Seattle Schools Community Forum:
Seattle Schools Community Forum
Latest on Advanced Learning in Seattle Public Schools
From the SPS webpage:- Summer Testing: For students who moved to Seattle after October 2013 and were not able to test for Advanced Learning eligibility, a summer testing opportunity is available. Information and Application Form. Applications are due by August 1, 2014.- For students found eligible for Advanced Learning programs, a School Choice Form must be completed in order to enroll. Forms are
Compare and Contrast How Vergara Decision is Viewed
An ad in USA Today by yet ANOTHER group. As Diane Ravitch notes,Funny the ad doesn’t mention that the highest performing states in the U.S. on the NAEP are Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Connecticut, all of which have strong unions.Or that the states at the bottom of the NAEP ratings do not have strong unions (or, in some states), none at all.The ad was underwritten by the deceptively named “Cent
Friday Open Thread
Found this kind of fun looking gaming science/math site - might be worth bookmarking for those long summer days. A sobering look at school shootings. Here's a list of every school shooting since Jan 2013. Did you hear? A mom in Philadelphia, a mother of seven with four currently in school, was jailed for two days over her children's truancy fines. She died in jail. On a lighter note, here's s
The Supreme Court: Ball's in your court, Legislature
The Supreme Court had something to say about the lack of progress in fulfilling the McCleary Decision. It's short but sweet. They ordered the State to appear before them on September 3, 2014 to address why they should not be held in contempt by the Court. The State must reply by July 11, 2014.Here's what they say they can do to address the request for "relief requested by the plaintiffs:&q
JUN 12
Seattle Schools Releases 2014-2015 Budget
Haven't read thru this myself but here's the SPS budget for next year.From SPS:Seattle Public Schools on June 11 released the proposed budget for the next school year, which includes funding for educating more than 52,000 students and operating 97 schools.The proposed $689 million General Fund budget and $214 million Capital Fund budget will go to the School Board for introduction on June 18 and a
Two Major Education News Stories
One story comes from California where a California superior court overturned laws related to the employment of teachers and, specifically, the use of tenure. The other is the defeat of the House Majority Leader, Rep. Eric Cantor.The tenure story is somewhat akin to the story on Common Core. Whatever your views on standards (CC) or whatever your views on teacher tenure (California), how we all go
Things That Make You Go, Hmmm
There is an Audit and Finance Committee meeting today at 4:30 p.m. Wish I could attend but I have an event. Here's the agenda which has some interesting items:- adoption of the 2014-2015 budget book. This might be interesting since the pick of MIF for K-5 Math adoption. Of course, until a contract is executed, no one truly knows how much MIF will cost the district. They had, according to thei
Math Pathways, Middle School, and Equitable Access
The District has claimed that equitable access to quality programs and services for all students is important to them. They say that, but where are the efforts to provide equitable access beyond the flowery talk?In one step towards equitable access the District math department has standardized math placement in middle school. All of our comprehensive middle schools use the same assessment and make
JUN 11
Garfield and Roosevelt - Top 10 for WA State Honors Award
From SPS Communications:Garfield and Roosevelt high schools are ranked in the top 10 for students receiving the Washington State Honors Award. Garfield is ranked 8th and Roosevelt is ranked 9th – tied with Brainbridge High School.The Washington State Honors Award Program honors the top 10 percent of the current year's graduating class from Washington state.To qualify for the award a student must r
Charter Schools Ed News Roundup
Great National Education Policy Center (NEPC) paper called "Wait, wait. Don't Mislead Me! Nine Reasons to be skeptical about charter waitlist numbers." So the next time you hear some huge number of kids are on charter school waitlists, remember these.In brief:Students apply to multiple charter schoolsWaitlist numbers cannot be confirmedWaitlist record-keeping is slipshot and unreliableM
Odds and Ends on Math Adoption
The Times finally got around to writing an article on this issue. I didn't really like their take on it but I'm not surprised that it is made to sound like the cost was the main issue. The article said that MIF is "nearly twice as expensive" as enVision but forgot to say that was based on the staff's reading of it. The article then waits until nearly the end to say "the exact cos
And I Mean This Sincerely
There are a number of people who are very worked up about the School Board's recent decision to adopt Math in Focus as the instructional materials for K-5 math. A lot of the opposition has been expressed as outrage that the Board did not follow the expert recommendation of the Materials Advisory Committee. Is that really the beef? Really?I find it very difficult to accept this claim as sincere fro
JUN 10
Common Core Updates
Update 2: Arne strikes back. Today Sec'y Duncan, in an apparent effort to shore up support (and that's putting it nicely), pretty much threatened the state of Oklahoma for backing out of Common Core.Word to the wise, Secretary Duncan, want to make even MORE people suspicious of Common Core? Try the federal government strong-arm. You're only giving them more to work with. From Yahoo News:Duncan h
Parents, Secure Your Guns
(Update: I do include a correction about the Simpson murders; they were stabbed, not shot. My attempt was to link the uptick in shooting with the Simpson murders simply because going after a murder criminally is NOT the only way to go. Apparently this linkage was lost on some readers. My apology for anyone have their whole world view explode over this single point.) There was a shooting today a
Math Adoption Redux
AnalysisI am going to believe the Superintendent as he tells principals that Math in Focus in the sole selection for K-5 math and will be used in the fall. I am disappointed that he said in the letter, "I know many of us are frustrated about the process." It's an odd statement given the district - not the Board - designed the process. The actual vote on it was designed by the State Leg
Tuesday Open Thread
A recap of the Curriculum and Instruction meeting to come. I perceive this is not quite the done deal it appears to be. Got a grad? A great story asking prominent/interesting people "If I were 22 again..." Written probably for college grads but still worth letting your own graduate read. I was at a high school graduation party this weekend and told some of the kids to write a letter t
JUN 09
Seattle School District Priorities (By Senior Staff)
Again, more from the Retreat and analysis later but here's what staff put out as priorities (and this in reference to trying to do the bell time analysis work plus all these items). Seattle School District Priorities 2014-2015
Seattle Schools and Later Bell Times
Just wanted to put this up for tonight; some further input from the Retreat and thoughts tomorrow.Seattle School District presentation on bell times. Framework timeline for work on bell times.Board Resolution (not yet adopted) on later bell times.
Letter to Seattle Schools Principals from Superintendent Banda
Quick Update: At the C&I meeting, I had expected more of a kumbaya moment but clearly there are hard feelings and not all has been settled. I did record that part of the meeting and will upload when I can. Generally, there is some confusion over the waiver process, principals thought that the MAC rec was going to be upheld by the Board (despite not having any real good history of committee
Curriculum & Instruction Meeting Today; Update
I just checked in with the Board office on the order of items on what should be a very enlightening Curriculum and Instruction Committee meeting. The math adoption was added late Saturday and, if you are following this blog, things are changing fast and furiously.Because this agenda had been made up for awhile and other staff have presentations that were on the agenda previously, in the name of f
Shelter in Place at several Seattle South End Elementaries
Last update: Police have suspect in custody. Shelter in place lifted at all six schools.Latest from SPD twitter feed 11:15 am:According to Officers on scene at 51 Ave S/S Brandon St the suspect is fully contained within the suspects house.From SPD tweets:Officers responding to area of 51 Ave S/S Brandon St for a reported shooting. No known victims at this time. SPD says they are on their way to
Math Adoption Documents
More documents at Scribed from Julian A. They include info on 2015 Math in Focus and several school math waivers. Scroll to the bottom to access other documents.
JUN 08
Seattle Schools Math Adoption Update
Here's the latest that I have gleaned from various sources:- Michael Tolley did indeed, in front of Director McLaren, say that "in effect there is a dual adoption." This is stunning. I believe now that if this push to have schools - in effect vote on which math curriculum they want - blows up in staff's collective faces, they will then say, "Oh, we interpreted the Board vote as dua
Seattle Schools Happenings - More than Math Adoption
There were some other key, important things said at both the School Board meeting last Wednesday and the Board retreat yesterday. I'll just group information under headings but note by M (for meeting) or R (for retreat) where I heard it.Principals (M)To note, both of the Washington State Principals of the Year, for high school and K-8, came from Seattle Schools. Keven Wynkoop, principal at Balla
Seattle Schools' Math Adoption: What's Happening at Your School?
Update 2:It now appears that staff - via the Executive Directors - have gone to the principals association to ask them to vote - en masse - for enVision. Very troubling.I have NO idea when Ex Directors became empowered to speak on labor issues with groups that represent teachers, principals, etc. I'll be interested to hear when that happened. One good thing - the principals association has also
Seattle Schools This Week
Monday, June 9thCurriculum and Instruction Policy Committee Meeting, 4:30-6:30 pm. AgendaA large agenda for various policies and includes an update on Creative Approach schools, Advanced Learning update, the BARs for the Highly Capable Program Annual Plan and Seattle Teacher Residency. At the end of the agenda, just added - Math Adoption Update. If you do one extra thing this week (besides writi
JUN 07
The Turning Point (Again?) for Seattle Schools
Deja vu all over again (with apologies to Yogi Berra). It's sometimes good to have been tracking this district for a long time. Basically, it's about institutional memory and its usefulness. Sometimes, it is frustrating, exhausting and frightening. All at once. I am speaking of the Board retreat going on today in reference to institutional memory. I could have sworn that if I shut my eyes, t
Seattle Schools' Own Math War
Update: I am at the just-about-to-start Board retreat. I had a conversation with the Superintendent on the math adoption. He got quite heated about it. He says that they are fast-tracking waivers because they have to place the orders next week. I pointed out that waivers certainly don't look to have been fast-tracked in the past. He said that if they don't grant the waivers, they violate their