The Latest on SPS/SEA Actions, August 31, 2026
Just to note the obvious - the contract needs to be approved before the first day of school on Wednesday, September 2nd. The district says the teachers and other staff can work under their old contract without a strike.
The West Seattle Blog reports that as of this hour (3 pm), they are waiting at SPS headquarters for a briefing from the Superintendent. WSB will be blogging live so I'll try to keep up there. They do report that negotiations ARE continuing.
Parents don't seem to get that changing Special Education to return most of those students to their home schools means putting them in General Ed classes. My recollection is that while SPS has high-minded reasons to do so, they are not putting any money towards teacher support. I never have had confidence in the plan and without clear information, it's hard to know what will happen.
Here is one Reddit parent's explanation of current and offered services for Special Education. I liked another parent's comment to this post:
Special education reform should happen out in the open, with parents, students, the disability community, our elected school board, special education leaders, and yes, the union at the table.Another comment:
I think they are definitely selectively talking to points that benefit their sides. Then again, spsforkids.org does that too. I know this website isn't made by SEA but it clearly aligns with their stance.
Schuldiner focuses on the improvements in ratio for Tier 1 ("Resource") kids. Also, it's true that Tier 1 kids account for majority of IEPs. On the other side, the spsforkids website focuses on the decrease in ratio for Tier 2 ("Extended Resource"), as an example. Which is why it was difficult and annoyingly difficult for me to get the full picture.
All that said in aggregate, yes there's definitely a decrease in staff. I think it would be wise for SPS to at least admit that.
And other interesting comment:
I'm in a neighboring district and we went through this a few years back, also during bargaining -- previously had two "levels" with different staffing ratios defined in the CBA, with one level being at all schools and the other (self-contained) at only some schools. Now there's just one combined "level" and all students are served at their neighborhood school.
It appears from the SEA's Bargaining Update from August 30th message that SPS is coming back to the table tonight. SEA says this:
Also, the SEA is having a "Fair Contract" rally tomorrow, September 1 at 5 pm at the JSCEE.The district is now refusing to have conversations on any other topics until we find agreement on Special Education. Yet, our team has spent countless hours, brought in additional Special Education members, used our creativity and brainstormed as hard as we could but could not find a way to accommodate their plans without undermining the supports and learning our students need. In our session this evening we gathered with the district and Special Education teachers and IAs shared some of our experiences with them.
SEA has posted this graphic of the details of what SPS is offering for the SEA contract. I think a side-by-side comparison would be the best but I doubt either side will produce one that will be totally honest.
FYI, at the SEA home page near the bottom there are links for contracts for all represented members.
It's interesting that their calendar of events doesn't include the first day of school.
SPS, in its messaging, does not say they are giving raises - they say "increases educator compensation." Because in the SEA "correction" they said that "keeping up with inflation is NOT a raise." Also, it appears to me that teachers would get slightly above the current inflation rate of 3.4%. One issue I don't like from SEA is that they seem to forget what they got last time in terms of bumping up their salaries.
From their Community Update:
They are pushing the SPS for Kids site which is not a good sign. Why? Because they say it's "not affiliated with SEA." Well, a bunch of SEA members put it together and a parent set up the site. I'd say there sure is some connection for sure.They also have a series of flyer/poster/images that people can use to support teachers. This one seems problematic to me. I say that because it mentions many items that I don't believe are being negotiated like "LGBTQ+ protections, smaller classes, and sanctuary schools." But other flyers talk about fair pay especially "for our lowest-paid workers" and not just smaller class sizes but "caseloads" and "educator voice and professional autonomy."
Of course the SEA has multiple issues they want to address but I think it is confusing to parents and the public to have public notices that say different things.
Comments
The special education model at our school is insanely expensive, and we have seen 100% increase in the number of paraeducators we employ since the Covid money came through.
I don't know if it's because of the giant pot of money or the giant pot of litigation that is attached to it, but special education has way too much power over every other department at my high school. Administrators are terrified of special education teachers. Special education parents are some of the biggest bullies in town.
That department also has our strongest union activism.
And to ask any questions of any of it makes one seem a heartless monster, so the special education department just gets to keep on wagging the rest of us.
CHG
"Certified" instructors can be general education, special education, etc… these are teachers with degrees.
The paraprofessional are classified, do not require a "teaching certificate", etc. While the two bargaining units can, if allowed by law, be represented by one agent, they are still separate bargaining units. There are benefits for union employees to work in solidarity, part of which is the confusion created.
Any breakdowns for salary really need to be clear about there being two groups here, not one.
-- Frustrated parent.
Special education parents are “the biggest bullies in town?” Well. They have to be. But lucky for you most of them are wall flowers. Students with disabilities are screwed royally including: shortened day, limited offerings, 0 extras, classes literally for a year with only an untrained aid for babysitting, play dough as curriculum in high school, non existent federally mandated services like esy and transition, and on and on. So the parents who actually stand up for their kids are seen as “bullies”. Too bad. Before IDEA in 1970s, students with disabilities weren’t allowed at school at all. And most school staff would like that to still be the case. Parents who don’t stand up obtain an inferior education for their kid. And that education is all completely individualized, so parental oversight is critical.
And guess what CHG? The model is insanely expensive because the district puts a premium on exclusion. It’s the Faustian bargain they offer parents. Go to the expensive playpen or get nothing at all. And most opt for the luxury playpen because it’s the default. The real requirement is that ALL students are general education students first and foremost. General educators need to own it, with support from special education. How much support? Well they need to figure that out. But don’t complain about parents or kids.
Been There