During recent Seattle Public School’s (SPS) closure and consolidation plan meetings, parents and caregivers asked high-ranking district officials what the plan is for option schools and alternative programs.
The responses received gave parent-led coalition All Together for Seattle Schools a high degree of confidence that SPS plans to eliminate most or all option K-5 and K-8 programs in schools.
While SPS has not addressed this publicly, All Together for Seattle Schools is proactively making it known to SPS leadership that this would be a mistake. They have created a sign-on letter to urge the district to stop a plan to close option schools and alternative programs at the K-5 and K-8 levels.
Please consider signing on to the letter here!
If you’d like to do more, here are some suggestions of ways to take action:
- Write to the superintendent, Dr. Brent Jones, and the school board. Tell them why we need to support diverse learning options in our school district. Include a story about your own experience showing why you think alternatives help students learn and thrive in school.
- Reach out to parents and community members you know who care about this issue, and ask them to do the same.
- Visit alltogetherforseattleschools.org to get involved in this citywide effort to avoid a massive mistake around school consolidation.
Option schools and alternative programs (including dual language, highly capable cohort, and others) promote positive academic outcomes for students, help create an environment that sparks innovation in learning and, given their waitlists, could actually increase SPS enrollment.
Please consider adding your voice to this call to action, and sharing with fellow parents and caregivers in your community.
Image credit: Canva
Hazel Wolf K-8 PTSA 