Issue 41 -- Shuldiner Scales Back Recess for Many SPS Kids

Over a decade after families and educators won protections for lunch and recess times, Ben Shuldiner reopens the fight by slashing recess time at several elementary schools.

Issue 40 – Making Sense of the Deal that Averted a Strike

The first day of school took place as planned on Wednesday. Here’s how it happened and what we know about the Tentative Agreement.

Issue 39 – SPS Plays Hardball in Hopes of Forcing Acceptance of Controversial Special Education Changes

In a rather stunning development, Seattle Public Schools has reportedly “walked away” from the bargaining table with the Seattle Education Association just four days before the first day of school. That's according to SEA, and SPS has not commented. If the district does not return to the table,

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Issue 20 -- March 11, 2026 School Board Meeting Recap

The board discussed their frustrations with the Student Assignment Transition Plan rollout; lowered the threshold for board approval of outgoing payments but not incoming grants; and hears public testimony pleading for increased staff allocations at several alternative learning sites.

Issue 19 -- The School Board Begins Dismantling SOFG

SOFG is going away and committees are back -- but new controversy erupts over board fiscal thresholds.

Issue 18 -- February 11, 2026 School Board Meeting Recap

The board re-establishes standing committees, weighs changes to the student assignment transition plan and to financial thresholds triggering board review, and hears public testimony on highly capable programs, ethnic studies at SPS, and student safety.