Special Education Family Newsletter

The Special Education Family Newsletter serves to connect families with important information, deadlines, announcements, and current stories that illustrate the work of the Special Education department at Seattle Public Schools. If you have suggestions for how to improve these newsletters, please contact Emily Nitz-Ritter (Special Education Communications Specialist) at spedcommunications@seattleschools.org.  
Announcements + Updates
Change of School + Open Enrollment Season
District open enrollment for the 2019-2020 school year begins on February 4, 2019. Learn about Rising and School Choice for students receiving special education services. If you have questions about where your student will be attending school next year, please contact the Admissions Center.

Help Refine and Strengthen the District Draft Strategic Plan
Seattle Public Schools is in the midst of developing a comprehensive strategic plan and we want to hear from you!  Currently, our community has an opportunity to provide input to the draft strategic plan through in-person community meetings and an online feedback form.

We recognize that traffic conditions in our city in January will present additional challenges to attending meetings in-person. In response, we are launching the strategic plan engagement effort online. Please provide your feedback using the online form published on the Draft Strategic Plan webpage by Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019 at 12:00p.m.

The draft plan feedback gathered during the community meetings and through the online form will be analyzed by District Management Group (DMGroup), the district's strategic planning consultant, and Seattle Public Schools. The themes from the community feedback will be shared with the Board at the Jan. 30 work session and help the strategic plan steering committee make adjustments.


Open Registration for Little League Challenger Division
Our Washington District 8 Challenger Division was started in 1991 by Gary and Bev Newsome to give children with intellectual and physical disabilities a chance to play ball. Today, the program flourishes with six teams totaling almost 100 players throughout the greater Seattle area. The program is supported by the 12 Little Leagues making up Washington District 8, as well as
the Seattle Mariners, who continue to create special memories for these players.

Registration for our 2019 Little League Challenger season is now open at www.llwadistrict8.org. Our 2019 WA District 8 Challenger season will start with practices in mid-April. Games will run twice per week from May 1st through mid-June, culminating in an end-of-the season jamboree held at Northshore Athletic Fields (NAF) in Woodinville.

For questions regarding this year's program, please contact: Bev Newsome, (360) 805-0181, bevnew42@outlook.com.
Upcoming Events
Special Education Resource Fair
If you missed us at the December 6th Resource Fair, make sure to join us in January for a gathering of representatives from numerous SPS departments. Use this time to ask questions, collect information, and learn face-to-face from the people who help coordinate services to support your student. Spec ial Education Directors and other staff will be onsite during this open-house style event. Childcare will be provided.  If you require translation services for the January Resource Fair, please email  SpEdCommunications@seattleschools.org .

Promoting Participation: Inclusive Physical Activity Fair
Saturday, March 23rd, 3:30-6:30pm - Eckstein Middle School
A FREE event that provides an opportunity for the community to come together and support the inclusive physical activity engagement of students and families from Seattle Public Schools. Representatives from various community organizations will be present and activity stations will be universal for participation of all abilities. Students can sign up for spring/summer camps and enjoy a couple hours of FUN participation in physical activity. Each participant will get a "passport book" upon check in. The book contains an area to collect a stamp from every activity or booth they visit. Collecting a qualifying number of stamps earns a ticket into the raffle drawing.

Promoting Participation provides opportunities for students, families, and community organizations to come together to be active and provide access to inclusive physical activity resources. 

Summer 2019 Microsoft NINJA Coding Camp
August 12th - August 16th, 2019
We wanted to share this opportunity with families who are interested in summer opportunities for their students. All applications must be submitted by Friday, February 1, 2019 at 5:00pm Pacific time.  Microsoft NINJA Camp will prepare current seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth grade students with disabilities for future careers in tech by providing training in an inclusive and fun environment. It's a multi-day experience that provides an in- depth look at Microsoft and the diverse careers available in tech. Participants will:
  • Learn digital skills using Microsoft products
  • Connect with Microsoft employees with disabilities in the workplace
  • Grow in confidence by leveraging personal strengths
  • Train to join the next generation of Accessibility community leaders
Leadership Opportunities
We are currently accepting applications for School-based Parent Liaisons.  Learn more and apply!  We are no longer recruiting members for Parent Partners or SEAAC at this time. If you are interested in either of those roles for the 2019 - 2020 school year, please let us know.

Special Education PTSA:  This group provides organization and advocacy under the bylaws of Washington State PTSA. If you have any questions or want to become a member, email president.seattlespedptsa@gmail.com.
Special Education Contacts
If you have questions, please visit our special education staff directory for up-to-date contact information.
Easy Access to Information 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.

Seattle Public Schools Department of Special Education

2445 3rd Ave. S. Seattle 98134
206-252-0000