Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools This Week

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools This Week:

Seattle Schools This Week

by Melissa Westbrook

Even though school is out there are several important meetings this week.

Tuesday, June 25th
Work Session on Growth Boundaries, 4:30-6:30 pm, no presentation yet available.
This is the Work Session that Tracy Libros referenced in her remarks to the Board at the School Board meeting last Wednesday.  She mentioned that Lucy Morello of BEX would also be presenting in conjunction with capacity management.

Community Meeting about the Wilson-Pacific projects, 7:30 pm at W-P

Wednesday, June 26th
Work Session on Strategic Partnerships and Communications, 4-5:30 pm  (I have no idea of how anyone thinks there could be any real discussion of any of these departments in this amount of time.  It's just ridiculous unless, of course, the idea is to NOT have discussion.)
- Government Relations presentation 
- Office of Public Affairs and Communications presentation.
- School and Community Partnerships Department presentation.  Oddly, this one includes the new - - - Office of Strategic Planning and I'm not sure why.  I also note that the Urban Schools Human Capital Academy got taken 

The Educated Reporter: EWA Webinar: How Does U.S. Education Spending Compare Internationally?

The Educated Reporter: EWA Webinar: How Does U.S. Education Spending Compare Internationally?:

EWA Webinar: How Does U.S. Education Spending Compare Internationally?

by Emily Richmond

How much of the U.S. gross domestic product is spent on education? How does that education spending break down for early childhood education, K-12 education and higher education? How much private spending is dedicated to education, compared to public spending? What is the link between higher education degrees and unemployment rates in the U.S. and other countries?

The answers to these questions and more are in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s2013 Education At a Glance report, which will be released on Tuesday, June 25. In an exclusive press event, Andreas Schleicher, OECD's deputy director for education and skills, will discuss the latest findings with U.S. journalists in this joint EWA-OECD webinar.

With the ESEA bill drafts in markup, Congress is once again focusing on ensuring the nation's students can compete with their peers internationally. There's no better way to put that in context than the OECD report. You'll come away from the webinar with not only a deeper understanding of these critical issues but also with some terrific story ideas.

The webinar will be held at 12:30 p.m. Eastern time, and I'll be serving as moderator. You can register here.

Have a question, comment or concern for the Educated Reporter? Email EWA public editor Emily Richmond at erichmond@ewa.org. Follow her on Twitter: @EWAEmily.

Sour Grapes DeBell | Seattle Education

Sour Grapes DeBell | Seattle Education:

Sour Grapes DeBell

by seattleducation2011

Former Superintendent Dr. Goodloe-Johnson and Board Director Michael DeBell.

        Michael DeBell is lashing outafter first losing his leader in all things ed reform, our previous Broad superintendent Dr. Goodloe-Johnson, and in response to other unexpected twists and turns. After expending time, energy and money to create a board that voted in lock step to all the superintendent brought to the school board for approval, the board that DeBell, et al had dreamed of and briefly enjoyed, it all fell apart and DeBell is beyond himself to the point of losing his usual composure.

        Let’s look at a bit of history about School Board Director Michael DeBell.

         Michael DeBell came into prominence with the aid of former School Board President Don Nielson. As I wrote in The Battle for Seattle, Part 1:

         Don Nielson became President of the Seattle school board in 2001. He handled running the school board like running a business. As a previous board 

Teaching in a Dystopic State ! : For What It's Worth??

Teaching in a Dystopic State ! : For What It's Worth??:

For What It's Worth??

by Walter Sautter

I have many questions:
*************

Should RU continue its quest to become an athletic powerhouse?

And can this even be achieved ?

What is the true motivation behind  this attempt to bring "big time" sports to RU?

If accomplished will it really help the universities' prestige?
And if so, how ?

Is providing unpaid 

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: "That Teacher": A Blessing or a Curse?

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: "That Teacher": A Blessing or a Curse?:

"That Teacher": A Blessing or a Curse?

by Lisa M

In February I read an article by Angela Watson, "Should All the Toughest Kids Be Placed With the Best Teacher?" I clicked the box to notify me of follow-up comments because I thought it was such an interesting topic. A lot of discussion ensued, and even now, I still get a comment notification regarding the blog post.

As we approached the end of the 2012-2013 school year, Angela's question popped into my 

Diane in the Evening 6-23-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all:

Mini-Lesson: How Common Core Warps Choice Time in Kindergarten

by dianerav

Renee Dinnerstein is an early childhood educator with many years of experience. In this post, she shows how the overly prescriptive approach encouraged by the Common Core can ruin the concept of Choice Time in kindergarten.
She writes: “Choice Time is not a time to give children tasks. It should be an opportunity for children to direct their own play and therefore, their own learning. The teacher carefully sets up centers with materials that provoke 

Richard Allington on the NCTQ Report

by dianerav

Richard Allington is a well-known scholar of reading. These are his comments on the NCTQ report in teacher preparation institutions. (He left this comment on the blog, so there is no other source.)
“Imagine a person reviews the restaurants in your city by examining the menus they found on-line. Never tasted the food or ever visited any restaurant. How seriously would you take the reviews that were written? That is the NCTQ report on colleges of education. Had NCTQ not already developed a reputation for sloppy “research” perhaps ed schools would have cooperated. Personally, I’m glad they didn’t.”

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 6-23-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 43 minutes ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] How Bloomberg Used His Fortune to Win Silence and Support by dianerav This is an extraordinary article, not only because of what it reveals, but because it appears in Rupert Murdoch’s New York Post, which has been a reliable cheerleader for our billionaire mayor. Investigative reporter Tom Robbins details how Mayor Michael Bloomberg used his billions to silence critics and to win the support of or intimidate almost every civic and cultural group. In other times ... more »

Peg with Pen: Be Ready #optout #refusethetest

Peg with Pen: Be Ready #optout #refusethetest:

Be Ready #optout #refusethetest

by Peggy

Obama is planning to roll out high speed internet connection for our public school students within the next 5 years. 

This was my comment on FB after reading Stephen Krashen's post: Cut off from good nutrition, health care, libraries much more serious than cut off from the web.

 

While hungry children wrap food in napkins and hide it in their backpacks for later in the day. While children grab seconds on the school breakfast and leave other children with nothing. While children fill their weekend food bags and wish they had more. While all of this goes on, Obama will be sure they have internet connection

Tier parcel tax relief will take another year SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources:

Tier parcel tax relief will take another year

 Earlier this month, the state Supreme Court let stand a ruling invalidating a tiered parcel tax measure put before voters in 2008 by Alameda Unified. The move also held open an invitation to the Legislature to weigh in on the question of ‘rational classification’ of tax rates.

While there had been some hope that the issue would be taken up this year, Assemblyman Rob Bonta – who represents the Alameda area– said last week such a legislative fix is not likely to be pursued until next year.

Bonta, D-Alameda, introduced AB 59 in January to clarify the authority of school districts to levy special taxesincluding assigning higher rates based on the types of property within its jurisdiction. But the proposal was set aside this spring out of concerns of a potential conflict with the iconoclastic property tax measure Proposition 13, as well as the bill’s retroactive reach.

Bonta, however, said in an interview that he has not given up.

“I’m absolutely committed to acting on this – the only question now is what is the scope of that action,” he said. “Are we going to address the school parcel tax provision of state law or do we move beyond that? What that decision will ultimately be based on will be our research and the advice we will get from legislative counsel.”

At issue is a parcel tax, Measure H, which sought to levy residential or small commercial properties at $120 annually, 

STEM advocates call pedagogy ‘out of touch’ with K-12 classrooms

As work begins on the first comprehensive evaluation of the state’s teacher preparation system in more than a decade, a widely respected math and science advocacy group is calling for sweeping change in support of STEM instruction.

Perdido Street School: Indiana Sues McGraw-Hill Over Online Testing Debacle - Why Won't NYC?

Perdido Street School: Indiana Sues McGraw-Hill Over Online Testing Debacle - Why Won't NYC?:

Indiana Sues McGraw-Hill Over Online Testing Debacle - Why Won't NYC?

by reality-based educator

McGraw-Hill, as incompetent as Pearson when it comes to pulling off high stakes standardized testing systems,really screwed up the state tests in Indiana and now that state wants damages:

INDIANAPOLIS — The superintendent of Indiana’s public schools announced Friday she would seek more than $614,000 in damages from CTB/McGraw-Hill, the same day company President Ellen Haley apologized to lawmakers for failures in online standardized tests that caused chaos at the end of the school year.

Superintendent Glenda Ritz said the money she’s seeking would cover fines laid out in the state’s $95 million contract with the testing company and pay for an independent review of the test’s validity and improved reporting data. Department of Education staff said the fines could easily grow to millions of dollars.

Indiana’s troubles have punctuated a nationwide shift from pencil-and-paper tests to online exams. Troubles earlier this year disrupted high-stakes testing in Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota and 

Join me ‘live’ tomorrow on my internet video talk show | Gary Rubinstein's Blog

Join me ‘live’ tomorrow on my internet video talk show | Gary Rubinstein's Blog:

Join me ‘live’ tomorrow on my internet video talk show

by Gary Rubinstein

It has been a while since I’ve done an episode of ‘Talking Ed.’  Last year I did four episodes which, unfortunately, were wiped out when Spreecast’s server crashed.  Now, with the school year almost over, and with TFA inductions and institutes starting to happen, I’ve decided to do another live show tomorrow, June 24th at 9:00 PM EST.
Go to this link to watch or participate.  You can participate on camera or anonymously through typing questions and comments during the show.  If you want to be a guest, let me know.

Randi Weingarten and I discuss miracle unionized charter school on Twitter

by Gary Rubinstein

Yesterday I noticed what I considered an unusual pair of re-Tweets by Randi Weingarten, president of the UFT.

Weingarten is one of the few people on ‘my side’ of the ed reform debate who I have never met, personally.  She was portrayed as the ‘villain’ to Michelle Rhee’s ‘hero’ in ‘Waiting For Superman’ and also a main character in Steven Brill’s book ‘Class Warfare.’
Though Randi Weingarten is so often accused of not putting students first, she often frustrates teachers by 

Was adopting Common Core a mistake? | toteachornototeach

Was adopting Common Core a mistake? | toteachornototeach:

Was adopting Common Core a mistake?

by aristotlethewise

Was adopting Common Core a mistake?
California signed on to new curriculum standards under pressure. But will they help?

by The Times editorial board
Think back to the dark days of 2009, when school districts in California and across the nation faced dire budget shortfalls. States would have done almost anything for extra money, and when the Obama administration dangled Race to the Top grants in front of them, many of them did indeed race to adopt the policies that would win federal approval — such as including student test scores in teachers’ performance rankings and adopting common curriculum standards.
Because public education falls almost entirely under state authority, this sort of arm-twisting was the only way the administration could persuade states to do its bidding. The No Child Left Behind Act, the school accountability law adopted during the George W. Bush administration, also used money — federal Title 1 funding for disadvantaged students — to press its rigid standards on states.
Race to the Top pressured financially strapped states to adopt education policies that varied widely in their value. Many of the policies, such as the push to tie teacher evaluations to student test scores, were not backed by any sort of evidence. Yet they were adopted quickly because of application deadlines, and there was little time for 

Ed Notes Online: Carol Burris on Problems with APPR and the English Regents

Ed Notes Online: Carol Burris on Problems with APPR and the English Regents:

Carol Burris on Problems with APPR and the English Regents

by ed notes online

Wouldst our union do a tenth of the work Carol is doing to expose the

Marching on NY State Ed Dept

bullshit from the crooks at the NY State Ed Department, the leaders of whom if justice is ever served, would be removed in handcuffs. Carol suggests writing them. My suggestion would be to go after them with pitchforks.

Please consider sharing this with principals, teachers, union reps and parents who would care about this.  So much of this is not known or understood.  It will be good to spread this with all who are effected by this plan.
Janine Sopp

Recently, Commissioner King imposed an APPR plan on New York City teachers. When you look at the plan, you see that the scoring band ranges for the first two categories( student growth), are dramatically different from those used this year. For example, 

Video: McGraw-Hill! Welcome to the trough!

by ed notes online

The Regents Exam in NY has been saved from the corrupt hands of the teachers. McGraw-Hill is here to make it all better. Welcome to the trough but, hey, at least get in line with the rest of the corporate suckers....

EXCESS'D - A Teacher Without a Room

http://youtu.be/BlrW77lGsCE

Popout

The Amistad Schooner: An $8 million plus state bonding project gone amok - Wait, What?

The Amistad Schooner: An $8 million plus state bonding project gone amok - Wait, What?:

The Amistad Schooner: An $8 million plus state bonding project gone amok

by jonpelto

What happens when our elected officials think their “management responsibilities” end with the ribbon cutting?

A replica of the Schooner Amistad was built at the Mystic Seaport, at taxpayer expense, and launched in March 2000.  In 2003, the Connecticut General Assembly made the Amistad Connecticut’s state ship.

Although paid for with Connecticut taxpayer funds, the ship is actually owned by Amistad America, Inc. a non-profit organization based in of Hamden, Connecticut.

But Amistad America, Inc. has since lost its non-profit status and Connecticut’s state 

Public Education Suffering from Parasitic Profiteers - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

Public Education Suffering from Parasitic Profiteers - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher:

Public Education Suffering from Parasitic Profiteers

by Anthony Cody

Paul Krugman's recent column describes the unproductive forms by which many of our largest and most profitable corporations are making money. As I read, I got a disturbing image in my head. In education, it seems as if our leaders are purposely re-engineering the system to introduce a plethora of profit-seeking parasites into the workings of our schools.
To understand what I mean, let's begin by defining what is essential to a wonderful school. Think of the Lakeside School, attended by Bill Gates himself several decades ago, and now by his children. Lakeside's website says this about their program:

Lakeside's 5th- to 12th-grade student-centered academic program focuses on the relationships between talented students and capable and caring teachers. We develop and nurture students' passions and abilities and ensure every student feels known.

Each student's curiosities and capabilities lead them to unique academic challenges that are 

Jersey Jazzman: Latest "Chiefs For Change" Fail: Barresi in OK

Jersey Jazzman: Latest "Chiefs For Change" Fail: Barresi in OK:

Latest "Chiefs For Change" Fail: Barresi in OK

by Duke

You're doin' a heckuva job, Janet!

The fails of Jeb! Bush's "Chiefs For Change" keep coming; here's Janet Barresi in Oklahoma:

State schools Superintendent Janet Barresi drew sharp criticism this week — on Facebook — when it was revealed that she denied a request that would have helped cash-strapped Moore Public Schools as it continues to recover from the deadly tornadoes and storms that struck in May.

During an informal phone conversation following the storms, Barresi said she was asked by a Moore school official if the district could have its state aid spread out over 12 months instead of the usual 11 months.

Breaking: Local School Councils voting to reject CPS budget cuts. UPDATED. | Fred Klonsky

Breaking: Local School Councils voting to reject CPS budget cuts. UPDATED. | Fred Klonsky:

Breaking: Local School Councils voting to reject CPS budget cuts. UPDATED.

by Fred Klonsky

Blaine’s LSC has rejected the board’s budget cuts. Now Roosevelt has done the same. Next?
Two days ago the Blaine Local School Council voted to reject the $600,000 budget cut ordered by the CPS board.

LAKEVIEW — Blaine Elementary’s Local School Council wanted to send a message to CPS Thursday night after hearing that a $600,000-plus shortfall would mean the loss of seven staffers: They will not stand for the cuts.
The group voted to reject the budget, with Principal Troy LaRaviere abstaining, and was loudly applauded as the community agreed to fight for more money from the system. 
Expected losses at Blaine include the elimination of art, music and a middle school 

Ten minute drawing. #David Gregory is the Paula Deen of journalism.

by Fred Klonsky

Click on image to enlarge.

NYC Public School Parents: Crony capitalism and the inequities of NYC charter funding: Julian Robertson and the case of the billionaire scion's preschool

NYC Public School Parents: Crony capitalism and the inequities of NYC charter funding: Julian Robertson and the case of the billionaire scion's preschool:

Crony capitalism and the inequities of NYC charter funding: Julian Robertson and the case of the billionaire scion's preschool

by Leonie Haimson

The portion of the NYC budget going into the pockets of charter school operators is growing fast, according to the Independent Budget Office, and will top $1 billion next school year.  See graph below.

(Source: GothamSchools from IBO data)

In addition, there are many hidden funding sources not reflected in this graph, reflecting significant  inequities between the way charters and district public schools are funded in NYC.

First of all, for the two thirds of the charters that are given space and services free in public school buildings - which we believe is illegal -- amount to many millions of dollars in additional subsidies per year, and result in these students receiving more than the average per student funding that districts public schools receive, according to the an analysis from the Independent Budget Office.

Charter school students are also twice as likely to get free busing paid for by the city -- another expense not 

Vulture Capitalism in Education with ALEC | Reclaim Reform

Vulture Capitalism in Education with ALEC | Reclaim Reform:

Vulture Capitalism in Education with ALEC

by kenpreviti

Joni Lindgren, Guest Blogger
It is surprising that people are still unaware of the secretive dark-money organization that is behind the climate change denial movement, the assault on women’s rights and LBGT rights, “right to work” legislation, slashing Obama care, “stand your ground” laws, passing voter ID laws that limit some people from voting, de-funding public education, privatizing attempts of prisons, schools, airports, water supply, Social Security, Medicare, post offices, and deregulating major industries, like the banking industry which allowed them to trade on Wall Street and lead to the recent economic crash. Who is this group that thinks taxpayers should be paying for their lobbyists and who has written legislation to limit any liability for harm caused to consumers by their caustic laws?

ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) is a corporate lobbyist group masquerading as a public charity. Through ALEC, corporations are scheming to rewrite your rights and boost their profits at the public’s expense. ALEC is a network of state politicians and corporations concerned with increasing 

Government Domestic Spying Unsettling News for Campuses - Higher Education

Government Domestic Spying Unsettling News for Campuses - Higher Education:

Government Domestic Spying Unsettling News for Campuses

by cmaadmin

Ameena Qazi, a staff attorney in Los Angeles for the Council on American–Islamic Relations, says Muslim parents are urging their children not to get involved in campus activities.

In light of recent news on the federal government spying on Americans via phone records and electronic correspondence and the lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Civil Liberties Union in response, the question of students’ rights and academic freedoms on campus has risen once more.
“Recent revelations at the national level about government reviewing phone information and Internet information 

Daily Kos: Brothers and Sisters: Holding Someone in the Light

Daily Kos: Brothers and Sisters: Holding Someone in the Light:

Brothers and Sisters: Holding Someone in the Light

by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken)

Back when I was sitting my wife's hospital room on January 27, I raised the subject of her illness with a diary I titled Quakers ask people to hold them in the light.  As I take my periodic turn to offer Brothers and Sisters, I thought I would offer some thoughts on this Friendly practice, sharing some thoughts of others as well as my own.
i invite you to continue reading.  And remember:

Welcome to Brothers and Sisters, the weekly meetup for prayer* and community at Daily Kos.  We put an asterisk on pray* to acknowledge that not everyone uses conventional religious language, but may want to share joys and concerns, or simply take solace in a meditative atmosphere. Anyone who comes in the spirit of mutual respect, warmth and healing is welcome.