School starts tomorrow for mini Fremonsters (and kids in other Seattle neighborhoods as well). Be sure to watch out for school buses and masses of kids walking to and from school!

After the implementation of the Student Assignment Plan, Seattle Public Schools is also changing the way elementary and K-8 students get to school.

The transportation map for Adams Elementary. Orange is the walk zone, yellow the bus zone.

The new neighborhood-based transportation system is expected to streamline bus routs for attendance-area students and get kids to their neighborhood school in 25 minutes or less. This change will also save an estimate $4 million by using fewer buses and less gas. “With more efficient routing, buses are less likely to encounter the traffic delays that occur on longer routes, so families will find departure and arrival times to be more reliable,” said Tom Bishop, SPS transportation manager. “In addition, the more streamlined routes will also benefit the environment by taking up to 80 buses off the roads and reducing the district’s carbon footprint.”

Students within the transportation zone, but outside the walk zone for a school will be eligible for district-provided transportation. There are an estimated 3,600 elementary students who live outside the new transportation zones. They will still be eligible for the following transportation:

Students who live within a half of a mile from the Transportation Zone boundary can walk to a yellow bus stop within the zone. Seats will be allocated on a space-available basis.

Community stops will be created so students can catch a yellow bus near an attendance area school and take it to another school.

Students who are no longer eligible for transportation will receive a guaranteed assignment to their attendance area school, if requested.

School bus routes will be assigned later this summer once all the students assignments are complete. Families should expect a letter later this month, prior to the start of the school year.

For more information and to see the transportation zone for your school, click here. FAQ can be found here (.pdf)

If your child will enter the Seattle Public School system this year, or if you want a school other than your attendance-area elementary, middle or high school, be sure to apply through Open Enrollment, which runs today, March 15, through April 15.

Forms and detailed information are available at the Seattle Public Schools site. Families may also contact an Enrollment Facilitator at the Service Center at the John Stanford Center, 2445 3rd Ave S (3rd and Lander), via telephone at (206) 252-0010, or via fax to (206) 252-0761. There is also a Recorded Information Line at (206) 252-0410.

Registration and application materials may be mailed, faxed or submitted in person. The mailing address is:

Seattle Public Schools
SPS Service Center
MS 11-174
P.O. Box 34165
Seattle, WA 98124-1165

All school choice forms received during open enrollment are processed together after open enrollment ends on April 15. There is no advantage to submitting forms earlier or later during the open enrollment period. The first few days and the last few days of open enrollment are the busiest. To avoid long lines, families are encouraged by SPS to consider this when planning their visit to the enrollment center.

Current students may drop off School Choice Forms in a 24-hour drop box in the JSCEE parking lot at 3rd and Lander. Forms must be filled out completely and signed to be accepted. The drop-off box is only for school choice forms for current students who already have a school assignment but would like to apply for a different school. New students must submit enrollment materials either in person, by fax or email.

Seattle Public Schools enrollment staff will also visit libraries and community centers around the city throughout March so parents may enroll new students and/or submit School Choice Forms for the 2011-12 school year. Staff will be at the Green Lake Library (7364 E Green Lake Dr N) on Monday, March 21, 5:30 – 7 p.m.

via MyWallingford

Let your opinions be heard on the proposed student boundary map!  There is a meeting tonight at Ballard High School from 6:30-8:30pm where the community can address the school district with any questions and concerns regarding the plan. 

This map outlines the proposed boundary changes for Fremont’s elementary and middle school areas.

This is what the changes for high schools looks like.

Click here to view the current maps and for a link to look up all schools by address, with a larger view of the maps.

The School Board will vote on the proposed boundaries on November 18.  If approved, the changes will take effect in phases for students entering kindergarten, 6th grade and 9th grade in the 2010-2011 school year.

You can find an overview on the new student assignment plan, as well as a complete list of upcoming community meetings here (.pdf).