Latest News and Comment from Education

Monday, August 26, 2013

8-26-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum:



As We are Talking about Teachers
Is this NY Times article about short-term teachers the future for teachers?  I can only say, I hope not.As tens of millions of pupils across the country begin their school year, charter networks are developing what amounts to a youth cult in which teaching for two to five years is seen as acceptable and, at times, even desirable. Teachers in the nation’s traditional public schools have an average
SEA Rejects District Offer
From SPS Communications:We value the contributions, skills, and dedication that our educators bring to Seattle Public Schools’ students on a daily basis. Their leadership and passion drive the success of our district and community. While we are disappointed that members of the Seattle Education Association did not approve our proposal, we are hopeful that we will reach an agreement that is in the
Seattle Schools Shows Improvement on State Tests
From SPS Communications (bold mine): Seattle Public School students again made significant academic gains during the 2012-2013 school year, Superintendent José Banda announced today. The preliminary scores released by the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) show Seattle students outperforming the state average in multiple subjects.[1]In 2013, Seattle students met o
Struggling System, Part Two
From SPS Communications:Student  Information System now live, Waiting List Moves will begin August 31 We want all families, including those with students on wait lists, to know what to expect as we implement a new, improved student information system. The system is live as of August 26. However, we must carefully check current capacity at schools before we begin moving waiting lists. We expect to

Seattle Schools - A System that Struggles
We've heard from many parents who are unhappy about enrollment issues like waitlists.  My understanding is that the district was switching technology systems.  Reading the Queen Anne Elementary principal's blog, it would seem that the whole system has been down,  in one form or another.Principal Elliot's explains that on Back to School Night (an event they are having this week), parents would be a
8-25-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Carlyle Proposes Paying School Board MembersThe Times has an article about the idea of paying School Board members of the largest districts (likely to be Seattle, Spokane and Tacoma) a real salary.   This idea is being spearheaded by Rep. Reuven Carlyle and I agree with him.   "State Rep. Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle, is trying to improve the job by proposing members