Great Idea: Any Seattle Preschooler and City's Program

Now that the Board accepted money to open three of the City's preschool programs (with about 11 others opening in SPS sites previously run by other providers), the Seattle Special Ed PTA has this notice:

Families with preschoolers,

I urge our families with preschoolers to apply for the Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) at any site.

http://www.seattle.gov/education/child-care-and-preschool/seattle-preschool-program

Your child will still be due the services, modifications and accommodations on her/his IEP, of course.  Seattle Schools has partnered with the City of Seattle's preschool program.

At this time the difference between an SPP classroom and a Developmental Preschool classroom is that your child will receive more than double the hours, in an integrated setting.  Lunch is provided.  And of course you get transportation.


Please share this with any families you think may benefit from this new opportunity.


That's a fine idea that ANY Seattle preschooler could have access to a 6-hour day in a "high-quality" preschool classroom.

Even students with disabilities.

I mean it would seem weird -nay, even illegal - to only offer a 2.5 hour day to a Special Ed preschooler versus a General Ed preschooler getting a 6-hour day.  I'm sure the district and the City would agree.


So good for the Special Education PTA for getting the word out to those parents.  Pass it along.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Has anyone informed or heard from the SPS Special Education Department?! What's the plan?

Watcher
mirmac1 said…
The plan?! There is no plan! Unless, you mean gatekeeping services and providing spotty support.
Anonymous said…
If the city is running the preschools, hiring, budgeting, setting academic goals, then isn't it their job to plan to comply with IDEA?

questioning?
mirmac1 said…
No. But they DO have to comply fully with ADA and the Rehab act.
Questioning, the word of the agreement is vague and throws it all to the district. That's wrong.
Anonymous said…
I think it's a great idea. Of course, the city ratios of 1:10 and the additional support that is only provided once the class composition triggers some outrageously high # of kids on IEPs/ELL means that they will likely not have the supports they need. But I've said from the beginning that there should be a big equity issue if the City preschool is 3x the number of hours (6*5 vs 2.5*4) developmental preschool has, especially given the district's current extreme lack of peers. I think it should be an easy win for any parent at Viewlands and any other school (if any) that have both City and developmental preschools in the same building.

NE Parent
mirmac1 said…
NE Parent. You mean the "Original Van Asselt"? Oh yeah, they're in my sights.
mirmac1 said…
I'm gonna make a prediction based on my occultist sense:

Those children with specials needs, as described by the omniscient City (children in foster/kinship care or other areas of child welfare system, English language learners, children who receive special education service), will be "counseled out" of SPP.

In these instances, federal civil rights protection come to bear. I DO wonder what the Masters of the Universe (...and Knapp) have in mind.
What now? said…
The Executive Committee(Peaslee, Carr and McLaren) did not feel it necessary to vet the city's prek through various committees. The city is expected to adhere to district policies, and the board did not get a comprehensive list of umbrella policies.

What happens from here is anyone's guess.
Anonymous said…
I occurs to me that Old Van Asselt building was supposed to be an interim site for schools like Wing Luke during their renovation / construction. What's up with that? Is this a temporary location?

What is the longterm plan for Old Van Asselt. (And when will it get a new name, for heavens sake!!??)

Casey
mirmac1 said…
But it has. "Original" Van Asselt. But if that's the case, what about the 100+ year old dilapidated structure out back? Well, I was at a spring committee meeting when Wyeth Jessee mentioned that as a possible overflow site while Wing Luke is in the renovated structure there.

Given that's it's crapopy I will lay bets that's in the plans.
Anonymous said…
mirmac1 I actually meant Viewlands which has developmental preschool (at least it did last year) and is where Creative Kids is located, one of the city approved preschool programs. But OVA is another example. I wouldn't be surprised if there are more, I'm just not familiar with most of the providers in the SPP. The whole thing is an absolute mess.

NE Parent
Joe Wolf said…
Response to mirmac1 re. the original (1909) Van Asselt school building

By city code, because it has been more (way more) than two years since the building was used as a school SPS would be subject to "Substantial Alteration" if we decide to refurbish and open the building. That means several things, but to your comment it includes replacement or full rehab of the HVAC, electric, fire alarm systems; some significant level of compliance wit h the current Energy Code, etc.

I think it's reasonable to assume a Landmark designation as well.
mirmac1 said…
Thanks Joe. I realize that and was surprised Wyeth would even think to throw that out as a possibility. When I hear something like that, it makes me very concerned. It's not unprecedented for our kids to be moved to substandard facilities.

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