Education Updates/Impacts from OSPI and City of Seattle

From OSPI:

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has created a draft Consolidated Plan that outlines how the state intends to implement the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The plan is the result of a nearly yearlong collective effort between the agency and hundreds of stakeholders, including parents, districts from across the state, higher education institutions, tribes, other state agencies, educational organizations and members of the Legislature.

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is offering stakeholders a unique opportunity to help shape education policy in Washington state as they embark on a review tour for their ESSA Consolidated Plan. 

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has created a draft Consolidated Plan that outlines how the state intends to implement the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The plan is the result of a nearly yearlong collective effort between the agency and hundreds of stakeholders, including parents, districts from across the state, higher education institutions, tribes, other state agencies, educational organizations and members of the Legislature. 

Those who wish to learn more about the Consolidated Plan draft review tours and public comment period can do so at www.k12.wa.us/essa. 

During the review tour stops, facilitators Dr. Gil Mendoza, Deputy Superintendent of K-12 Education, and Gayle Pauley, Assistant Superintendent of Special Programs & Federal Accountability, will present the key components and recommendations included in Washington’s Draft Consolidated Plan and explain how and when the public can provide formal comment on the plan.

Those unable to attend the tour will be able to formally comment online before the plan is submitted to the U.S. Department of Education in mid-December.

ESSA Consolidated Plan review tour stops:
November 14, 2016 6:30-8:30 pm: Highline Performing Arts Center, Burien, WA
November 15, 2016 6-8 pm: Selah Performing Arts Center/Selah Middle School, Selah, WA
November 16, 2016 6-8 pm: Spokane Convention Center, Spokane, WA
November 28, 2016 6-8 pm: Webinar, (register here)

All events are open to the public, but you will need to register for the webinar. Any questions on the forum in your area, contact jami.peterson@k12.wa.us.

From Mayor Ed Murray's office:


- transportation improvements around Bailey Gatzert Elementary
The addition of the First Hill Street Car line near Bailey Gatzert Elementary School has increased congestion experienced between rail, vehicle and pedestrian (adult and elementary-age children) foot traffic. Accordingly, improvements around the school are necessary to give greater protection for pedestrians in the forms of increased signage, vision, and general overall safety. 

-  safety improvements around Chief Sealth

Chief Sealth International High school has approximately 1200 students many of which commute by Metro Transit each day. The Westwood Village transit hub is the destination for 6 Metro Transit bus routes which serve multiple neighborhoods in the area. The 26th Ave SW route is the most direct route used by students to walk between the locations. However there is a problem with 26th Avenue in that there is an unfinished section that is overgrown with brush that obstructs the sight lines and lighting that is available along the route. There have been multiple robberies in the general vicinity of Chief Sealth High School and providing a safe route that is both well lit and obstruction free would greatly improve safety by providing a safe route to and from school. Likewise, 25th Avenue SW is also an incomplete roadway that is also used by the students. This route does not have any overgrown brush but it is poorly lit from streetlamps. It does, however, have the advantage of ending at an intersection that would allow the installation of a traffic control signal that would benefit multiple users and increase safety when crossing SW Trenton Street.

City Council's First Draft of Budget includes these items that could impact SPS students: 

• Partial funding for the “13th Year Promise” program to pay for the first year of community college for high school graduates in underserved communities. (Harrell)
• Improving community center facilities intended to be used by the Seattle Preschool Program.
• From the “Just and Thriving Communities” proposal from the Seattle Human Services Coalition: the South Park Family Services Center, backpack programs for school-aged children (partly funded), community connections through food banks (partly funded) and flexible and mobile financial assistance for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. (several Council members)
• A  full assessment of Seattle’s sidewalks, to inform prioritization of future sidewalk additions and improvements. (Johnson and O’Brien)
• Accelerating implementation of the Bicycle Master Plan. (O’Brien)
• Dedicating more of the revenues from red light cameras to school-zone safety improvements. (Herbold)
• Funding for the YouthBuild program (Sawant)