Why isn't there someone from the schools checking-in with Seattle families that will have incoming kindergartners? We are taking this on as a family project, reading blogs, watching meetings on the cable channel, studying the somewhat arcane and contradictory information on the district website. I would love to find a phone message from either the local principal or just some kind of orientation representative in the district.

Realistically, we will be OK. We are motivated and we will make our choice, but this kind of research must be so difficult for many families.

There's also just the matter of marketing. We are ideologically committed to SPS, but if we get dumped into a poor program without options, we'll bolt. (We are in SE surrounded by schools with underperforming stats and socio-cultural stresses.) It would be in the district's interest (and so easy) to be proactive and see what our plans are for our 5 year-old next fall.