Rainy Day Recess

Rainy Day Rundown is your weekly update on the latest happenings related to Seattle Public Schools. 

In this episode:

• School Board Meeting: President Gina Topp's first full meeting featured strong facilitation and substantive debate.
  • Goals and Guardrails: Board discussed reading targets, math goals, and graduation requirements, with student directors providing key insights. Decision postponed to January 29th.
  • Budget Preview: High-level look at addressing potential $100M shortfall, with preview of upcoming enrollment study showing 86% family satisfaction.
  • Public Testimony: Strong advocacy for libraries, concerns about racial disparities, calls for ethnic studies, and questions about HCC transitions.
• Community Updates: West Seattle education funding event and upcoming "Billion Dollar Bake Sale" advocacy in Olympia.

See our Show Notes.

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Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.

It’s week 3 of the 2025 legislative session in Washington State. Megan Larkin is helping us follow the education bills related to the Big 3 priorities embraced by the major education advocacy organizations across Washington (WASSDA, WASA, and WSPTA). 

--> SIGN IN on special education bills in Appropriations.

See our Show Notes

Each person’s opinions are their own. Contact us with comments, questions, or corrections at [email protected].

Support the show

Contact us at [email protected].
Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.

Rainy Day Rundown is your weekly update on the latest happenings in education and the community. 

In this episode:

1. School Board Retreat: A new team-building exercise reveals governance styles, with an emphasis on detail-oriented approaches and a notable absence of "caring" styles on the board.
2. Goals and Guardrails Meetings: Short notice and low attendance at Goals and Guardrails meetings raise concerns about representation and effectiveness.
3. Legislative Insights: Legislature kicks off with some great informational sessions.
4. Community Events: Recap of the "From Crisis to Classroom" event, featuring local activists and union leaders discussing fair school funding. Upcoming education funding event in West Seattle.
5. Listener Notes: Kaitlin Murdock’s analysis comparing Goals and Guardrails for successful urban districts.
6. Call to Action: January 30th Billion Dollar Bake Sale rally planned in Olympia to advocate for education funding.

See our Show Notes

Support the show

Contact us at [email protected].
Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.

This is also a Video!  Jump straight to the demonstration.

In this episode of Rainy Day Recess, we guide listeners through the process of signing in "pro" to support key education funding bills in Washington State. With a step-by-step demonstration, we make it easy for anyone to take action and help secure funding for public schools. Listen to Advocacy 101 for background.

----------->>>>>>>>>>>>> Sign in Pro on the Funding Bills

This interview was edited for length and clarity. Each person’s opinions are their own. 

Support the show

Contact us at [email protected].
Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.

Join Rainy Day Recess as we kick off a new series exploring the Washington State Legislature and its impact on Seattle Public Schools. We’re joined on this journey by Megan Larkin—advocate, SPS parent, and legislative expert—to break down how laws are made and how you can take action to shape them. With critical education funding gaps and a new legislative session underway, we’ll give parents, educators, and students the tools to stay informed, speak up, and make an impact for Seattle Public Schools and beyond.

This interview was edited for length and clarity. Each person's opinions are their own.
See our Show Notes

Support the show

Contact us at [email protected].
Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.

Rainy Day Rundown is your weekly update on the latest happenings in education and the community. 

In this episode:

1. School Board Update: New leadership elected with Gina Topp as president
2. Progress Monitoring Report: Math scores improved while reading declined
3. Listener Feedback: Teacher shares challenges with Advanced Learning implementation
4. South End Education Town Hall: Students organize forum on budget impacts

See our Show Notes.

Support the show

Contact us at [email protected].
Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.

With school districts across Washington facing severe budget shortfalls, we explore solutions through the People's Big 5 initiative. Education activist Oliver Miska, joined by UW researchers Dr. David S. Knight and Kendall Fujioka, break down why Washington's school funding system remains broken and how combining funding reform with progressive revenue could fix it. Learn why changing both how we raise money for schools and how we distribute it is crucial for creating an equitable education system that works for all students.

Each person’s opinions are their own. See our Show Notes.

Support the show

Contact us at [email protected].
Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.

In this episode of Rainy Day Recess, we talk with Jie Lei, a Seattle Public Schools parent and former student, about the past, present, and uncertain future of the district’s Highly Capable and Advanced Learning programs. Jie shares powerful personal stories, from being misidentified as needing special education after immigrating to the U.S., to ultimately thriving in advanced learning programs that set her on a path to college by age 14.

We explore the district’s controversial decision to phase out the Highly Capable Cohort (HCC) model without fully implementing promised neighborhood-based services. Jie discusses how these changes affect access, equity, and the future of advanced learning, highlighting the struggle for many students—especially neurodivergent and underrepresented learners—who risk being left behind.

Through candid reflections on advocacy, policy, and personal resilience, this episode offers an in-depth look at what’s at stake for Seattle’s students and how meaningful change could still be possible.

See our Show Notes

Support the show

Contact us at [email protected].
Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.

Rainy Day Rundown is your weekly update on the latest happenings in education and the community. From important meetings and policy decisions to ongoing conversations and local initiatives, we keep you in the loop and ready to engage. 

In this episode:

1. Listener Feedback
2. Special School Board Meeting, Dec 11, 2024 - board sets goals and guardrails
3. House Education Meeting, Dec 10, 2024 - science of reading, education of justice-involved youth, and restraint and isolation training progress
4. House Appropriations State Budgeting, Dec 9, 2024 - how state budget works
5. Community Notes

See our Show Notes

Support the show

Contact us at [email protected].
Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.

In this episode of Rainy Day Recess, we explore the Seattle Public Schools budget crisis with guest Alex Wakeman Rouse, co-chair of All Together for Seattle Schools. We dive into All Together for Seattle Schools' advocacy work, especially advocating for the Washington State legislature to fulfill its Paramount Duty to fully fund Washington Schools.  We also discuss some of the complexities of the district’s budget. Alex explores potential budget solutions, emphasizing non-student-facing cuts, increased transparency, and potential enrollment growth.

See our Show Notes

Support the show

Contact us at [email protected].
Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.