The district says that would allow it to focus on student needs rather than fixed staffing ratios, but teachers worry it would mean less support, higher case-loads and less time to spend with each student. Seattle Public Schools has sought to increase the amount of time disabled children spend in general education classrooms, and also to eliminate ratios dictating how many students may be assigned to each special education professional. The union said 95% of its voting members approved the strike. Picketing teachers have stressed that their main concern is educational and emotional help for students, especially those with special needs or learning difficulties. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Our ongoing negotiations are about how we achieve that support, safety and quality.” “We agree on the ‘what,’ the fundamentals: adequate support, safe environments and high quality instruction,” Jones said. The sides were prepared to bargain through the weekend, and a decision on whether to begin classes Monday was expected over the weekend. The strike - over issues that include class size, support for special education students and those who are learning English, and pay - has delayed the start of school since Wednesday for some 49,000 students.īut Superintendent Brent Jones said in a video message to families Friday that Seattle Public Schools and the Seattle Education Association had made “tremendous progress” toward ending it.
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