Lake Washington School District
Elizabeth Blackwell Elementary
3225 205th Pl. N.E., Sammamish, WA 98074 | 425 836-7300
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PTSA
Student Placement 2009-2010 
Blackwell Elementary School will adhere to the following criteria and process for student placement.
 

One of the most important responsibilities of the school staff is to assign students to classes for the next year.  The goal of the student placement policy is to design balanced classes, according to established criteria, which create the optimal learning environment for all Blackwell Elementary School students.  Each classroom is a small community that must be representative of the diverse social, academic, and physical needs and abilities of all students.

Student Placement Criteria:

1.   Classes will be balanced by gender across a grade level.

2.   Classes will be balanced by academic abilities and achievement.

3.   Class size will be balanced across a grade level.

4.   Classes will be balanced by social and emotional needs, leadership skills, work habits, and general behavior.

Student Placement Process Agreements

  • When there is a strong indication that we may have more than one configuration for a receiving grade level, the current grade level creates both configurations.
  • Student Placement Process Timeline: 

    Date                 Action              

    April                  Principal will confirm continuation of current programs with school and district staff.  Current staff members may request a particular assignment at Blackwell or may request re-assignment to another school in the district.

    April 17             Reserve a Place forms sent home (arriving April 17th from the district)

    April 24           General Information letter sent to parents regarding our Student Placement Process.

    May 1               Parents may complete an input form providing information that will be considered by the Placement Team.  We do not accept requests for specific teachers since we cannot guarantee placement for primarily two reasons: specific teachers may not be assigned to teach at a particular grade level as expected; and enrollment levels may mean that staffing and placement must change only days prior to the start of school.  Parents are welcome to share information the current teacher may not have that parents feel would be helpful in a child’s placement.  Parent input is optional and a standardized form is available from the main office on Friday, May 1 and must be returned to the main office by Friday, May 15, 2009.  This form will be forwarded to the student’s current teacher and then to the assigned teacher in August prior to the start of the year.

    May/June          Principal will receive initial enrollment projections from the district and a student/teacher staffing ratio.  The number of class sections for each grade level is determined by the principal based on enrollment and staffing numbers. 

    May 4-15          Student’s current teacher, according to the student placement criteria, will evaluate each student’s academic skills, work habits, leadership skills, social development, and participation in any special program  

    May 18             SPED Promotion Process and Placement Teams will be established for each grade level.  Each Placement Team will include all teachers from the present grade level, one or more specialist, the special education teacher, school psychologist, counselor, and the principal.

    May 20             Sending grade level teams meet to build class lists for 2009-2010.  Class lists and student placement forms are due in the office on June 1.  

    May 27             Receiving grade level teams receive class lists for review.  These are to be returned, with recommendations, to Stephen by 4:00 p.m. on June 3, 2009.

    June 8-12         Sending grade level teams may meet with Stephen to address comments from receiving grade levels.

    August 17-28    Newly enrolled students are placed in classrooms.  This process will include revisions to existing lists and assignments.  All affected staff, including previous and current year staff, will attend these meetings.

    August             When enrollment and staffing are judged to be stable by district administrators, staff assignments and student placement will be finalized. Final approval of student placement is the responsibility of the principal. 

    August 22         Letters mailed home with notification of class placement.

          August 25         Kindergarten Orientation

          August 27         Meet and Greet from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.

September 1st    First day of school