Education

Mrs. Hildenbrand runs through a spelling exercise with her first grade class on the classroom’s Boxlight interactive display board funded by a pervious tech levy on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Snohomish County schools react to education department firings

The Department of Education announced Tuesday it will lay off more than 1,300 employees.

 

Since 1957, Sherwood Community Services has been a place where people with disabilities have the opportunity to live full, independent lives as part of their community.

The top three local nonprofits making a real impact in our community

Which local organizations are leading the way in impact and service? Let’s find out.

 

Children play and look up at a large whale figure hanging from the ceiling at the Imagine Children’s Museum (Olivia Vanni / The herald)

Fun for all ages: The best places for family adventures

From thrilling activities to relaxing outings, here’s where to make unforgettable family memories!

Children play and look up at a large whale figure hanging from the ceiling at the Imagine Children’s Museum (Olivia Vanni / The herald)
Ian Saltzman during the student portion of the new Everett Public Schools' superintendent interviews in May. (Olivia Vanni / Herald file)

SnoCo schools: All students can attend, regardless of immigration status

Local districts already follow state-issued guidance, blocking immigration enforcement without a warrant or court order.

Ian Saltzman during the student portion of the new Everett Public Schools' superintendent interviews in May. (Olivia Vanni / Herald file)
Sen. Patty Murray meets and greets following a discussion at Everett Fire Department’s Station 1 about the city’s opioid crisis Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Fill out FAFSA, WA senator says. You may get more aid than you think.

After a rocky launch last year, a simplified federal aid application went live Dec. 1.

Sen. Patty Murray meets and greets following a discussion at Everett Fire Department’s Station 1 about the city’s opioid crisis Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
WorldKids School offers Everett children a unique headstart in an increasingly globalized World. Photo courtesy of WorldKids School.

New in Everett: Unique Mandarin and Spanish language immersion Full-Day Preschool & Childcare opens their doors!

WorldKids School offers full-day Spanish & Mandarin Immersion to prepare kids for a global future

WorldKids School offers Everett children a unique headstart in an increasingly globalized World. Photo courtesy of WorldKids School.
An "Ales for the Arts" event hosted by the Foundation for Edmonds School District in Edmonds, Wash., June  20, 2024. The group is raising money to save music classes from district cuts. (Chona Kasinger/The New York Times)

From Edmonds to Minneapolis, schools nationwide face budget woes

Federal pandemic aid helped keep school districts afloat, but that money is coming to an end.

An "Ales for the Arts" event hosted by the Foundation for Edmonds School District in Edmonds, Wash., June  20, 2024. The group is raising money to save music classes from district cuts. (Chona Kasinger/The New York Times)
Maplewood Parent Cooperative School seventh and eighth grade students listen to Mason Rolph of Olympia Community Solar speak about different solar projects during a science class for the student's Sustainable Schools engineering units on Friday, June 7, 2024 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

How can Edmonds make new schools more sustainable? Students have ideas

In a town hall Friday, students from Maplewood Parent Co-op will make pitches for the soon-to-be rebuilt College Place schools.

Maplewood Parent Cooperative School seventh and eighth grade students listen to Mason Rolph of Olympia Community Solar speak about different solar projects during a science class for the student's Sustainable Schools engineering units on Friday, June 7, 2024 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish School District Transportation Supervisor Karl Hereth backs up the district’s one electric school bus Thursday, March 6, 2024, at the district bus depot in Snohomish, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Sultan, Snohomish to get federal money for clean school buses

Local school districts are among more than 500 set to receive propane or electric buses, the White House announced on Wednesday.

Snohomish School District Transportation Supervisor Karl Hereth backs up the district’s one electric school bus Thursday, March 6, 2024, at the district bus depot in Snohomish, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Madi Humphries, 9, Rose Austin, 13, and Eirene Ritting, 8, on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

No grades, no teachers: Inside a Bothell school run by student vote

Each day at The Clearwater School, 60 students choose their own lessons. It’s one vote per person, whether you’re staff or student.

Madi Humphries, 9, Rose Austin, 13, and Eirene Ritting, 8, on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Kathy Purviance-Snow poses for a photo in her computer lab at Snohomish High School on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, in Snohomish, WA. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

To ban or embrace ChatGPT? Local teachers fight AI with AI — or don’t

“It has fundamentally changed my teaching in really stressful and exciting ways,” an EvCC teacher said. At all levels of education, ChatGPT poses a tricky question.

Kathy Purviance-Snow poses for a photo in her computer lab at Snohomish High School on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, in Snohomish, WA. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Students make their way after school at Edmonds-Woodway High School on March 12, 2020. All public and private schools in Snohomish, King and Pierce counties must close for six weeks. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

WA boost in student homelessness funding reaches more districts

Edmonds schools are using money to provide support specifically for its homeless seniors living without a parent or guardian.

Students make their way after school at Edmonds-Woodway High School on March 12, 2020. All public and private schools in Snohomish, King and Pierce counties must close for six weeks. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
A student reaches put their hands to feel raindrops as it begins to pour on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024 in Camano Island, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

‘Hollow gestures’ won’t allow Camano forest school to survive, founders say

Island County officials acknowledged they should have given Springwood Forest School families more time to prepare for an impending closure.

A student reaches put their hands to feel raindrops as it begins to pour on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024 in Camano Island, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Accused of being bad neighbor, Everett mining company applies for permit

Mountain Loop Mine has operated next door to Fairmount Elementary without proper permits for months. Teachers are fed up.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Grayson Huff, left, a 4th grader at Pinewood Elementary, peaks around his sign during the Marysville School District budget presentation on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

At tense meeting, Marysville schools stare down drastic cuts to sports, more

Even with a $5 million loan, the budget is still $10.8 million short. In a budget presentation Tuesday, officials discussed next steps.

Grayson Huff, left, a 4th grader at Pinewood Elementary, peaks around his sign during the Marysville School District budget presentation on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The Cascade Warbirds fly over Naval Station Everett. (Sue Misao / The Herald file)

Bothell High School senior awarded $2,500 to keep on flying

Cascade Warbirds scholarship helps students 16-21 continue flight training and earn a private pilot’s certificate.

The Cascade Warbirds fly over Naval Station Everett. (Sue Misao / The Herald file)
The music room inside College Place Middle School in Lynnwood, Washington, on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2023. If approved, a capital bond measure on the February ballot would allow the school district to rebuild both College Place Elementary and Middle. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Edmonds School District asks voters for $700M for new schools, upgrades

For the seventh time in a decade, the district is asking voters to approve bonds and levies for upgrades.

The music room inside College Place Middle School in Lynnwood, Washington, on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2023. If approved, a capital bond measure on the February ballot would allow the school district to rebuild both College Place Elementary and Middle. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Picnic Point Elementary student teacher Joshua Wisnubroto goes through a worksheet with one of his students on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Pilot program in Mukilteo schools gets local teachers in local schools

Four teacher residents, all former paraeducators, are getting special education endorsements — and getting paid as student teachers.

Picnic Point Elementary student teacher Joshua Wisnubroto goes through a worksheet with one of his students on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A student walks down a hallway at Evergreen Middle School past a sign displaying different values the students should embody while occupying the space on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

ICYMI: Student violence trends down at Evergreen Middle School

Last year, Evergreen saw the most fights, by far, in the district’s middle schools. Now things are quieter. Parents credit staff and new policies.

A student walks down a hallway at Evergreen Middle School past a sign displaying different values the students should embody while occupying the space on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)