Seattle Public Schools bell-time changes: New family survey

With school start-and-end times – officially known as bell times – changing next year at many Seattle Public Schools, the district says it knows the change “has presented some significant logistical, scheduling, and programmatic challenges, and appreciate the feedback from schools, families and community members on the impact.” So it’s asking families to take a survey focused on how the changes will affect “Nutrition Services (Breakfast and Lunch), Before and After School Programs, and Athletics.” Find the survey here, in six languages. (And if you haven’t checked your school’s bell times, find them here.)

Mike March 31, 2016 (1:18 am)

Their second question is what race are you? Really? I’m not sure I understand how race is important in bell times, especially to be the second question. Wow.

Bonnie March 31, 2016 (6:56 am)

Maybe they are just trying to determine which demographics they are reaching?

Brandee March 31, 2016 (8:33 am)

For one I am getting a bit tired of changes that impact families on a larger scale. One minute it’s bussing, that eliminated drop off zones at multiple childcare centers. This year it is bell time changes that again impact care for families that need it before school and an increase in prices for th after school programs which is already getting big due to minimum wage. Not to mention adding a much longer day for those little ones that are transitioning out of naps or are doing after school sports.

JulNJer March 31, 2016 (9:35 am)

Mike, federal funding and other grants are sometimes allocated/tracked using demographics. They’re looking at changing and hopefully removing that as one of their criteria (same with gender) but it’s a slow process.

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