School Beat

As part of our efforts to streamline district communications, this will be the last School Beat. Going forward, Seattle Public Schools will highlight good news, celebrations, achievements, and district announcements through Superintendent Ben Shuldiner’s weekly newsletter, which releases every Sunday at 5 p.m. Questions? Contact Public Affairs at publicaffairs@seattleschools.org.

At Seattle Public Schools, every student has a place to learn, grow, and discover their future. From kindergarten classrooms to high school graduation stages, we’re committed to helping every student build the skills, confidence, and opportunities they need to thrive.

This Back-to-School (and final) edition of School Beat is designed to help your family start the year feeling informed and ready for success. Inside, you’ll find important dates, health and safety reminders, technology updates, and links to essential resources that support students and families throughout the year.

Whether you’re new to SPS or returning for another exciting year, we’re happy you’re here. Together, we’ll create a wonderful community where every student can explore their interests, pursue their goals, and find their future.

Let’s make the 2026-27 school year one filled with learning, connection, achievement, and possibility.

The first days of school are just around the corner! Please mark your calendars and help your student get off to a strong start.

Grades 1–12: Wednesday, Sept. 2

Preschool and Kindergarten: Tuesday, Sept. 8

The first and last day of school are not early release Wednesdays — those will begin Wednesday, Sept. 9.

Seattle Public Schools proudly recognizes Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins Sept. 15. This is a time where we honor the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. September is also Deaf Awareness Month and National Preparedness Month. These observances highlight the importance of inclusion, accessibility, and readiness in our schools and communities. Join us in learning, reflecting, and celebrating together.

Sept. 7 - Labor Day (No school)

Sept. 13-19 - National Arts in Education Week

Sept. 15 - 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

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:

• The first Wednesday of the school year (Sept. 2) will be a full school day.
• Starting Sept. 9, all schools will dismiss early every Wednesday to allow time for staff professional development.
• The last day of school is released one-hour early based on a regular school day bell schedule, NOT the early release Wednesday schedule!

Regular attendance is one of the strongest predictors of student success. When students are in school, ready to learn each day, they build skills, strengthen connections, and contribute to a thriving school community.

Seattle Public Schools is committed to supporting families by tracking attendance, communicating about absences, and helping address challenges that may make it difficult for students to attend regularly. If your student will be absent, please notify the school in advance whenever possible, or within two school days of their return. Together, we can help every student stay engaged and on the path to success.

The Source displays student attendance, assessment sources, and progress reports. It is also how families can access School Pay to pay for student fees (ex. yearbooks and ASB cards).

Families can view student schedules and teacher assignments in The Source the day before school starts using a parent/guardian account. PreK-5 students will receive their new passwords from their classroom teacher.

Seattle Public Schools offers multiple ways for families to stay informed and engaged throughout the school year. You can customize your communication preferences. Choose how you receive messages, your preferred language, update your contact details, and opt in or out of specific message types.

• SchoolMessenger and TalkingPoints: Receive important messages from your school and the district via email, phone, or text.
• District News & Updates: Follow SPS on Facebook and Instagram 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.

SPS 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.

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.

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 have been deactivated and should be returned and reauthorized if a new one is requested for this coming school year.

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.

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.

Every SPS family is encouraged to complete the Child Nutrition Eligibility & Education Benefit (CNEEB) form. Why?

• It may qualify students for meal benefits and reduced fees.
• It helps schools receive funding based on student need.
• Complete information helps SPS receive, plan, and allocate resources effectively.

Please take a few minutes to complete the form today.

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.

In order to participate, all student-athletes must be registered and cleared 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

For support with student email access before school starts, contact the district’s student TechLine phone number: 206-252-0100 during weekday hours (8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) You will need to know the student’s SPS student ID and what school they are assigned to for the current school year.

Note: If your student is under 16 years old, only the registered parent/guardian may call for support. If your student is 16 or older, only the student can call. The guardian cannot call on a student’s behalf.

A frequent concern expressed by SPS families during recent community engagement sessions was the difficulty of the school volunteer application process. We listened to your feedback and are implementing major enhancements to the volunteer screening and onboarding process for Seattle Public Schools starting in the 2026–27 school year.

• Clearer volunteer classifications: Tier 1 and Tier 2 school volunteers.
• Streamlined application process: Tier 1 volunteers are supervised by staff during school hours and help in classrooms, the library, the lunchroom, and other areas. All Tier 1 volunteers must complete a free state background check. To qualify for the unsupervised Tier 2 volunteer role, a national background check is required.
• After signing the Chaperone Guidelines Form, approved Tier 1 volunteers can chaperone day field trips, and approved Tier 2 volunteers can chaperone overnight field trips.

These improvements aim to make the process easier for families to navigate and to enable schools to approve volunteers more quickly.

The School Board is transitioning to Diligent Community (formerly Board Docs) for management of School Board meeting materials, agendas, and reports.

Diligent Community will improve organization of documents and provide a central hub for easy access to agendas and materials for all School Board meetings. Members of the public will be able to sign up to receive updates when meeting materials have been added or items have been changed.

Public testimony sign-ups can be accessed from the new Diligent Community page, so please bookmark the new link. The sign-up form will also be available through the current webpage during our transition period.

The Diligent Community portal is now available on the School Board webpage.

If you have questions, please reach out to the School Board Office at boardoffice@seattleschools.org.

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!

Getting to preschool, appointments, and community activities just got a little easier!

Seattle Public Schools (SPS) Head Start, the Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL), and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) are partnering to provide eligible families with free ORCA cards to help reduce transportation barriers and support access to preschool and other essential services.

Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) families who qualify for free preschool will receive a free ORCA card by mail from SDOT.

Families enrolled in SPS Head Start locations will receive a free, unlimited-use ORCA card through their child's classroom. Families can look for the card in their preschooler's backpack or pick one up directly from the classroom.

These ORCA cards provide unlimited rides through Aug. 31, 2027 on:

• King County Metro buses
• Sound Transit buses and Link light rail
• King County Water Taxi
• Seattle Streetcar
• Seattle Center Monorail and more!

This program is designed to help families get where they need to go by making transportation more affordable and accessible.

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 2026–27 school year. Plans include optional coverage for sickness and dental accidents and can supplement existing health insurance by reducing out-of-pocket expenses.