Programs and Services
The district offers a variety of programs for students with various learning needs, including Multilingual English Learners, Title 1 and highly capable students. These services are based upon the same foundation of curriculum, instruction and assessment provided for all general education students. These offerings constitute a full continuum of student services supporting our belief that in the Issaquah School District, all children can and do learn powerfully. We're grateful to the Special Services and Career and Technical Education departments for their work in these areas, and for the community partners who help our students thrive.
In this section of the Community Report, you will find highlights from the 2022-2023 school year. However, we encourage you to explore Programs and Services on our website to get a more comprehensive overview of the programs that support student achievement. For more information about student activities, student and family programs, student achievements, and more, please visit our News page.
Holly Street Students Take Center Stage at Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
When families, staff and community members gathered to celebrate the official opening of the Holly Street Early Learning Center, it's no surprise that the stars of the show were the students themselves.
“We want to begin by acknowledging the first people of this land, since time immemorial,” Dr. Luisa Sanchez-Nilsen read aloud. Throughout the acknowledgment, as she mentioned the salmon that spawned in the rivers that ran free, or the canopy of the trees, the preschool students took turns placing fish and trees made from felt on a board at the front of the room.
Years before the decision to create the Holly Street Early Learning Center, district staff and board members began researching planning for how best to serve preschoolers. This work is also an effort to break down the silos that exist between preschool and early learning opportunities and the kindergarten through 12th grade education system, School Board director Dr. Harlan Gallinger said. “One of the best investments we can make is in our community’s youngest children,” he added.
Learn more about the ribbon-cutting at the Holly street early learning center by reading the entire news article
Exploring the Academy for Community Transition
In our district, we understand that each student has unique needs. Our Academy for Community Transition (ACT) helps students with developmental disabilities move toward the most independent lifestyle possible through social activities, life skills development and internships within their community. For this video, we spoke with students and staff to get their perspective about how this remarkable program helps students with special needs.
learn more about ACT on our website.
Hard Work, Dedication Helped I.H.S. Senior Overcome Obstacles
“If you really want something, you have to be willing to work hard, because no one else is going to do it for you,” Issaquah High School senior Itsel Cervantes said.
Moving to the Issaquah area to live with family last year was a purposeful decision, Cervantes said, although it was nerve-wracking to move away from her parents, two adult siblings and younger sister, who all live in Tijuana. “I came here on my own. It was very difficult for me because I’m a teenager. (There were) many obstacles,” she added. She first considered commuting from Tijuana to a school in California each day, but it would have been about three hours each way. Eventually, she determined a move to Washington was important to her goal of becoming a doctor.
Asked whether she has any specific advice for students and families who might be following a similar path, Cervantes thought for a moment and then said: “Put effort into your goals. Don't let obstacles lower your expectations. Don’t let peers sway you from the good things life has to offer, and be true to yourself.”
Learn more by reading the entire news article.
District Social Media Channel Statistics
We celebrate our programs and services on district and building websites and on our social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube. Regularly monitoring our engagement helps us understand what matters to our community to better serve our students, families and staff.