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Message from the Executive Director
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I would like to highlight three new developments in the Special Education Department this year:
- A New Continuum of Services: Seattle Public Schools has changed how we think, structure systems and procedures, and provide services to the wide range of students that we serve. This is transforming how we meet the needs of our students, how we work with service providers, as well as where students can get services. The new continuum of services addresses the needs of each student, rather than trying to fit students into defined programs. We are committed to building capacity where students live and in alignment with the district's student assignment plan. Secondary students, in most cases, are assigned to their home school and elementary students to locations where they can rise to middle school with a consistent cohort.
- Development of a new contract with the UW's Experimental Education Unit (EEU): We remain committed to our relationship with the University of Washington to conduct research and train special education professionals. In November, we were required to reexamine our contract with the UW Experimental Education Unit in order to be in compliance with federal and state policies. Representatives from the UW, SPS, and OSPI met last week to
identify new funding and procedural agreements in order to continue kindergarten services at the EEU.
- "Parent Partners" project: The SPS Special Education Advisory and Advocacy Council, made up of parents and professionals, is developing new practices for addressing conflict and building our capacity to collaborate on special education issues. We are looking at a range of new strategies to apply to dispute resolution--from prevention: engaging families, parent to parent assistance, and stakeholder training, to a system of internal mediation. One new strategy that we are excited to roll out later this year is "Parent Partners". With this model, parents help other parents navigate and understand the system, whether their child is entering or exiting special ed. An experienced parent may help a new parent with their first IEP meeting. Others may be helped as they navigate the transition stage with their child from school into adult life. Parent partners will receive training and stipends. We look forward to working with our diverse families on this new project! We will be looking for parents who are interested in being part of this project this spring.
Sincerely,
Wyeth Jessee
Executive Director of Special Education Services
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Special Education Regional Meeting
CENTRAL Region
Tues. Mar. 1 , 6-7:00 p.m.
Madrona K8 Library
1121 33rd Ave., Seattle 98122
9th Annual Transition Resource Fairs
Sat. March 19, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Student Union
2400 S. 240th St.
Des Moines, WA 98198
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Thurs. March 24, 9 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.
The Commons
15255 NE 40th St., Redmond, WA 98052
Special Education Regional Meeting
NORTHWEST Region
Tues. Mar. 29, 6-7:00 p.m.
Whitman Middle School Library
9201 15th Ave NW, Seattle 98117
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| Welcome to the Special Education Family Newsletter. Please share the SpEd Newsletter with others, and send comments to [email protected]. If someone forwarded the Special Education Family Newsletter to you, sign up here. |
| Where will my child go to school next year? |
Every student, regardless of special education services, receives a school assignment from
Admissions Services, based on their address of residence. The
Special Education Department works with Admissions Services to provide a school assignment that honors the IEP team decision of placement (services specific for your student). That assignment will be at or near your neighborhood and generally will provide the opportunity to rise with your child's cohort to your neighborhood middle and high school. There will be a few exceptions.
If you would like a different school than the one assigned, then Open Enrollment for School Choice (February 17-March 1, 2016) is your opportunity to request a different school or program for your student.
You can apply for another attendance area school, K-8 school, or an option school if the school provides the services/placement that have been determined by your child's IEP team. To apply, submit a choice application during
Open Enrollment. It is NOT guaranteed that you will get your school choice; you are ONLY guaranteed assignment to your neighborhood attendance area school or program. Open Enrollment results will be available online at
www.seattleschools.org/admissions mid-April with a confirmation letter mailed to those students who were accepted to one of their choice school options.
- To determine which schools are options for your child, you need to know your child's placement (services specific for your child). If you do not know your child's placement, your child's case manager (usually this is his/her special education teacher) can provide you with it. Click here to see the Special Education Service Matrix and Service Descriptions.
- Once you know your child's placement, you can look on the linked schools chart to find schools that offer your child's placement. Here are the linked schools charts for 2015-16: elementary schools, middle schools, high schools. You can view the linked schools chart for 2016-17 starting February 8th on the Program Placement website page.
- If you are interested in visiting schools, February is the time to do it. You may call the school to find out when their school tours are. Be sure to ask them questions about their special education services. Click here for a School Directory.
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| Please JOIN US at one of the next Special Education regional meetings-- a chance to hear Special Education Updates and Learn about the new SPS Continuum of Special Ed Services! |
All meetings are on Tuesdays, from 6 - 7 p.m.
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| Wyeth Jessee, Executive Director of Special Education, speaking to parents at the NE Regional Meeting. |
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| Two Transition events were held in January |
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On January 14th, 65 parents and guardians participated in a workshop at the Old Van Asselt School Building, to learn how to navigate the transition stage with their child from school into adult life. The workshop was the second in a series of three workshops that the
Special Education Dept. is putting on in partnership with
Open Doors for Multicultural Families this school year.
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| Allison Seielstad, Supervisor of Transition Services in SPS, explained the transition process for parents/guardians. |
On January 28th families packed the John Stanford auditorium to learn about the
BRIDGES Program in Seattle Public Schools.
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| Staff from each of the BRIDGES sites explained the unique programs they offer to help students learn skills and pursue their interests. Pictured here, standing on the left, is Glen Boyd, BRIDGES Program Specialist and organizer of the event along with the teacher and instructional assistants from the Ingraham High School BRIDGES program |
Coming next are the 9th Annual Transition Resource Fairs:
This event is for parents, caregivers, teachers and students preparing for a successful transition from school to employment and other community resources. There will be workshops and resource tables.
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Saturday, March 19, 2016
9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Student Union
2400 S. 240th Street
Des Moines, WA 98198
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Thursday, March 24, 2016*
9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The Commons
15255 NE 40th Street
Redmond, WA 98052
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*Microsoft sponsored worksite tours and Employer Fair specifically designed for transition students on March 24, 2016.
For more details, workshop topics, and to register, click
here:
For more information, contact Dr. Nicolette Christians, Resource Fair Coordinator at [email protected] or 206-695-2852.
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| Ensuring easy access for all families in Seattle Public Schools |
To ensure information is accessible for all families in
Seattle Public Schools, the district has methods for community members to request communications assistance for district sponsored programs, events and activities. These services will be provided in an accessible format at no cost to the requester.
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Seattle Public Schools Special Education PTSA
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All of the meetings are held from 7 to 9 p.m.
Date
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Day
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Location
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Mar 1
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Tuesday
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Madrona K8
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Mar 28
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Monday
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JSCEE
2445 3rd Ave. S., Seattle 98124
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Apr 25
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Monday
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JSCEE
2445 3rd Ave. S., Seattle 98124
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May 23
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Monday
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JSCEE 2445 3rd Ave., S., Seattle 98124 |
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SPS Special Education Advisory and Advocacy Council (SEAAC)
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The Seattle Public School District's
Special Education Advisory and Advocacy Council (SEAAC) consists of members that include parents/guardians, teachers, and community advocates. The council's goal is to collaborate with the district to achieve full participation for students with disabilities. SEAAC has met three times this year. The meetings consist of
1) an
Advisory portion with issues brought by the Special Ed Dept. seeking input from SEAAC. This year issues have included:
- The development of the Family Guide to Special Education in Seattle Public Schools (companion to the internal Procedural Guide) and
- Setting up an internal Dispute Resolution system
2) an Advocacy portion, which addresses emerging topics. The current issue being addressed is developing communications about RISERS for families.
Meeting dates and locations for the rest of 2015-16 are as follows:
All meetings are held on Tuesdays, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
- March 15, Room 2765
- May 24, Room 2765
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Seattle Public Schools provides Equal Educational Opportunities and Equal Employment Opportunities and does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex; race; creed; color; religion; ancestry; national origin; age; economic status; sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity; pregnancy; marital status; physical appearance; disability; veteran or military status; or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal. SPS provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.
SPS complies with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations, including but not limited to: Title IX, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and RCW 49.60 ("The Washington Law Against Discrimination"). SPS's compliance includes, but is not limited to all District programs, courses, activities, including extra-curricular activities, services, and access to facilities.
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