Latest News and Comment from Education

Friday, October 11, 2013

10-11-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum

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.


Special Education Growth Boundaries Open Thread
Let's hear your thoughts (I haven't read them yet.)
SW Growth Boundaries Open Thread
Let's hear your thoughts (I haven't read them yet.)
SE Growth Boundaries Open Thread
Let's hear your thoughts (I haven't read them yet.)
NW Growth Boundaries Open Thread
Let's hear your thoughts (I haven't read them yet.)
Central Growth Boundaries
Let's hear your thoughts (I haven't read them yet.)
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.What's on your mind?

10-10-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: I Am Malala - A Study in CourageMalala 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 t