School Beat

Welcome to the 2025–26 school year! We are thrilled to begin another year of learning, growth, and community across Seattle Public Schools. Our commitment to academic excellence, equity, and student well-being continues to guide everything we do.

This Back-to-School edition of School Beat is designed to help you and your family start the year with confidence. Find important dates, health and safety reminders, technology updates, and links to essential resources.

Whether you're returning or joining us for the first time, we want to ensure you feel informed and supported every step of the way. Let’s make this a year of connection, achievement, and joy for every student.

The first days of school are just around the corner! These are the official start dates for the 2025–26 school year. Please mark your calendars and help your student get off to a strong start.

Grades 1–12: Wednesday, Sept. 3

Preschool and Kindergarten: Monday, Sept. 8

The first and last day of school are not early release Wednesdays. Those will begin Wednesday, Sept. 10.

Seattle Public Schools proudly recognizes Deaf Awareness Month and National Preparedness Month throughout September. These observances highlight the importance of inclusion, accessibility, and readiness in our schools and communities. Additionally, starting September 15, we celebrate the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, honoring the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. Join us in learning, reflecting, and celebrating together.

Other Key Dates and Observances

Sept. 1 - Labor Day

Sept. 7-13 - National Arts in Education Week

Sept. 16 - National Voter Registration

Sept. 22 - First Day of Fall

Sept. 30 - National Day for Truth & Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day)

Sept. 30 - All Start of School Forms due

Looking for everything in one place? Our Back-to-School Resource Hub is your go-to guide for a smooth start to the school year. This centralized webpage includes quick links to:

• School year calendar
• Start of school forms
• Laptop distribution and device policy updates
• Payments and student fees
• Health Services
• Student Meals
• Your role in school safety and more

Whether you're new to Seattle Public Schools or returning for another year, the hub is designed to help you find what you need, fast.

Knowing when school starts and ends is key to a smooth routine! Each school follows its own bell schedule, so be sure to check your school’s specific times.

Early Release Wednesdays:

Starting Sept. 10, all schools will dismiss early every Wednesday to allow time for staff professional development. The first Wednesday of the school year (Sept. 3) will be a full school day. The last day of school is released one-hour early based on a regular school day!

Participating families can receive up to $10,000 a year in savings on child care costs with the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). There are more than 250 participating licensed child care providers citywide, including 56 in Seattle Public Schools buildings.

Visit the CCAP website to locate a provider near you and to check if you qualify for financial support. CCAP has you covered!

Seattle Public Schools offers multiple ways for families to stay informed and engaged throughout the school year.

• SchoolMessenger and TalkingPoints: Receive important messages from your school and the district via email, phone, or text.
• Communication Preferences: You can customize how you receive messages—choose your preferred language, update your contact details, and opt in or out of specific message types.
• District News & Updates: Follow SPS on social media and subscribe to newsletters for districtwide announcements, events, and stories.

Keeping your contact information up to date ensures you won’t miss critical updates about school closures, emergencies, and student learning.

Seattle Public Schools is committed to creating safe, welcoming environments where every student can thrive. Keeping schools safe is a shared responsibility.

• Keep your contact information up to date to receive emergency alerts via phone, email, and text. You can update your emergency contacts through the Student Data Verification Form starting in September.
• All visitors and volunteers must check in at the school’s front office upon arrival.

This year, SPS is partnering with Stand with Parkland - The National Association of Families for Safe Schools, to launch SaferWatch, a cutting-edge school safety application. Families will receive communication in the coming weeks about the partnership, the mobile app, and how you can play a part in keeping our schools safe.

Together, we can build a culture of safety, and trust in every school community.

Seattle Public Schools is committed to ensuring every student has the tools they need to succeed. All students will receive an SPS-issued laptop or tablet to support classroom learning and the possibility of remote instruction.

Each school will share its own device distribution schedule, so please watch for communication from your school. If your student still has a hotspot from last year or summer school, please note these will soon be deactivated.

Learn more about student devices.

Starting this fall, all SPS students in grades PreK–5 will be assigned new default passwords that are 12 characters long to enhance online safety. These passwords will be reset Sept. 2. Students in grades 6–12 who were enrolled in SPS last year will keep their current passwords, but schools will encourage them to update to a 12-character password as soon as possible.

Families can still view student schedules and teacher assignments in The Source the day before school starts using a parent/guardian account, so the new default password should not be needed until your student starts school. PreK-5 students will receive their new passwords from their classroom teacher.

Seattle Public Schools is committed to helping students get to school safely—whether by bus, bike, foot.

• Bus Transportation: Eligible students may receive yellow bus service. Route details, eligibility, and updates are available on the district’s transportation webpage.
• Special Education Transportation: Services are available for students with transportation listed in their IEP or 504 Plan.
• Walk, Bike, and Roll to School: Families are encouraged to consider active transportation options. Please review safety tips for walking, biking, or rolling to school, including using crosswalks, wearing helmets, and following traffic signals.

Healthy students are better learners! SPS is proud to offer nutritious, culturally diverse meals every school day to support student health and academic success.

• Breakfast and lunch are available at all schools, with menus that meet USDA nutrition standards and reflect the tastes and dietary needs of our students.
• Several schools offer free meals to all students. Families at these schools are encouraged to complete the School Meals Application—this helps maintain funding for vital school services.
• Families may qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Submit your application early to avoid any disruption in meal service.

Visit our website for more information about student meals including meal prices, paying for student meals, school menus, and more.

A healthy start sets the tone for a successful school year! Families are encouraged to review important health requirements before the first day of school.

1. Life-Threatening Health Conditions: If your student has a condition such as asthma, diabetes, or severe allergies, they must have medication and healthcare provider orders on file with the school nurse by the first day of school. Without these, students will not be allowed to remain at school.

2. Immunizations: If you received a letter from Health Services regarding missing vaccines, please ensure your student receives the required immunizations before school starts. Washington State law requires up-to-date immunization records for school attendance.

Taking care of these steps now helps keep all students safe and ready to learn.

School Based Health Centers (SBHCs) are operated by community providers in 29 Seattle Public Schools. These centers offer comprehensive, primary medical care and behavioral health to any SPS-enrolled student. Students can get sports physicals, immunizations, contraceptive support and mental health counseling all in one convenient place, without leaving school. Registration is required for services.

Seattle Public Schools encourages students to stay active, build teamwork skills, and have fun through school athletics. Whether your student is interested in cross country, soccer, basketball, or another sport, participation begins with proper registration.

All student-athletes must be registered through FinalForms, the district’s secure, online platform for athletic paperwork and eligibility. Through FinalForms, families can:

• Register for sports
• Complete and sign required forms
• Upload physical exam documents
• Receive updates from coaches and athletic staff

Starting this school year, students who have NOT created a FinalForms account will be unable to make their own. Instead, an account will be automatically created for them using the SPS student email and parent/guardian email in PowerSchool. The student and family will use these email addresses to activate their FinalForms account.

Seattle Public Schools prioritizes student safety, but unexpected accidents can still happen. To help manage medical costs, families can purchase student accident insurance through Myers-Stevens & Toohey for the 2025–26 school year. Plans include optional coverage for sickness and dental accidents and can supplement existing health insurance by reducing out-of-pocket expenses.

SPS is excited to invite you to a series of upcoming engagement sessions this fall! These gatherings are a chance for families, staff, students, and community members to come together, share ideas, and help shape the future of the district. Your voice matters, and your feedback will help us grow and improve.

SPS is seeking members for the Information Technology Advisory Committee (ITAC). The application is open until Oct. 6. Selected members will be notified on Oct. 15.

ITAC serves as an advisory committee for IT recommendations and future funding planning. Providing expertise and input, the committee includes students, parents/guardians, community members, teachers, and staff. ITAC members are asked to commit to attending monthly meetings for one year. The committee is currently holding monthly virtual meetings. Learn more and apply!