Seattle School Board Special Meeting, November 4th, 2026 (There's A Rally Before It)

The Seattle School Board will be having a Special Board meeting on Wednesday, November 4th, starting at 4:30 pm.

Agenda here.

That agenda is brief and, true to form, there is no documentation yet attached. However, per the rally about tech that is scheduled before this meeting, there's to be a discussion on "Educational Technology." The other half of the meeting will be about "Special Populations: Special Education, Multilingual Learners and Highly Capable."

However before that, the group, Seattle Families for Intentional Tech (SFIT), will be having a rally from 3:30-4:30 pm outside the JSCEE. Here's what they have to say:

The SPS school board and leadership are meeting for a special board meeting on November 4. Yes, we know it’s a Wednesday afternoon and the day after election day, but we need YOU. Let’s channel our activist energy one extra day to demonstrate how important this issue is to the board.

AGENDA:
3:30pm Sign-Making
3:50pm Rally & Speakers
4:15pm Speakers end
4:30pm Board Meeting begins

Please get creative with posters and bring friends. The board needs to see how important this issue is to families in order to push the district to make meaningful progress. (That said, please creatively censor imagery and text to be safe for young eyes. Yes, we get the irony.)

We’re also trying to get media coverage so if you have a student experience you can share, please let us know so we can connect you with them.

We plan to deliver a list of asks with board members as a coalition of advocacy organizations: Seattle Families for Intentional Tech, Distraction-Free Schools WA, and Mothers Against Media Addiction (MAMA) Seattle.

We are asking SPS to:

1. CREATE AN ED-TECH ADVISORY COMMITTEE
SPS needs a sub-committee within ITAC, with caregivers and teachers, to evaluate current and future ed tech. It should rely on independent research to decide whether each product's educational value outweighs potential harms.

2. GET CONSENT FOR DATA-COLLECTING PRODUCTS
Following the FTC’s August 2025 guidance on COPPA, SPS should get informed caregiver consent every year before any product collects personal student data. No student data should be collected, shared, or sold without it.

3. PROVIDE ONGOING ED-TECH TRANSPARENCY
SPS should publish a list of every digital app and platform in classrooms by grade level, with privacy policies, updated annually. Families should be notified of any changes before students use a new tool.

4. SET SCREEN TIME LIMITS BY GRADE
SPS should tell families the screen time limits enforced during the school day, grade by grade. Schools should also follow manufacturer guidelines for safe device use, including ergonomic and eye protection measures.

5. PAUSE STUDENT-FACING GENERATIVE AI
SPS should limit generative AI to teacher instructional materials until products are vetted for safety, legality, and educational efficacy for minors. Parents should be told if AI is used to assess student work.

6. ALLOW PAPER-BASED ALTERNATIVES & OPT-OUTS
SPS should formally permit students and families to opt out of devices and computer-based activities when a caregiver, or a medical or mental health professional, requests it, with alternatives provided. Teachers and schools should also be able to opt out of district ed tech mandates for specific products, with clear district support when families request paper.

I agree with all of this but I'm sure the district will drag their feet on most of it especially number 6.


In other Board business this week, Monday, November 2nd at 1 pm, the Board's Operations Committee will meet. Agenda here. I am disappointed that one Board Action Report does not yet have a link to review the item. That BAR is about updates to AV, intercom, and security systems upgrades. It would be nice to see what and where that is happening and yes, it is less than 24 hours before the meeting so it should be there.  

Tuesday, November 3rd at noon, the Board Finance & Audit Committee will meet.  Agenda here.  There are two items of interest:

11/18/26 Board Action Report Review


Approval of Resolution 2026/27-04, Certification of Excess Levies and Calculation of General Fund Levy Rollback for 2027


Special Attention Items

Oversight of spending: Discussion of areas of budget with potential for volatility

 Transportation Service Standards discussion

 Culinary Services/Update on City provided meals


But there is no documentation attached. I am disappointed in the Board to not allow the public to see the documentation in a timely manner. 


As well, the Board's Policy Committee is to meet before the Board Special meeting but there is no agenda yet available. 

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