Latest News and Comment from Education

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

3-25-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum:





Things That Make You Go, Hmmm
When Common Core supporters call Common Core opponents "enemies", I think, hmmm.This appeared in a NY Times op-ed (that I thought was fairly pedantic) and Ready Washington, a mystery public/private WA state cheerleading group for Common Core, retweeted the link as though it's a good thing to divide people who want a transparent discussion about Common Core.  And really, the op-ed isn't e

Let's See If We Can Get the President's Attention
There's a petition going to direct the Department of Education and Congress to remove annual standardized testing mandates of NCLB and RttT.  It has 97,350 signatures and needs to get to 100,000 to get attention from the White House. Meanwhile the Today show on NBC has a Facebook poll going on about testing:Do you think standardized tests are the best way for kids to learn? Tell us why or why not

Tuesday Open Thread
Parents, Teens and Sex: The Talk, Part 2Tuesday, March 25th at the SW Branch Library (9010 35th Ave SW) from 6:00pm- 7:30pm Presented by Katie Acker, MPH, Health Educator with the Neighborcare Health School-Based Health Centers at Chief Sealth and West Seattle High Schools We will reiterate the critical role parents play in teens’ lives, decision making and health-seeking behaviors.  The presentat
3-24-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools and "Refusal" to Take TestsI asked SPS for a comment on what the policies are for parents who want to opt their students out of standardized testing.  (Although MAP is not mentioned, these answers probably apply.)  Here is the reply (and I'm happy to see this district not being punitive):Currently for the MSP, we do not have “opt out” but