NEW: The first day of school is just over a week away. Will SEA members go out on strike? We take a look at where things stand. The short version: even if a strike is authorized on Wednesday, there's still plenty of time for a settlement that doesn't delay the start of school.

Issue 38 – Is a Strike Looming for Seattle Public Schools?

Negotiations are coming down to the deadline between SPS and SEA. But there’s still time left for both sides to settle.

thebulletinsea.org

Seattle Public Schools and the Seattle Education Association are bargaining a new contract, with a month to go until school begins. Will they reach an agreement? Or will we see another strike? Here's our overview of where bargaining stands today:

Issue 37 – SEA and SPS Start Bargaining New Contract

With just over a month until school starts, bargaining is going slowly, with major issues still unresolved.

thebulletinsea.org

A lot happening in and around SPS over the last week. We provide some important background to the universal free school meals vote, look at Ben Shuldiner's Central Office reorg, and behold NIMBYs once again trying to dash Lincoln High School's athletic field hopes.

Issue 36 -- Free School Meals, Central Office Restructure, and Lincoln's Athletic Field

Universal free school meals are coming to SPS this fall, the Superintendent makes administrative changes, and NIMBYs attack the Lincoln HS athletic field proposal.

thebulletinsea.org

Last month, more than half of SPS schools learned of changes to teacher allocations. We got the details directly from SPS about these changes, along with lots of data about enrollment shifts across the district. @thebethocracy.bsky.social wrote it up -- with excellent charts and maps!

Issue 35 -- Results of the June Adjustment and Open Choice Enrollment Process

Beth Day takes a deep dive into the data from the recent June adjustment -- and from changes in SPS enrollment.

thebulletinsea.org

I am behind on Seattle School Board news, but there's a meeting tonight (July 8, 2026)! It has a lot of action items, so it could go long (or not), but not much public comment. Jane isn't available and Stephanie is galavanting (Gael-avanting?) in Scotland. I will do my best! See you at 4:30pm.

July 8, 2026 – Regular Board Meeting – Seattle Public Schools

seattleschools.org

A Lincoln HS student explains how SPS no longer assigning whole books in middle school and moving instruction to laptops has huge, damaging ripple effects on student learning into high school and beyond:

Students need more books, not fewer

Students are rarely required to read full books anymore, leaving them unprepared for the future, Student Voices contributor Alice Prokop writes.

seattletimes.com

I'm on City Cast Seattle talking about my latest article! Come for the scoop on why some middle school teachers are disciplined for teaching full books, and what they're doing instead; stay for the follow-on segment (not mine) about Seattle's nude beach. 📚+🏖️=😎 seattle.citycast.fm/podcasts/tea...

NEW: It's been a busy June at Seattle Public Schools. Lincoln HS will (eventually) get a new athletic field at Lower Woodland Park; we learned more about Anitra Jones being placed at Adams Elementary; and Liza Rankin complained about approving contracts. More here:

Issue 34 – Athletic Fields, Principal Assignments, and Fiscal Oversight

Lincoln gets its athletic field, the Times gets the Anitra Jones letter, and the board gets into debate over contract approval.

thebulletinsea.org

I appreciate this piece pointing out how little attention is being paid to how districts use tech in general and the health, privacy & safety concerns that ubiquitous tech brings.

The Bulletin@thebulletinsea.org · 3mo ago

NEW: @governorferguson.bsky.social and @chrisreykdal.bsky.social are proposing a statewide "away for the day" policy banning smartphones in K-12 public schools. It's a stricter ban for high school students than what Seattle Public Schools recently adopted. @robertcruickshank.com has more:

NEW: @governorferguson.bsky.social and @chrisreykdal.bsky.social are proposing a statewide "away for the day" policy banning smartphones in K-12 public schools. It's a stricter ban for high school students than what Seattle Public Schools recently adopted. @robertcruickshank.com has more:

Issue 33 – Governor and State Superintendent Propose Statewide Smartphone Ban in K-12 Public Schools

Bob Ferguson comes to Robert Eagle Staff MS to announce a policy that’s notably stricter than what SPS announced a few weeks ago.

thebulletinsea.org

Seattle Public Schools middle school English Language Arts curriculum doesn't include having students read whole books. So when some teachers assigned whole books anyway...SPS admins made them stop. What?! @julieletchner.bsky.social takes a look at a flawed curriculum:

Issue 32 -- Excerpts over excellence: How Seattle Public Schools is preventing middle school teachers from teaching full-length books

The SPS 6-8 ELA curriculum doesn't include full books. Teachers are getting in trouble for teaching them anyway. How did we get here?

thebulletinsea.org

NEW: Three quick items this week from Seattle Public Schools, including Superintendent Ben Shuldiner sounding like he wants to close some schools. But which ones? And why? And would this be any different than the reviled 2024 closure plan? @robertcruickshank.com investigates:

Issue 31 -- Will Ben Shuldiner Revive School Closures?

The Superintendent revives closure worries, takes on the state’s levy cap, and gets a letter from SEA sharing concerns about Anitra Jones.

thebulletinsea.org

NEW: Seattle Public Schools' superintendent has to balance the budget. But how? With cuts, and potentially, with major long-term changes to how SPS spends its money. This could set up some big fights in the months ahead, as @robertcruickshank.com explains:

Issue 30 -- Superintendent Shuldiner Previews Major SPS Budget Changes

Ben Shuldiner puts everyone on notice for big cuts in hopes of averting state fiscal oversight -- and major changes to how SPS spends money.

thebulletinsea.org

NEW: Seattle Public Schools rolls out a new cellphone ban. Everyone agrees on the K-8 part: away for the day. But should high schoolers have access to their phones between classes? Some board members took issue with that part of the new policy. @robertcruickshank.com explains:

Issue 29 -- SPS Rolls Out Districtwide Cellphone Policy

Phones will be away for the day in K-8 and during class in high school. Not everyone is happy about that last part.

thebulletinsea.org

NEW: Last week's board meeting wrapped up a new K-5 ELA curriculum, and then previewed some key discussions about other topics: debates about devices in classrooms, the SPS budget, advanced learning, and what to do about the slow decline of SPS enrollment. @robertcruickshank.com has more:

Issue 28 -- April 22, 2026 School Board Meeting Recap

The first school board meeting in over a month saw a new K-5 ELA curriculum, new options for middle school advanced math, and an enrollment update.

thebulletinsea.org

NEW: Seattle Public Schools is considering three options for the long-overdue athletic field for Lincoln High School. Are we any closer to a solution that will finally provide a nearby place for the school's athletes? Julie Letchner takes a close look at the debate:

Issue 27 -- Lincoln High School Athletic Fields: Three Proposals, Many Opinions

Seattle Public Schools staff presented three options for an athletic field, instead of two, reviving an old plan that had previously been cut from consideration.

thebulletinsea.org

They are live-streaming the meeting about the Lincoln HS field, for all of you who are interested in seeing the clash of the titans (SPS parents vs. Wallingford NIMBYs) instead of reading about it later. www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWXn...

Seattle Public Schools TV (SPSTV)

YouTube video by Seattle Public Schools TV

youtube.com

NEW: Adams Elementary parents and educators expressed concern that a notorious principal was appointed to their school without accountability for past allegations of misconduct. Then the Superintendent criticized them for microaggressions. A tale of two meetings:

Issue 26 – SPS Leaders Rally Around Controversial Principal

Adams Elementary School families sought reassurance about their new principal. Instead, she denied past allegations. And then the Superintendent criticized the school community itself.

thebulletinsea.org

he got the private school numbers wrong- he said it went from 12-19k in the last few years, no, it went from about 17-17.7k, steady a long time before that. Not a big change, but in a time when we lost several thousand.

it was her idea, she ran on cutting them; it was the first vote the board took when she took office.

Obviously they (and us!) want specifics about the choice assignments by school, I was surprised (but not really) that this presentation was so sparse.

8-9 used to be over 100%, he was saying this was possible, and we definitely did get basically catholic school k-8 kids to come at high school. It's high now but under 100%, since a bit before covid, as we've defunded high school relative to k-5.

This is @janedemel.bsky.social taking over the live posting of the Seattle School Board meeting. Next up is an Informational Presentations on Expanding Access to Math in Middle School.

Beth Day@thebethocracy.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Vivian is saying smart financial things, but I am distracted by accents and my children who need things. So I am going to tag in @janedemel.bsky.social and @thebulletinsea.org

Getting ready for tonight's Seattle School Board Meeting (April 22, 2026). Here's the Agenda: www.seattleschools.org/board-meetin...

April 22, 2026- Regular Board Meeting – Seattle Public Schools

seattleschools.org

NEW: A principal was removed in 2024 after overseeing a "toxic learning and working environment." Now SPS Supt. Ben Shuldiner appointed her as principal at another elementary school in 2026. Is he actually serious about protecting students? @robertcruickshank.com has the story:

Issue 25 – Notorious Principal Gets Assigned to Another SPS Elementary School

A community revolt ousted Anitra Jones from Rainier View Elementary in 2024. SPS just appointed her to be principal at Adams Elementary, raising questions about Superintendent Ben Shuldiner’s commitment to reform.

thebulletinsea.org

NEW: While a lot of attention has been given to the impact of smartphones on student learning, not as much has been given to the laptops and iPads handed to each student at the beginning of the year. Until now. @robertcruickshank.com writes about Seattle leading the "intentional tech" movement:

Issue 24 -- Seattle Parents Mobilize Against Harmful Digital Device Use In Class

The intentional tech movement argues it's not just the smartphones causing problems for student learning — it's also the internet-enabled iPads and laptops assigned to each student.

thebulletinsea.org

Hmm. Not great that SPS wasn't more forthcoming with answers to these questions. Seems like transparency around this app should be a top priority, particularly in these times.

The Bulletin@thebulletinsea.org · 5mo ago

NEW: A sudden announcement by SPS of a new app is raising huge concerns among families, educators, and students about surveillance and privacy. Oh, and the company's CEO was arrested for bribery earlier this year. Julie Letchner covers this story in detail:

NEW: A sudden announcement by SPS of a new app is raising huge concerns among families, educators, and students about surveillance and privacy. Oh, and the company's CEO was arrested for bribery earlier this year. Julie Letchner covers this story in detail:

Issue 23: SaferWatch Raises Privacy Concerns, Invites Intrusive Surveillance at SPS

The introduction of SaferWatch to the SPS community raises questions about privacy, law enforcement surveillance, security, and costs.

thebulletinsea.org

NEW: Should SPS adopt Emerge from McGraw Hill as its new K-5 reading curriculum? The board and the community debate ahead of a final vote that's expected next month.

Issue 22 -- Board Debates Pros and Cons of a New K-5 ELA Curriculum

Directors raise concerns about the newness and digital components of the proposed materials, and the length of the contract.

thebulletinsea.org

NEW: Amidst all the drama over the millionaires' tax, the 2026 session saw legislators go backward on K-12 public school funding, with only promises of doing better in the future. Here's an overview of what happened under the dome in Olympia:

Issue 21 -- What Happened with School Funding in the 2026 Legislative Session

The millionaires tax comes with lots of promises about more K-12 funding, but legislators made cuts to K-12 schools this year and set up more cuts in the future.

thebulletinsea.org