Some WA State School Districts Exaggering Graduation Rates
Is this where we're at now? We use data to stretch the truth, manhandle it, or, as KUOW puts it, "exaggerate?" Apparently so because former Renton superintendent, Mary Alice Heuschel, has been telling a really stretched bit of data. Heuschel is now the Governor's Chief of Staff.
She claims Renton had a 94% graduation rate. Except they didn't. From the KUOW report:
It's also extremely inaccurate: Renton’s actual five-year graduation rate that year was 79 percent. Only 78 percent of Renton students graduated on time, within four years. The 94 percent rate Renton claimed was merely the district’s estimated five-year graduation rate.
"Estimated five-year rate? " What's up with that?
Again, from KUOW:
Until recently, the state gave districts a lot of leeway in how they tallied student enrollment. That allowed for
She claims Renton had a 94% graduation rate. Except they didn't. From the KUOW report:
It's also extremely inaccurate: Renton’s actual five-year graduation rate that year was 79 percent. Only 78 percent of Renton students graduated on time, within four years. The 94 percent rate Renton claimed was merely the district’s estimated five-year graduation rate.
"Estimated five-year rate? " What's up with that?
Again, from KUOW:
Until recently, the state gave districts a lot of leeway in how they tallied student enrollment. That allowed for
CPPS Announces First Mayoral Forum
From the press release:
Community & Parents for Public Schools (CPPS) Seattle announces the first mayoral election season forum discussing Seattle public education: "Focus on Students, Families, Communities: The CPPS 2013 Mayoral Education Forum."
The forum will take place April 30th in the Garfield High School Commons. CPPS will hold its annual meeting from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The 90-minute forum will take place from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
All mayoral candidates who filed prior to March 15th have indicated they will attend.
Community & Parents for Public Schools (CPPS) of Seattle is a citywide network of parents and community members working as one to ensure quality public schools for all Seattle children. It is known for its ability to foster authentic grassroots engagement in the public school system. Instead of lobbying for adoption of its own education philosophies, it works to train parents to effectively advocate for their own students and community
Community & Parents for Public Schools (CPPS) Seattle announces the first mayoral election season forum discussing Seattle public education: "Focus on Students, Families, Communities: The CPPS 2013 Mayoral Education Forum."
The forum will take place April 30th in the Garfield High School Commons. CPPS will hold its annual meeting from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The 90-minute forum will take place from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
All mayoral candidates who filed prior to March 15th have indicated they will attend.
Community & Parents for Public Schools (CPPS) of Seattle is a citywide network of parents and community members working as one to ensure quality public schools for all Seattle children. It is known for its ability to foster authentic grassroots engagement in the public school system. Instead of lobbying for adoption of its own education philosophies, it works to train parents to effectively advocate for their own students and community
Dream Act Dies (But It's Okay if It Happens When a Republican Rules a Committee)
Getting down to the waning days of this Legislative Session so things are happening quickly.
One bill that has died was the DREAM Act which would have allowed children of undocumented workers access to higher education in the state. I supported this bill simply because it is common sense. These kids had no choice about where they were brought to grow up. If they have the smarts to get through high school and be ready for college, we should let them in. Because they are not going back to their country of their parents and we are constantly being told we need an educated populace. Well, with higher ed costs soaring, something has to give.
What really annoys me is the hypocrisy. You might recall that when the charter school bill was in committee last year, that the committee head, Sharon Tomiko-Santos, refused to allow a vote. (I thought that was wrong then and I said it.) The Republicans could not have been more scathing in their reaction.
Fast forward to today when the EXACT same thing happened with the DREAM Act. The committee chair,
One bill that has died was the DREAM Act which would have allowed children of undocumented workers access to higher education in the state. I supported this bill simply because it is common sense. These kids had no choice about where they were brought to grow up. If they have the smarts to get through high school and be ready for college, we should let them in. Because they are not going back to their country of their parents and we are constantly being told we need an educated populace. Well, with higher ed costs soaring, something has to give.
What really annoys me is the hypocrisy. You might recall that when the charter school bill was in committee last year, that the committee head, Sharon Tomiko-Santos, refused to allow a vote. (I thought that was wrong then and I said it.) The Republicans could not have been more scathing in their reaction.
Fast forward to today when the EXACT same thing happened with the DREAM Act. The committee chair,
Tuesday Open Thread
Over at the Times, they are doing these short video pieces with those who work in education. (They list upcoming videos and one including Mary Lindquist of the WEA. I am quite surprised that Mary would consent to do this if only because the Times has been like a pitbull to her organization. A recent editorial title was Does the WEA stand for Washington Education Association or We Eviscerate Anyone? That'll make for an interesting conversation.
First up is an interview Susan Enfield. I find this piece unintentionally funny. Not that Dr. Enfield doesn't have serious things to say but the Times made some editing decisions that brought a smile to my face. The music is one of them; when I heard it I could only think of the Henri the Cat series (and that doesn't exactly engender serious thought).
Heard over on KUOW that (1) Silas Potter is to testify against his co-conspirator, David Johnson, at Johnson's trial and (2) Potter has to pay restitution. Good luck with the latter.
Coming threads: one school may be exiting the PTA system, my visit to the Charter Commission (there will be a pop quiz with that one) and School Board elections.
I am also asking that if anyone attends either the Assessment Taskforce meeting or the Operations Committee meeting (both on Thursday), could you send me your thoughts. There are three key meetings that day and I'm choosing to go to the Audit & Finance Committee meeting. My blog e-mail is
sss.westbrook@gmail.com
What's on your mind?
First up is an interview Susan Enfield. I find this piece unintentionally funny. Not that Dr. Enfield doesn't have serious things to say but the Times made some editing decisions that brought a smile to my face. The music is one of them; when I heard it I could only think of the Henri the Cat series (and that doesn't exactly engender serious thought).
Heard over on KUOW that (1) Silas Potter is to testify against his co-conspirator, David Johnson, at Johnson's trial and (2) Potter has to pay restitution. Good luck with the latter.
Coming threads: one school may be exiting the PTA system, my visit to the Charter Commission (there will be a pop quiz with that one) and School Board elections.
I am also asking that if anyone attends either the Assessment Taskforce meeting or the Operations Committee meeting (both on Thursday), could you send me your thoughts. There are three key meetings that day and I'm choosing to go to the Audit & Finance Committee meeting. My blog e-mail is
sss.westbrook@gmail.com
What's on your mind?