Seattle Schools Community Forum:
Who is on the Advanced Learning Task Force?
From the Friday Memo to the Board of October 4:Advanced Learning Task ForceAdvanced Learning has contracted with a facilitator, Barbara Grant to help guide two task forces this year. The first is focused on the identification of students for highly capable services, with particular attention to reaching culturally diverse and underserved populations of gifted students. This group begins its work o
APP Growth Boundaries Open Thread
Let's hear your thoughts (I haven't read them yet.)Please note; be useful/polite or be deleted.
NE Growth Boundaries Open Thread
Let's hear your thoughts on any changes (as I write this, I have not read anything yet).
New Growth Boundaries Plan Posted
I have not read one word of it yet. Read away.Attachment A: Recommended Growth Boundaries, Feeder Patterns, and Option School GeozonesAttachment B: Reference MaterialsAttachment C: Summary Information on Public Input
When Will Wealthy People Stop Trying to Run Public Education?
The answer looks like, not anytime soon. UW College of Education professor, Ken Zeichner, had a column at the Washington Post's The Answer Sheet this week about legislation in Congress to "reform" teacher preparation programs. It's called "The GREAT Teachers and Principals Act" and naturally, it is nothing of the sort.During the last few years, The New Schools Venture Fund (
Fingerprinting Update
I had been told the fingerprinting issue had been postponed until further notice. Thanks to reader, Lynn, for this update from Superintendent Banda in the Friday update.To: José Banda, SuperintendentFrom: Joseph PapermanDate:October 4, 2013SUBJECT: FRIDAY UPDATE TO SCHOOL BOARDField Trip Procedure RevisionsTo help enhance the safety of our students when they participate in overnight or out of cou
Friday Open Thread
Still no resolution in the government shutdown. And they are talking about "temporary" measures. What a great example of dialog and discussion for our children. A violent sex offender from Canada cut off his GPS tracking device and has entered the U.S. at Blaine on Monday. He has assaulted both children and the elderly. Check the photo at the link and be aware.Update: forgot to ment
OCT 10
CPPS Looking for Boundary Stories
Our friends over at CPPS (Community and Parents for Public Schools of Seattle) are looking for your stories.From Stephanie Jones, Executive Director:I am seeking parents who may have been involved in boundary conversations around the NE or AP. (Editor's note: this is her need here as Stephanie went to most of the other meetings.)CPPS is working on a newsletter that will highlight parent/community
Ignore Those "Draft" Growth Boundaries
I was quite startled when a reader, TC, put in this comment taken from the district's Enrollment Planning - Growth Boundaries page:The information from the September 17 draft is now obsolete. Recommendations to the Seattle School Board, dated October 16, will be available after they are posted with the Board agenda at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 11. Many of the recommendations are different from
Gifted Education News Roundup
A LOT of info in these links. And a reminder - don't like gifted education, on principle or in specific? Don't read this thread. I offer this as information, not to start a fight. There will be no comments on this as it is purely informational.Back to School Means Back to Segregated Gifted Programs for Some: New Book with Solutions. From PRWeb:Vanderbilt education professor Donna Y. Ford has m
I Am Malala - A Study in Courage
Malala Yousafzai - the youngest person in the world to be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize - was on The Daily Show on Tuesday night. A year ago, she was shot in the head as she rode a schoolbus by a Taliban gunman near her home in Pakistan's Swat Valley. She almost died and it's a miracle that she survived. The Taliban has vowed to do it again and said they would be "proud" to kill he
Overview of Special Education and Capacity Management
Reprinting from another thread because I believe this important information. The writer is Mary Griffin, Sped parent and president of the Sped PTA. She says:NOTE: The following does NOT constitute any kind of official response from SpEd PTSA or SEAAC. It's just me. I have been fielding a lot of questions regarding SpEd and PTSA. Here is my standard email response to questions regarding special ed
OCT 09
Education "Spring" is Already Here
Remember the uprising in Egypt (that really started in Tunisia) called the Arab Spring?We have just such a movement happening - Education Spring - that is traveling across America and nobody is waiting for Spring. Exhibit A: the uprising against testing in Buffalo, New York (and I believe the courageous action by the Garfield High staff has triggered this "we can change this" attitude th
Growth Boundary Fallout and Infighting
A heartfelt message from David Elliot, principal at Queen Anne Elementary expressing some anguish for a situation out of his control. (Principal Elliot's data on QA/Magnolia growth/enrollment.) I was aware of the unhappiness at Coe over their tight quarters AND that there was some advocacy for QA Elementary's geozone to change to include more neighborhood students but it looks like it went a st
Seattle School Board Executive Committee
No time to do a complete write-up to several major items of note:It appears that some changing are coming to EOCs for algebra and geometry. It looks like there will be some sort of comprehensive exam coming in the next four years. Michael Tolley reported this as coming from OSPI and that he had had a meeting with high school principals. Most seem on-board but a few felt there was too much testi
OCT 08
Seattle Schools named Washington State Schools of Distinction
From JA K-8 comes this news:Jane Addams K-8 has been awarded a Washington State School of Distinction Award for a second year in a row! 99 schools in the state received the recognition this year, for outstanding improvements in reading and math, and they represent the top 5% of improvement state-wide. This year JA K-8 was recognized for gains in both elementary and middle school. Also making the
Garfield - the Police Report
I did finally manage to get the narrative police report on Garfield (missing a page and I'm going to request some other items as well).Just by way of explaining my coming criticism, I did a 6-month stint as a volunteer investigator for the Public Defender's office (I've been around) and I had the opportunity to read a lot of police reports and interview many police officers. I learned a lot and n
Should Charters have to Obey their own Charter Law?
Just asking because apparently in NYC, there is a group of charters that is so against one mayoral candidate - Bill de Blasio - that their leader shut down all the schools, and told the parents they needed to come and march.Charter law in NY State requires charters to pay for any city services or facilities at cost. The Success Academy Charter School group - which has 22 schools in NYC, all co-lo
GET Program - Now Back on Track
Remember how Senator Rodney Tom was telling everyone who would listen what a bad idea it was for the state to continue the GET program (buying prepaid units of college tuition)? He said, "We don't need to be in that business." And the Legislature was thinking of getting rid of it despite its popularity?As Goldy at The Stranger Slog says, So had we shut down GET last session, we would
Tuesday Open Thread
OSPI announces Walk and Bike to School Day on Wednesday, the 9th. (I think the International Day is today but the U.S. day is Wednesday.) Details can be found by checking your local school/district or community partners such as health departments, police departments, city leaders, and non-profit organizations. A Web site, www.walkbiketoschool.org, has been established to register schools and to c
OCT 07
Eleven Garfield Students Expelled
From My Northwest:The Seattle School District has temporarily banned 11 students from Garfield High School while it investigates a widely publicized hazing incident that involved over 100 students. The "emergency expulsion" prohibits the 11 sophomores, juniors and seniors from campus and school activities during the investigation, said spokesperson Teresa Whipple. "We are working on
Charter School News
You may recall our discussion about whether charter schools are really public schools? This particular thread was around rights students/staff may have under the U.S. Constitution and the Ninth Circuit Court ruled that for staff, charters aren't public schools.Now, there is yet another case - this around the public funding of charters - out of California. Here's the headline from Ed Week's "
OCT 06
Seattle Schools This Week
Monday, Oct. 7thCommunity Meeting with Director McLaren from 6-7:45 p.m. at the Delridge Library.Wednesday, Oct. 9thExecutive Committee Meeting from 8:30-10 am. Agenda. A basic agenda with one note: Board Procedure 1620. This is around the relationship between the Superintendent and Board. It's notable because it has been tweaked several times in the last couple of years and I have to wonder wh
Live Blogging From School Board Debate
NOW UPDATED AND COMPLETE A very sparse crowd for the first debate at the Rainier Chamber of Commerce debate event. It does not appear that it will be starting on time (a real pet peeve of mine for these types of events). A few updated items on the race:- The Seattle Chamber of Commerce considers Blanford and Dale Estey as part of "their" slate.- Sue Peters won the endorsement of the S
Seattle School Board Candidate Debate at Lawton
From Lawton PTA:We want to invite you and your membership to attend a School Board candidate forum which will take place at Lawton Elementary on Thursday October 24 at 6:30pm. We invited both Suzanne Dale-Estey and Sue Peters to come and answer questions regarding their campaigns for school board in our region (District IV) and are happy to say both have accepted. I think this is great and applaud
OCT 05
Garfield Updates
The Garfield High School Associated Student Body does not condone harassment, abuse, intimidation, humiliation, violence, or bullying of any kind. We support and encourage inter-class unity by continuing to provide and promote safe and school-appropriate events. Any student who needs help or assistance should contact an ASB officer, counselor, teacher, or administrator. Garfield ASBFrom Principal
Seattle Schools Announces a "Partnership" with Africatown Center for Education & Innovation
I am beyond baffled about what is going on with the district, the ACEI, Nova and the Mann Building. I am saying - upfront - that I believe there is much more to this story than we know (there's a backstory there somewhere). I continue in my belief that it will not turn out well. I am also dismayed to see this all happening so fast as I wonder if African-American parents - throughout the entire di
Student Data Privacy - PAY ATTENTION
Sorry to be blunt but NOW is the time to pay attention to what is coming.There's a front-page story in the NY Times today on this issue. I, along with several other activists, have several irons in the fire on this issue.I tell you - as parents - this should be the SINGLE issue to most concern you. Why?There is NO ONE but you to protect your child's data. Truly.Your child cannot just be anothe
OCT 04
Seattle Schools Family Symposium Rescheduled
From SPS:The fall Family Symposium originally scheduled for Oct. 12 has been rescheduled for Saturday, Nov. 23 because of conflicts in scheduling and availability.Seattle Public Schools is committed to preparing all of our students to graduate ready for college, careers and life. The goal of the Family Symposium is to support our families as critical partners in their students' academic success. A
Growth Boundaries Work Session Announced
Coming just one day after the Introduction of the new boundaries to the Board, the Work Session on on the Growth Boundaries will be Thursday, Oct. 17th from 4:30-6:00 pm in the JSCEE auditorium.There is an Operations Committee meeting right before the Work Session in the Board conference room from 4-6 p.m.
Split Classes - What's Your Experience?
From reader Seeking Feedback: I'd love to see a thread sometime on split classes (2 or more grades in one classroom) in elementary school. What are parents opinions? Do they work? Are they better, and if so what are the advantages? Or- is the teacher having to cover too much ground and are kids missing some content? With the capacity crunch and the SEA contract on overages, it seems that SPS is pu
Friday Open Thread
The Times reports on new state standards for Science which sound great (except they left out Computer Science and I think that's a mistake). But the story really misses one huge thing: Common Core which is likely to come out with its own standards. What happens then? Hmm.No director community meetings for Saturday but there is a candidate debate on Sunday the 6th sponsored by the Rainier Chamb