FACES: Fair Assignment for Children Everywhere in Seattle

Seattle School Board votes NOT to alter TOPS' assignment process for the 2003-2004 school year

For a synopsis of the outcome, here's a message from Sheri Toussaint.

I would like to acknowledge EVERYONE, on both sides of the issue because there has been some compelling discussions. It has been a long and challenging road since the first meeting I attended on August 17th. THANK YOU to everyone who has been apart of the journey.

Judith was correct is saying that there will be NO change to the CURRENT TOPS assignment plan for the 2003-2004 school year (by a 5 to 2 vote). The following explains how the vote proceeded.

There were five provision in the (revised motion) Student Assignment Plan.
a) integration tiebreaker
b) dissolve waitlist Nov.1
c) distance tiebreaker to South Lake HS, John Marshall, Seahawks A.
d) distance tiebreaker to portion of TOPS kindergarten seats
e) distance tiebreaker to 90% 6th grade seats @ Summit

The board voted, 5 YEA votes (Peterson, Bass, Kumasaka, Waldman & Brown) to 2 votes NAY (Schaad-Lapere & Lilly) to "strike from the revised motion" c) John Marshall, Seahawks A. d) TOPS assignment & e) Summit assignment provisions from (revised) Student Assignment Plan. So when the Board Members voted on the (revised) Student Assignment Plan only
a) integration tiebreaker
b) dissolve waitlist Nov.1
c) South Lake HS
were left in the original (revised motion).

Welcome to the TOPS FACES website.

TOPS (The Options Program at Seward) has been one of the most successful programs in the Seattle Schools for the past 18 years. Our curriculum focuses on the integration and transfer of learning from grades K-8. We emphasize mastery in writing and math, as well as in reading, language arts, science, social studies, art and physical education. Instructional strategies encourage concept development, visual thinking, problem solving, communication, higher-level thinking and cultural diversity. Responsibility, respect and cooperation form the basis of classroom discipline.

FACES (Fair Assignment for Children Everywhere in Seattle) is a TOPS-based group which has been created to address the student assignment issue that is currently under consideration by the Seattle School board. Parents, teachers and staff work closely together on all aspects of the TOPS program. We currently have over 100 TOPS parents who are actively participating in the FACES group.

This site is open to all members of the community who support the TOPS mission:

TOPS Mission Statement:
We are committed to educating our students by using an anti-bias, multicultural approach in a safe and stimulating environment. We help all students to learn, to understand and honor diversity, to respect and care for themselves and others, to be responsible, and to achieve a high level of academic excellence. By eliminating the achievement gap, all students will meet or exceed standards, including those students historically underserved by the public school system.

Thank you for your participation.

News articles related to the Seattle School District student assignment issue

School proposal concerns parents, by Deborah Bach. Seattle P-I, 11-5-02

1 district, 2 unequal schools, by Nicole Brodeur, Seattle Times, 11-5-02

10-30-02 Rally

10-30-02 Jerry Large / Times staff columnist: We must confront beast of inequality in schools

10/28/02 TOPS Flyer
10/28/02 TOPS Flyer (.rtf file)

Assignment Plan: Fact and Fiction

10/29/02 Letter from ACLU to School Board

10-23-02 Speech from TOPS Student to the Board

10-23-02 Speech from TOPS Father to the Board

Will TOPS Remain K-8 School For Children Of All Neighborhoods?