“Inclusion is about creating community and seeing each member of the community for the strengths and assets that make them unique.” Superintendent Dr. Jon Holmen kicks off our Inclusive Schools video series talking about the impact our entire community will have through this initiative. In 2018, Lake Washington School District actively started to work towards an inclusion model. We believe that all students have a right to meaningfully participate in the general education setting, both academically and socially to the fullest extent possible. Since 2018, we have piloted the Inclusive Schools program in preschool and a handful of elementary schools. Starting in the 2023-24 school year, all elementary schools will participate and we look forward to seeing the benefits of inclusive education for ALL students by way of greater academic gains, improved empathy and reduced fear of differences.
Over the coming weeks, you will have the opportunity to hear from staff, families, administrators and students about our work related to inclusive schools. We’re starting this series with this video sharing more details about Inclusive Schools in LWSD.
