Latest News and Comment from Education

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

1-28-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum:





Seattle Times - A Confusing Place for Ed Information
What's going on with the Times's reporting?  It's strangely crazy quilt.First, no coverage of the upcoming Charter Commission meeting to approve/deny charter applications. I mean, they did note that Spokane district approved one charter, PRIDE Pride.  The rest of charters - if approved - will be in the largest population center in the state and the Times' has nothing to say?  The Times that consta

Bingo (or Drinking Game Alert) for SOTUA
I used to have bingo sheets for School Board meetings (particularly when we had an ed reform superintendent that had every ed reform phrase in the arsenal).  It helped pass the time.So in honor of tonight's State of the Union Address, here's a mock-up for your own "education" bingo sheet for the President's speech.Possible words/phrase the President might use:- choice- college and career
Data Privacy Day
 From Stay Safe Online:Data Privacy Day is an international effort to empower and educate people to protect their privacy and control their digital footprint.Data Privacy Day began in the United States and Canada in January 2008 as an extension of the Data Protection Day celebration in Europe. Data Protection Day commemorates the January 28, 1981, signing of Convention 108, the first legally bindi


Gun Violence at Schools and Campuses; It Needs to Stop
As you may be aware, there are two competing initiatives going to the Legislature (and, in fact, going before a committee tomorrow). One is SI 591 - Protect our gun rights and the other is SI 594 gun sales background check.  Both are about background checks - one for and one against.  You might want to consider contacting your own legislator on this issue.   Look, do I think background checks for



Tuesday Open Thread
Coming up on Thursday is the one-year anniversary of the MAP test boycott.  It's also the day that SEE (Social Equality Educators) are introducing their "Respect' slate of candidates to challenge the current SEA leadership.  They are having a forum on Thursday at Garfield Community Center.   Lead by Jesse Hagopian, a Garfield teacher who was named "Secondary School Teacher of the Year&qu
Washington State Charters; Six to Be Recommended for Approval by Charter Commission
The evaluations of charter school applicants are into the Charter Commission and there are six recommended charters.  They are:Excel - A high school to be located in Kent.  It met standards.  There is an issue with their financing as they wanted to get a line of capital credit that is not allowed by the law.  Apparently they are okay with not getting the line of credit and can find money elsewhere


1-27-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Washington State Charter Schools UpdateItems of interest:- the Charter Commission is going to have a phone-in meeting tomorrow, the 28th from 9 am to 10 am.  The agenda vaguely says " discussion of resolution process" and "bills currently under consideration."  Dial-in number is 800-245-9874, Access code 7784207.- the Charter Commission will hav