School Zone: The P-I's Seattle-Area Schools Blog

• Plans for a UW's North campus dead... again

  The Herald in Everett has more about why the UW's North-campus plans haven't taken flight in the Legislature this year.' [...]
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  Posted: March 13, 2009, 7:49pm EDT
  

• Do you think Seattle school start times should be changed?

  In a bid to save money, Seattle Public Schools staff members have suggested that most high schools, K-8 and middle schools start at 8 a.m., and most elementary schools start at 9:15 a.m. Right now, start times vary -- they're generally earliest for middle schools (7:40-ish), a little later for' [...]
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  Posted: March 12, 2009, 7:00pm EDT
  

• Seattle Central restores classes, students still protest

  Seattle Central Community College will restore a few classes slated to be cut from the schedule this spring, following a loud and hard-fought controversy. [...]
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  Posted: March 12, 2009, 5:43pm EDT
  

• Sno Valley school bond OK'd; Auburn, Vashon bonds failing

  After three previous failed attempts, Snoqualmie Valley Public Schools may finally be passing a school bond. The latest election returns from the King County Elections office show the measure passing with more than the 60 percent "yes" vote required for a bond to pass. (Levies can pass with a simple [...]
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  Posted: March 11, 2009, 2:53pm EDT
  

• Election day nears for voters in 3 area school districts

  Ballots have been mailed out and are due Tuesday (March 10) for voters in the Auburn, Snoqualmie Valley and Vashon Island school districts. [...]
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  Posted: March 05, 2009, 11:05pm EST
  

• Layoffs at the UW? What's your take?

  Here's the e-mail that went out to University of Washington employees yesterday announcing layoffs in the university's fundraising department. About 70 positions have been cut in response to the UW's dwindling endowment. [...]
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  Posted: March 03, 2009, 1:49pm EST
  

• UW president to take questions at town hall meeting

  For all those P-I sound-off posters out there who regularly lament the University of Washington's budget decisions, here's your chance to talk to the university's BMOC face to face. [...]
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  Posted: February 27, 2009, 3:00am EST
  

• School districts share budget woes with the public

  Several area school districts are sharing their budget woes and turning to the public for help. A sampling: [...]
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  Posted: February 27, 2009, 3:00am EST
  

• UW 18th in fundraising last year with $303 million

  The University of Washington raised almost $303 million 2008, the 18th highest amount among U.S. universities. That's according to a report from the New York-based Council for Aid to Education. [...]
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  Posted: February 26, 2009, 6:43pm EST
  

• Local schools chip away at language programs -- what do you think?

  As budgets continue to shrink and layoffs loom ahead, the University of Washington is making cuts -- and foreign languages requirements are probably going to get a little looser. [...]
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  Posted: February 26, 2009, 3:22pm EST
  

• Seattle NAACP to file school-closures complaints today

  Seattle school closures opponents plan to hold a march and rally in downtown Seattle Thursday afternoon, and deliver a stack of formal complaints to the Department of Education in hopes of sparking an investigation that could halt the planned closures of several schools this summer. [...]
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  Posted: February 26, 2009, 2:01pm EST
  

• Astronaut to visit Seattle school

  As Black History Month wraps up this week, some Seattle students will have the chance to meet a noted black astronaut, while others will participate in a performing arts program to learn more about various black heroes and heroines throughout history. [...]
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  Posted: February 25, 2009, 9:45pm EST
  

• Kent School Board to vote on new superintendent Wednesday

  Looks like noted school district administrator Edward Lee Vargas is about to become the new superintendent of the Kent School District. The School Board meets Wednesday to vote on whether to formally ask Vargas to step in to replace Superintendent Barbara Grohe, who is retiring at the end of the [...]
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  Posted: February 24, 2009, 5:30pm EST
  

• UW severs licensing agreement with Russell Corporation

  The Russell Corporation won't be manufacturing apparel bearing the University of Washington logo any longer.' [...]
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  Posted: February 24, 2009, 3:04pm EST
  

• Update on state education funding/reform bills

  State Senate Bill 6048, the compromise education funding/reform bill that rose from the ashes of two other competing bills, was passed out of committee in time for the Wednesday cutoff deadline. Its companion bill, HB2261, gets a hearing tomorrow morning. [...]
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  Posted: February 24, 2009, 2:55pm EST
  

• Teachers: Apply ASAP for free educational trip to China

  A Bellevue-based nonprofit group is offering a limited number of scholarships for local teachers to visit China, Hong Kong and Taiwan as part of a two-week cultural exchange program this summer. The Cultural Exploration of Greater China Foundation will pay for transportation, accommodations, food and tour fees for teachers who [...]
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  Posted: February 23, 2009, 9:12pm EST
  

• Teachers: Apply ASAP for free educational trip to China

  A Bellevue-based nonprofit group is offering a limited number of scholarships for local teachers to visit China, Hong Kong and Taiwan as part of a two-week cultural exchange program this summer. The Cultural Exploration of Greater China Foundation will pay for transportation, accommodations, food and tour fees for teachers who [...]
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  Posted: February 23, 2009, 9:12pm EST
  

• Washington kids offer advice for Obama

  I had to laugh while reading some of the letters Seattle elementary-school students wrote to President Obama recently as part of a national project called "Mail to the Chief." Kids from Washington offered advice and some requests, such as urging the president to "remember to Recycle!" and suggesting "all schools" [...]
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  Posted: February 21, 2009, 6:29pm EST
  

• Seattle, Highline students receive special honors

  Seven Seattle-area students are traveling to New York City this week to attend the National Academy Foundation's Annual Gala, which will include a concert by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. [...]
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  Posted: February 20, 2009, 9:49pm EST
  

• Seattle, Highline students receive special honors

  Seven Seattle-area students are traveling to New York City this week to attend the National Academy Foundation's Annual Gala, which will include a concert by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. [...]
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  Posted: February 20, 2009, 9:49pm EST
  

• School-closures opponents organizing meetup, rally

  Opponents of Seattle school closures haven't given up, despite the School Board's Jan. 29th vote to approve some closures and relocations.' [...]
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  Posted: February 20, 2009, 9:18pm EST
  

• School-closures opponents organizing meetup, rally

  Opponents of Seattle school closures haven't given up, despite the School Board's Jan. 29th vote to approve some closures and relocations.' [...]
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  Posted: February 20, 2009, 9:18pm EST
  

• Washington kids offer advice for Obama

  I had to laugh while reading some of the letters Seattle elementary-school students wrote to President Obama recently as part of a national project called "Mail to the Chief." Kids from Washington offered advice and some requests, such as urging the president to "remember to Recycle!" and suggesting "all schools" [...]
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  Posted: February 20, 2009, 6:29pm EST
  

• FREE online college courses from UW, MIT and more

  Interested in learning about new subjects or brushing up your skills, but don't necessarily have the time or the money to pay for college classes?' [...]
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  Posted: February 20, 2009, 5:27pm EST
  

• FREE online college courses from UW, MIT and more

  Interested in learning about new subjects or brushing up your skills, but don't necessarily have the time or the money to pay for college classes?' [...]
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  Posted: February 20, 2009, 5:27pm EST
  

• NEA chief says he has "high hopes" for Obama, Duncan

  I had the chance to sit down Friday afternoon with the president of the National Education Association, which represents 3.2 million educators working at every level, from pre-school to university graduate programs. [...]
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  Posted: February 18, 2009, 3:00am EST
  

• NEA chief says he has "high hopes" for Obama, Duncan

  I had the chance to sit down Friday afternoon with the president of the National Education Association, which represents 3.2 million educators working at every level, from pre-school to university graduate programs. [...]
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  Posted: February 18, 2009, 3:00am EST
  

• New school environmental health and safety rules on hold?

  Looks like the chances are fading that the State Board of Health's oft-delayed new environmental health and safety rule will be adopted soon. [...]
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  Posted: February 13, 2009, 7:59pm EST
  

• New school environmental health and safety rules on hold?

  Looks like the chances are fading that the State Board of Health's oft-delayed new environmental health and safety rule will be adopted soon. [...]
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  Posted: February 13, 2009, 7:59pm EST
  

• Emmert seeks to calm UW employees in the face of layoffs

  Here's the full text of a letter sent to University of Washington staff and faculty Thursday evening. For more on the cuts UW President Mark Emmert writes about, read our stories here and here. [...]
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  Posted: February 13, 2009, 6:46pm EST
  

• Emmert seeks to calm UW employees in the face of layoffs

  Here's the full text of a letter sent to University of Washington staff and faculty Thursday evening. For more on the cuts UW President Mark Emmert writes about, read our stories here and here. [...]
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  Posted: February 13, 2009, 6:46pm EST
  

• Concord ES, Denny MS to become international programs

  Next fall, Concord Elementary and Denny Middle School will become "international schools," offering dual language-immersion programs and an enhanced curriculum designed to turn students into global citizens, Seattle's schools chief announced at Wednesday's School Board meeting. [...]
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  Posted: February 11, 2009, 11:07pm EST
  

• Concord ES, Denny MS to become international programs

  Next fall, Concord Elementary and Denny Middle School will become "international schools," offering dual language-immersion programs and an enhanced curriculum designed to turn students into global citizens, Seattle's schools chief announced at Wednesday's School Board meeting. [...]
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  Posted: February 11, 2009, 11:07pm EST
  

• UW will open new campus in Spain

  León, Spain is set to be home to the University of Washington's second European campus, according to an agreement signed by UW officials Tuesday. [...]
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  Posted: February 10, 2009, 5:08pm EST
  

• UW will open new campus in Spain

  León, Spain is set to be home to the University of Washington's second European campus, according to an agreement signed by UW officials Tuesday. [...]
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  Posted: February 10, 2009, 5:08pm EST
  

• Seattle school principal appointments for '09-'10 announced

  Seattle Public Schools has announced the names of principals who will take over this summer at schools affected by the school program relocations the board approved last week. [...]
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  Posted: February 09, 2009, 9:05pm EST
  

• Seattle school principal appointments for '09-'10 announced

  Seattle Public Schools has announced the names of principals who will take over this summer at schools affected by the school program relocations the board approved last week. [...]
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  Posted: February 09, 2009, 9:05pm EST
  

• Seattle school tours info

  Seattle Public School has compiled info on upcoming school tours, organized by cluster and school type -- click here to see the links (which each open up PDF documents). [...]
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  Posted: February 09, 2009, 4:00pm EST
  

• Seattle school tours info

  Seattle Public School has compiled info on upcoming school tours, organized by cluster and school type -- click here to see the links (which each open up PDF documents). [...]
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  Posted: February 09, 2009, 4:00pm EST
  

• Enrollment jumps at state's community colleges

  You already know that enrollment was up at community and technical colleges last fall. But that trend continues as the economy shows no signs of an uptick. [...]
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  Posted: February 06, 2009, 6:39pm EST
  

• Enrollment jumps at state's community colleges

  You already know that enrollment was up at community and technical colleges last fall. But that trend continues as the economy shows no signs of an uptick. [...]
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  Posted: February 06, 2009, 6:39pm EST
  

• Teens: Start applying now for summer internships

  The job market is tough right now, but it's looking even worse for teenagers, according to an annual study (PDF) by the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University. Last summer's teen employment rate was only 32.7 percent – a 60-year historical low, according to the study – and [...]
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  Posted: February 06, 2009, 3:00am EST
  

• Teens: Start applying now for summer internships

  The job market is tough right now, but it's looking even worse for teenagers, according to an annual study (PDF) by the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University. Last summer's teen employment rate was only 32.7 percent – a 60-year historical low, according to the study – and [...]
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  Posted: February 06, 2009, 3:00am EST
  

• No early WASL option for 9th graders this year

  The state superintendent's office has announced that ninth-graders won't be able to take the 10th-grade WASL in math, reading and writing this spring, as they had in previous years.' [...]
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  Posted: February 05, 2009, 8:38pm EST
  

• UW doesn't want to disclose some finances

  The University of Washington doesn't want to disclose information relating to private investments funds, according to the local business blog TechFlash.' [...]
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  Posted: February 05, 2009, 8:11pm EST
  

• SU president named in another lawsuit, more to come

  Seattle University President Stephen Sundborg was named as a defendant in a second lawsuit filed in Alaska Superior Court Wednesday. [...]
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  Posted: February 05, 2009, 1:27pm EST
  

• More on the lawsuit over nude HS cheerleaders photos

  I'm not able to individually respond to all the e-mails I've received about this case, but for those of you who are interested, here's the latest. (I'm revisiting this only because it's related to today's story about the rise of "sexting" -- sending racy text-messages or photos via cell phone.)' [...]
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  Posted: February 05, 2009, 12:23pm EST
  

• Facebook turns five today

  Happy birthday, Facebook. You made it half a decade. [...]
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  Posted: February 04, 2009, 5:30pm EST
  

• Report: More high school students taking, passing AP exams

  Washington was one of six states with the highest five-year rise in the number of students passing Advanced Placement exams last year, and saw the highest year-over-year percentage-point jump, according to an annual report (PDF) from the College Board, released today. [...]
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  Posted: February 04, 2009, 12:08pm EST
  

• Late-in-life Garfield HS grad Dick Coone, 1922-2009

  During the past four years covering education for the P-I, I've had the opportunity to meet a number of colorful characters. One of my favorites was Dick Coone, who received his diploma from Garfield High School in 2006 -- 65 years after his senior year of high school. He was' [...]
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  Posted: February 04, 2009, 3:00am EST