We Loved Seeing You at WALA!
Getting to connect with FLO leaders from around the state was a huge highlight for our team this month. It was great to make in-person connections and set the stage for lots of future collaboration to come. Thank you for sharing feedback about our sessions, which we will use to craft even more targeted supports and guidance.
Calling All Open Doors Youth Reengagement Partners
Hi! We'd like to introduce ourselves. OSPI has gone through agency-wide shifts over the past several months, and transitions in the Learning Options department are one example of the changes. Don't worry, Anissa Sharratt, Associate Director, is still here (and still a rock star)! New roles and members in our team include Sara Foppiano, Program Supervisor and Lindsey Maehlum, Director. As our team continues to evolve, we look forward to getting to know you and your unique programs.
One current shift being led by our team is taking a more comprehensive view of all FLO programs within districts. FLOs include:
- Alternative Learning Experience (ALE)
- Online school programs
- Open Doors Youth Reengagement
What we are discovering is that most districts have more than one FLO program in operation, and a majority of ALE programs and many Open Doors programs are online. As we continue to learn about how these programs blend and interact, we have some questions for Open Doors partners in the field. The intention of these questions is not to catch anyone in a "gotcha" moment, but rather to help our team to learn more about current practice and to strategically plan resource allocation moving forward. Please complete the Open Doors Survey to share your valuable expertise and experience.
FLO PLC Learning Opportunity - It's Not Too Late to Join!
We are energized and excited about the rich conversations that took place during the kick off meeting of our FLO PLC on Tuesday, 2/24. We are lucky to partner with school leaders with such a variety of perspectives. If you missed the first meeting, don't worry - it's not too late to join. Complete the FLO PLC Survey to add your name to the invite list.
These meetings are intended to gather feedback from educators and leaders who have experience across all types of FLO programs (ALE, online, and Open Doors). Meetings will be held on the last Tuesday of each month from 4 pm–5 pm.
Washington State Learning Standards Review Project
Angela Allen shared an overview of the Washington state learning standards review project at WALA, including timelines and process.
Key Takeaways from the Learning Standards WALA Presentation:
- Different content area standard revisions are happening on a staggered timeline.
- Codes used to identity content area and grade level will be standardized to improve readability.
- Updates will be made to the Learning Standards & Instructional Materials webpage to create a uniform and consistent experience for all content areas.
Additional information can be found on the Washington State Learning Standards Review webpage.
Executive Level Sponsorship
The Learning Options team is rolling out a new practice of asking for executive level FLO sponsorship at each district. This is a cabinet level leader within each district that has oversight and supervises all FLO programs (ALE, online, and Open Doors). This does not mean that these individuals will be running FLO programs. Their role will be to will be to serve as a point of contact for program assurances, monitoring, and reporting. In addition, these individuals should have decision making authority and an understanding of districtwide policies and procedures.
We hope to identifiy FLO sponsors for all school districts by SY 2027-28. Districts opening a new online school program or Open Doors program this school year will have an opportunity to identify this role as they go through the application process.
High School and Beyond Plan Support for FLO Students
We had the opportunity to present with Abby Anaya Bedell from the HSBP team at WALA and it was a great chance to collect authentic feedback from FLO staff - both about what works, and what is challenging. Abby and her team continue to work with district partners and SchooLinks to ensure HSBP access for all students, including those participating in FLO programs. Subscribe to the HSBP Newsletter to make sure your programs receive the latest updates.
Key Takeaways from the HSBP WALA Presentation:
- SchooLinks is a tool to prepare for postsecondary success, regardless of diploma or GED pathway.
- SchooLinks offers students opportunities to take personality assessments and plan for the job market, regardless of if they want to go to college or directly into the workforce.
- SchooLinks is a tool for ALL students, and students should have equitable access to the platform.
If you have additional HSBP questions or need real-time support, consider joining virtual office hours with the HSBP team on Mondays from 2:30 pm–3:30 pm. No registration is needed. Simply drop in with your questions or ideas. You can join virtual HSBP office hours through this Zoom link.
2026 Legislative Session Updates
The 2026 legislative session is scheduled to adjourn on March 12. The Legislature has released their budget proposals and legislative leaders are actively negotiating the details of the budget bills.
The bills previously being tracked by our Learning Options Department did not advance past cutoff deadlines, but we continue to monitor for any further impacts to FLO.
More information about the 2026 legislative session, including committee schedules and hearing agendas, can be found on the Washington State Legislature website.
Has your program put out a video or been featured in media? Send a link to learningoptions@k12.wa.us. We would love to feature you in an upcoming newsletter!
Contact Us!
For more information about Learning Options, please contact us at learningoptions@k12.wa.us, or visit the OSPI Learning Alternatives website.
For specific questions, contact us by email:
Director: Lindsey Maehlum
Associate Director - Learning Options & ALE: Anissa Sharratt
Flexible Learning Options Program Supervisor: Sara Foppiano
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