As Seattle Public Schools is celebrating many accomplishments as they add new services and new programs that will contribute to ensuring that every school is an excellent school and that they graduate every student ready for college, careers and life.

“The beginning of each school year always brings the promise of new learning, new experiences, and new accomplishments; and we see that promise in the smiles on the faces of our students as we welcome them back to school today,” said Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, Ph.D., Superintendent. “It is our collective responsibility to deliver on that promise – to ensure that each and every student has what they need to be successful.”

“As we budgeted for 2010-2011 in the face of continued cuts in funding, we prioritized our resources to where they are needed most – the classroom,” said Dr. Goodloe-Johnson. “I am proud to say, thanks to the collaborative work and support of our teachers, staff, families, community partners and voters, that we are able to offer new services and programs, new materials and textbooks, and additional support to our teachers and school leaders.”

Just some of the highlights of new programs, services and facilities include:

New Student Assignment Plan
• A new student assignment plan that is predictable and increases access to quality programs for all students. Based on attendance areas according to home address, 2010-2011 is the first year of our transition plan.
o Students were ‘grandfathered’ at their current school through the highest grade offered
o Because students were assigned initially according to their home address, the number of families needing to apply during open enrollment decreased significantly.
New Schools and Programs
• New schools opening to serve students near where they live and meet increased enrollment demand:
o Sand Point Elementary
o McDonald and Queen Anne Elementary, which opened at their interim site at the Lincoln building.

• STEM @ Cleveland – New Science, Technology, Engineering and Math option school opens, serving students across the district in preparing for college and careers in related fields.

• Hawthorne and West Seattle elementary schools, as well as STEM at Cleveland, are benefitting for the first time this year from the federally-funded State Improvement Grant (SIG). The grant funds extended learning for students, focused development for teachers, increased engagement with families, and other actions focused on increasing academic achievement and eliminating the achievement gap.

• Advanced Learning Programs - Additional investment in advanced learning programs
o Every high school will offer a minimum of four core Advanced Placement (AP) or IB courses in English, math, science and history.
o Advanced Learning Opportunity (ALO) programs added in the South and South East: Dunlap, Emerson and Van Asselt elementary schools; and Spectrum is added at Hawthorne; Spectrum is also added at Madison – now all 9 comprehensive middle schools offer a Spectrum program.

• Additional investments in music instruction at the secondary level
o Instrument purchases and additional staff at Franklin, Nathan Hale and West Seattle High Schools to increase scope of music offerings to include orchestra, choir and some general music classes.
o Pilot middle school music program at Orca K-8.

• Expanded international programs – now have six international schools and completed the West Seattle international pathway: Concord Elementary – Denny Middle – Chief Sealth High (others are John Stanford Elementary, Hamilton Middle and Beacon Hill Elementary)

• Continued implementation of integrated services and improvements in services for students needing English Language Support and Special Education Services.

Newly Aligned Curriculum, New Textbooks and Instructional Materials
Based on the curriculum alignment work completed during 2009-2010 and approved by the School Board, new textbooks and instructional materials are available this fall for:
• High School Language Arts
• History, Grades 4 and 8
• French
• Japanese
And teachers began training this summer in the most effective uses of these new textbooks and materials.

Partnering with Families and Community:
Our focus on involving families in student success continues.
• At individual schools, Family Engagement Action Teams continue to support family involvement.
• Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson will host a series of Regional Gatherings for Families as well as informal Coffee Chats --- dates to be announced soon.

Renovated and upgraded buildings and facilities:

• Renovated schools (Hamilton International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School) funded by the voter-approved Building Excellence III bond; additional work completed on Nathan Hale High School.

• Major repairs and upgrades completed at 16 schools, funded by the Buildings, Technology and Academics II Levy (includes upgrades and replacement to windows to improve energy efficiency; roofing; flooring; mechanical systems; upgraded fire alarm and ventilation systems; boiler replacement and more. For detailed projects please visit the 2010 list at http://bta.schools.org/). Buildings include Jane Addams; Aki Kurose; Broadview-Thomson; Eckstein; Graham Hill; Laurelhurst; Loyal Heights; McClure; Meany; T. T. Minor; Northgate; Olympic Hills; Roxhill; Salmon Bay, View Ridge and Wedgwood.