West Seattle families invited to school-district meeting Tuesday about advanced-learning services

Next Tuesday (September 30), Seattle Public Schools has a special meeting in West Seattle regarding advanced learning, and parent Chi wants to be sure everyone interested has heard about it, so they asked us to share this:

If you have a designated Highly Capable (HC) or Advanced Learner (AL), or if your kiddo is simply bored at school because they’re not getting the accelerated education they need in West Seattle, please show up next Tuesday 9/30, 6:15 pm at Chief Sealth IHS to talk to the new director of the Highly Capable department at SPS, Dr. Paula Montgomery. She is collecting feedback to improve the program. The more WS families show up, the more likely HC/AL services will return to WS.

Chief Sealth is at 2600 SW Thistle. This will be the second of seven meetings the district is hosting on this topic, including one online; locations, dates, and meeting format are here.

Lafayette Parent September 26, 2025 (9:55 pm)

Just wish this wasn’t the same night at Lafayette’s curriculum night.

SPS parent September 27, 2025 (8:06 am)

Sorry to hear this coincides with Lafayette’s curriculum night. There are other meetings that are open to all SPS families, including a Saturday one, and an online one:https://www.seattleschools.org/news/highly-capable-engagement-sessions/Also be sure to fill out their survey, especially if you can’t make it to any of these sessions.
- Tuesday, Oct. 7 – Garfield High School
- Tuesday, Oct. 14 – Nathan Hale High School
- Tuesday, Oct. 21 – Robert Eagle Staff Middle School
Virtual Session (6:30-7:30 p.m.)
- Tuesday, Oct. 28
In-Person at John Stanford Center (11 a.m.-noon):
- Saturday, Nov. 8

Denny MS Parent September 27, 2025 (12:05 pm)

I’m really looking forward to this event and plan to come with ideas on how to promote right-sized and equitable learning in our schools, especially those furthest from educational justice. There is also a ThoughtExchange set up where you can add comments and then upvote thoughts from others. Please provide feedback via ThoughtExchange.

AmyC September 28, 2025 (9:32 pm)

I thought the meetings all started at 6:30? That’s what’s listed on the district website here, and what was in the email they sent out to families on 9/9:

Jack T October 1, 2025 (9:11 am)

A textbook Seattle Public Schools meeting. District representatives relied on administrative jargon and minimal direct dialogue with attendees. Feedback was collected on paper, which can conveniently be discarded later. The presentation, while held in West Seattle, barely addressed local needs. Truly, if you didn’t attend, you missed nothing. As direct dialogue was discouraged, it’s no surprise that an online presentation wasn’t organized. For those seeking decent education for their children, the advice remains: keep planning that move to the Eastside.

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