "life-ready."
January 15, 2026 at 3:08 AM
Currently, one of the best ways to show colleges if you’re actually ready is to take normed exams like AP, SAT, etc. Without this corroboration, high school grades and graduation status are analyzed by colleges using known outcomes for students from that school
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Naviance is a complete waste of money except possibly as an organizational tool for college applicants in 11th/12th - it’s one of the first contracts to axe to save money
Accountability Officer Ted Howard notes that many students aren't using Naviance, which is an online platform the district uses for the High School & Beyond Plan. Howard is asking the student school board directors if Naviance was helpful to them. They don't seem that enthusiastic.
January 15, 2026 at 2:12 AM
Naviance is a complete waste of money except possibly as an organizational tool for college applicants in 11th/12th - it’s one of the first contracts to axe to save money
This is @janedemel.bsky.social. I'll be live posting the Seattle School Board meeting that starts at 4:30 pm (in 7 minutes!).
I am traveling. @janedemel.bsky.social will be liveskeeting the Seattle School Board meeting this evening at @thebulletinsea.org Here’s the agenda: www.seattleschools.org/board-meetin...
January 14, 2026 – Board Special Meeting: Work Sessions: Progress Monitoring; 2026 State Legislative Session – Seattle Public Schools
www.seattleschools.org
January 15, 2026 at 12:23 AM
This is @janedemel.bsky.social. I'll be live posting the Seattle School Board meeting that starts at 4:30 pm (in 7 minutes!).
NEW: The 2026 #waleg session begins this week, with a $2B deficit looming. @governorferguson.bsky.social proposed cuts to K-12 spending...as well as a millionaires' tax that could help fund schools at the end of the decade. Here's our overview of the legislative session and school funding:
Issue 10 – Will Washington State Finally Tax the Rich to Fund Public Schools?
Will 2026 be the year legislators amply fund public schools? Probably not. But maybe in 2029...
thebulletinsea.org
January 13, 2026 at 11:45 PM
NEW: The 2026 #waleg session begins this week, with a $2B deficit looming. @governorferguson.bsky.social proposed cuts to K-12 spending...as well as a millionaires' tax that could help fund schools at the end of the decade. Here's our overview of the legislative session and school funding:
We must note that @viviansong.bsky.social, despite being only woman of color on the board, twice elected to the board, won most votes of any director in 2025, has yet to be elected to a board officer position. For a district that claims to make racial equity a priority, this is unacceptable.
Issue 9 -- December 10, 2025 School Board Meeting Recap
The board re-elects their officers, hears a budget update, and learns about changes to the choice process.
thebulletinsea.org
December 14, 2025 at 10:02 PM
We must note that @viviansong.bsky.social, despite being only woman of color on the board, twice elected to the board, won most votes of any director in 2025, has yet to be elected to a board officer position. For a district that claims to make racial equity a priority, this is unacceptable.
NEW: @robertcruickshank.com and @janedemel.bsky.social recap last week's board meeting, including officer elections, public testimony about ICE raids, small changes to rules about cops in schools, and big updates about the SPS budget and enrollment policy. Read all about it:
Issue 9 -- December 10, 2025 School Board Meeting Recap
The board re-elects their officers, hears a budget update, and learns about changes to the choice process.
thebulletinsea.org
December 14, 2025 at 6:01 PM
NEW: @robertcruickshank.com and @janedemel.bsky.social recap last week's board meeting, including officer elections, public testimony about ICE raids, small changes to rules about cops in schools, and big updates about the SPS budget and enrollment policy. Read all about it:
NEW: At Wednesday's board meeting Director Liza Rankin claimed SPS is "not doing SOFG." That's not true. Student Outcomes Focused Governance remains deeply embedded in board and district practice. We've got the details:
Issue 8 -- Yes, SPS Is Still Using SOFG
SPS uses a controversial governance model to guide board procedures and relations with the superintendent. Liza Rankin incorrectly claimed it doesn't.
thebulletinsea.org
December 12, 2025 at 9:00 PM
NEW: At Wednesday's board meeting Director Liza Rankin claimed SPS is "not doing SOFG." That's not true. Student Outcomes Focused Governance remains deeply embedded in board and district practice. We've got the details:
Reposted by The Bulletin
She doesn’t like what she calls the “free market of parent choice” determining school size which you can also call “community getting the options they say they require”
December 11, 2025 at 4:45 AM
She doesn’t like what she calls the “free market of parent choice” determining school size which you can also call “community getting the options they say they require”
Reposted by The Bulletin
been floating the idea that SDOT should be responsible for contributing to busing costs when the busing is a result of unsafe crossings that SDOT hasn't yet fixed to make it possible for kids to walk to school within the school walk zones. Anyone heard of anything like this in another district?
And here's how that played out with Transportation costs at SPS in 2024-25.
December 11, 2025 at 4:42 AM
been floating the idea that SDOT should be responsible for contributing to busing costs when the busing is a result of unsafe crossings that SDOT hasn't yet fixed to make it possible for kids to walk to school within the school walk zones. Anyone heard of anything like this in another district?