A Message from Ben Shuldiner

Dear Seattle Public Schools Community,

I hope this newsletter finds you well. I am so happy to write to you all this week.

As many of you know, the district, alongside many families, educators, and community members, has been working diligently to adjust our technology rules and regulations.

When I arrived in Seattle, it was clear that the district had steered too heavily into an overreliance on technology, especially regarding the percentage of screen time our children were exposed to during the school day.

Over the summer, we worked hard to develop a step-by-step methodology to keep student learning front and center while addressing a dependency on screen time and technology that seems to pervade our classrooms and district writ large.

In September, the district, alongside our partners at Seattle Families for Intentional Technology, held a press conference to announce our first foray into stricter controls around technology use.

As a reminder, these were our changes less than two months ago.

This week, the district continued to adjust our policies, as promised, expanding guidance to include 3rd through 5th grades and limiting software that had been abused, especially during student downtime.

Thus, I am very happy to announce the following changes:

Students in grades three through five will have a one-hour daily cap on screen time. And as a reminder, that is a limit. Our hope is that on most days, our upper elementary students don't even approach an hour. But after talking with teachers and principals, it became clear that the hour limit made the most sense, as it was enforceable without large-scale changes to curricular expectations.

For instance, in 5th grade, if a student had 20 minutes of screen time for ELA during their two-hour literacy block, participated in an interactive math project for 15 minutes during their 90-minute mathematics block, conducted a science simulation for 15 minutes, and watched a video about the American Revolution for 10 minutes, that would already be the one-hour limit.

The educators and administrators we spoke to felt that any more time would be unnecessary, but we didn't want to limit the creativity and control of teachers around pacing and hands-on learning.

Hence, the one-hour screen-time limit for 3rd through 5th grades.

Though the screen-time limits might've gotten the most focus, I am even more pleased with two other major parts of the new guidance.

The district is finally blocking specific software, including YouTube, Gemini, and Minecraft. By not allowing these programs on student computers, we can limit unacceptable usage. I have to commend our tech team for figuring out how to truly block this software without stopping the functionality of our computers for our children.

From the moment I came to Seattle, one of the biggest complaints I heard was about the seemingly unfettered access to YouTube. We also heard of students accessing AI-enabled software, like Gemini, and using it inappropriately. And with Minecraft, we saw it being played over and over during downtime or even when teachers were trying to teach. By shutting these three programs down, along with others, we think we are starting to turn the tide on improper technology use.

However, even more important than limiting software, the district made a clear statement to our educators, families, and students that laptops, iPads, and other devices were not to be used "for incentives, free time, or rewards."

This is huge.

In my hundred-plus school visits, walking through over a thousand classrooms, I saw device after device being used for activities having nothing to do with the curriculum. To be clear, I am not faulting educators in any way. We gave the kids the devices. We said, here you go. And of course, when there was free time, they immediately started using them. If we buy all sorts of ed-tech "learning" games for students and teachers, the reaction will be to use them. But this change, I think more than any other, will help alleviate excessive screen time.

As I promised early on, we are moving on these tech issues. We started with K–2 guidance, and now we have 3–5 guidance. We are addressing software more strongly and getting rid of Gemini access. There is more to be done, for sure, but I do hope the district sees these as positive steps for our children and schools regarding technology usage and screen time.

Thank you all for believing in SPS. With your help and hard work, SPS truly will be the best urban public school district in the country.

Ben

Rainier View Elementary's first-ever Tigers Exploring Tomorrow Week opened students' eyes to the many possibilities ahead. Throughout the week, scholars connected with community professionals from King County Metro, the Seattle Police Department K-9 Unit, Seattle Fire Station 33, and beyond, gaining firsthand insight into a variety of careers and educational pathways.

The week concluded with a special visit from a former Rainier View scholar who returned to share his journey from student to zookeeper, inspiring students to pursue their passions and embrace new opportunities. Through hands-on experiences and meaningful conversations, Tigers Exploring Tomorrow Week encouraged scholars to stay curious, dream big, and recognize that there are many paths to a bright future.

Learn how Rainier View scholars explored careers, connected with community leaders, and discovered what's possible for their future on the SPS website.

Seattle Public Schools invites students, families, staff, and community members to join the next Superintendent Community Engagement Meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 17, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Zoom. These meetings provide an opportunity to share feedback directly with district leadership and help shape the future of SPS schools and services.

Building on conversations from previous meetings, the Nov. 17 session will continue discussions around academic rigor, school design, and school safety and security. Community input will help inform future engagement opportunities and district planning efforts.

To support broad participation, language interpretation in Amharic, Chinese, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese, as well as American Sign Language (ASL) services, will be available.

Your voice matters. We hope you'll join the conversation.

View the full meeting schedule and learn more on the SPS website.

More than 400 Seattle-area high school students recently kicked off their participation in the ACE Mentor Program, a nationally recognized initiative that introduces students to careers in architecture, construction and engineering through mentorship, workplace experiences and project-based learning.

Throughout the year, students will work alongside industry professionals, participate in site visits, and collaborate on a building design project that takes them from concept to completion. Along the way, they'll develop technical knowledge, professional skills and a deeper understanding of the many careers that help shape our communities.

Read the full story to learn how SPS students are gaining real-world experience and building connections with professionals through the ACE Mentor Program.

Seattle Public Schools invites families to join the first Enrollment Information Session of the season on Thursday, Nov. 12, from 6-7 p.m., which will be held virtually. These sessions provide an opportunity to learn about enrollment and school choice, understand important timelines and requirements, and get answers to questions directly from district staff.

The district will host a series of seven Enrollment Information Sessions (five in-person and two virtual) leading up to the annual Enrollment Fair on Jan. 9. All families are welcome to attend and learn more about their school options.

Kindergarten registration and the on-time Open Enrollment School Choice period begin Jan. 4, and continue through Jan. 31. Attending an information session is a great way to prepare for the enrollment process and explore available opportunities.

Whether you're enrolling a new student or exploring school choice options, we encourage you to join us.

Visit the SPS Enrollment webpage for the Nov. 12 meeting link, the full schedule of information sessions, and additional enrollment resources.

Ingraham High School's jazz band is helping bridge the gap between middle school and high school through monthly visits to neighboring schools. During a recent visit to Robert Eagle Staff Middle School, student musicians connected with younger students, shared their love of music, and highlighted the many opportunities available through high school performing arts programs.

These visits help foster relationships, build community, and give students a glimpse of what awaits them as they prepare for high school.

Read more on the SPS website.

Seattle Public Schools students showcased their talent on the state's biggest ultimate frisbee stage as Lincoln High School captured its second consecutive Washington state championship. The Lynx defeated fellow Seattle Public Schools team, Roosevelt High School, 15-7 in an all-Seattle final, capping another outstanding season and ensuring the state title remained in Seattle.

The championship matchup highlighted the dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship of student-athletes across both programs. Congratulations to the Lincoln Lynx on their back-to-back state titles and to both teams for representing Seattle Public Schools with excellence.

Read more about this victory on the SPS website.