Inquiring Minds Want to Know (and see if the Board Does Its Oversight Job)
I recently wrote an e-mail to the Board about two subjects on tonight's Board agenda.
One was the newly-minted Seattle Teacher Residency program.
The other is the Highly Capable Grant application.
Both are on the Intro agenda. The STR has a number of glaring issues and the Highly Capable Grant application has one (plus a curious reworking of SPS history).
Issues with STR:
- the MOA had been missing two crucial pages. They are now included and they make for interesting reading.
I recently wrote an e-mail to the Board about two subjects on tonight's Board agenda.
One was the newly-minted Seattle Teacher Residency program.
The other is the Highly Capable Grant application.
Both are on the Intro agenda. The STR has a number of glaring issues and the Highly Capable Grant application has one (plus a curious reworking of SPS history).
Issues with STR:
- the MOA had been missing two crucial pages. They are now included and they make for interesting reading.
One was the newly-minted Seattle Teacher Residency program.
The other is the Highly Capable Grant application.
Both are on the Intro agenda. The STR has a number of glaring issues and the Highly Capable Grant application has one (plus a curious reworking of SPS history).
Issues with STR:
- the MOA had been missing two crucial pages. They are now included and they make for interesting reading.
Washington State Charter News Comes With Questions
Over the Washington State Charter Schools Association, they announced the "members of the inaugural Washington State Charter Leader Cohort."
What's striking to me?
1) "...over two dozen applicants in a national search." Two dozen over the entire country? That's all? Boy, I would have thought they would have droves. After all, this is what they get:
Cohort members will receive coaching on writing a charter school application and board member recruitment. They will also receive a planning stipend during 2013-14, and a variety of support services, including travel to visit high-performing public charter schools, and office space.
What's striking to me?
1) "...over two dozen applicants in a national search." Two dozen over the entire country? That's all? Boy, I would have thought they would have droves. After all, this is what they get:
Cohort members will receive coaching on writing a charter school application and board member recruitment. They will also receive a planning stipend during 2013-14, and a variety of support services, including travel to visit high-performing public charter schools, and office space.
Bullying...with Food Allergies
Hard to believe, sad to believe but apparently this is happening. From the NY Times (bold mine):
Any difference can set schoolchildren apart from their peers and potentially make them a target for bullying. But a severe food allergy is a unique vulnerability: It takes only one lunch or cupcake birthday party for other children to know which classmates cannot eat nuts, eggs, milk or even a trace of wheat. It can take longer for them to grasp how frightening it is to live with a life-threatening allergy.
Surprisingly, classmates may prey on this vulnerability, plotting to switch a child’s lunch to see if she gets sick,
Any difference can set schoolchildren apart from their peers and potentially make them a target for bullying. But a severe food allergy is a unique vulnerability: It takes only one lunch or cupcake birthday party for other children to know which classmates cannot eat nuts, eggs, milk or even a trace of wheat. It can take longer for them to grasp how frightening it is to live with a life-threatening allergy.
Surprisingly, classmates may prey on this vulnerability, plotting to switch a child’s lunch to see if she gets sick,