1-18-14 Wait What? All Week

Wait What?:

  Wait What? All Week

Connecticut Democratic Party Leaders: It is okay to lie, as long as it’s to raise money…

The question bothering a number of Democrats these days is what happened to our political party?  We all know it takes money to run effective campaigns, but Connecticut’s Democratic State Central Committee is reaching new lows when it comes to misleading potential donors in their effort to raise funds. Last week, Democratic State Central Committee […]The post Connecticut Democratic Party Leaders:

by jonpelto / 34min 

Hide your children – Arne Duncan is coming to Connecticut Tuesday

According to the Hartford Courant, “The governor’s office confirms that Arne Duncan, the U.S. Secretary of Education, will visit Hartford’s University High School on Tuesday afternoon at 1:30. Duncan will speak on college accessibility and affordability. According to Duncan’s office the event will include U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, Gov. Dannel P. […]The post Hide your ch

8 by jonpelto / 1h 

Those aren’t guinea pigs; those are our children!

Alternatively known as we don’t need no stinkin learning… we need more standardized testing! As an increasing number of parents, teachers, school boards and citizens are learning, the message from Governor Malloy, Commissioner Stefan Pryor and their corporate education reform industry allies is clear and concise.  Connecticut needs more standardized testing to ensure that our […]The post Those are

52 by jonpelto / 22h 

JAN 16

NEWS FLASH: Kids win, Malloy/Jepsen lose as judge rules school funding trial to begin this summer

In a stunning defeat of Governor Malloy’s political strategy to push off CCEJF v. Rell school funding debate until after the 2014 gubernatorial election, a superior court judge ruled today that the trail will begin as scheduled. The trial date for the CCEJF .v Rell was scheduled to begin July 2014 beck in December 2011, […]The post NEWS FLASH: Kids win, Malloy/Jepsen lose as judge rules school fun

39 by jonpelto / 1d 

Look Out! The Common Core Test is coming to a school near you

January 2014 and it still isn’t clear exactly which Connecticut students will be forced to take the new Common Core (Smarter Balanced Test) this year. With the gubernatorial campaign only 10 months away, Governor Malloy and Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor have been telling towns that they have the option to stick with the Connecticut Mastery […]The post Look Out! The Common Core Test is coming

47 by jonpelto / 1d 

JAN 15

Whatever you do, don’t mention school funding and the school funding lawsuit!

The Malloy administration will be back in a Connecticut courtroom tomorrow, January 16, 2014, in their unending effort to destroy, derail or delay the court case known as Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding v. Rell. CCJEF v. Rell is not only the most important school funding lawsuit in Connecticut history, it is safe […]The post Whatever you do, don’t mention school funding and

6 by jonpelto / 2d 

Michele Rhee’s StudentsFirst “education reform” group gives Louisiana a B-, Connecticut a D+

Michele Rhee and her corporate education reform industry advocacy group are back with their annual “report card.” Over the last three years Rhee and StudentsFirst (called GNEPSA here in Connecticut) have been one of Governor Malloy’s strongest supporters, helping to fund the most expensive lobbying campaign in Connecticut history.  To date, Rhee and her fellow […]The post Michele Rhee’s StudentsFi

50 by jonpelto / 3d 

JAN 14

Attn: Steve Perry – It’s called the CT Code of Professional Responsibility for School Administrators

As a certified school administrator in Connecticut you have the legal and moral obligation to uphold this code.  But the record increasingly reveals that Capital Prep Principal Steve Perry and the other administrators at Capital Preparatory Magnet School have consistently failed to meet the most basic elements of this code. For example, section (b) of […]The post Attn: Steve Perry – It’s called th

14 by jonpelto / 3d 

Vallas demand for $16,500 in extra taxpayer funds succeeds

Paul Vallas will be getting an extra $16,500 from Bridgeport and Connecticut taxpayers thanks to last night’s 5-4 vote of the Bridgeport Board of Education.  After heavy lobbying from Mayor Bill Finch and Vallas supporters, newly elected board member Democrat Dave Hennessey, who was part of the successful anti-Finch challenge slate in last September’s Democratic […]The post Vallas demand for $16,5

25 by jonpelto / 4d 

JAN 13

Hey Steve Perry – Tell us about Capital Prep’s “Table of Shame”

Located in the cafeteria of the Capital Preparatory Magnet School at 1304 Main Street in Hartford, Connecticut is the “Table of Shame.” At part of Capital Prep Principal Steve Perry’s “zero-tolerance” policies even the slightest “violations,” such as wearing the wrong colored belt, will result in punishments designed to humiliate and demean students. For example, […]The post Hey Steve Perry – Tell

32 by jonpelto / 4d 

Malloy administration action raises more ethics questions…

Stefan Pryor, Governor Malloy’s Commissioner of Education, is no stranger to ethics issues. Pryor and his operatives at the State Department of Education are now engaged in activities that raise even more potential ethics violations. As reported yesterday in a post entitled, “Pryor schedules Corporate Education Reform Industry Lobby Group for Alliance District Meeting,” Commissioner […]The post Ma

11 by jonpelto / 5d 

JAN 12

Pryor schedules Corporate Education Reform Industry Lobby Group for Alliance District Meeting

And that is just the tip of the iceberg… Governor Malloy’s Commissioner of Education, Stefan Pryor, and his sidekick and aide, former Achievement First principal Morgan Barth, are pushing the ethical envelope ever further while telegraphing where Malloy really stands when it comes to teachers, parents and public education in Connecticut. While Malloy is touring […]The post Pryor schedules Corporat

38 by jonpelto / 5d 

JAN 11

Mayor Finch gives “Key to the City” to Paul Vallas

    With ousted Democratic Board of Education chairman Kenneth Moales, Jr. at his side, Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch gave Paul Vallas Bridgeport’s “Key to the City” for his “service to students.” There is still no word whether Governor Malloy or Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor stopped by last night’s “Farewell Reception” for Vallas in Bridgeport […]The post Mayor Finch gives “Key to the City” t

33 by jonpelto / 6d 

No Really… Nothing more for instruction, but plenty for Common Core compliant computers

A Wait, What? blog post earlier this week entitled, “Malloy/Pryor Common Core Strategy – Hey, but we’ve got some computers!” outlined the fact that while many of Connecticut’s urban schools are woefully underfunded,  Governor Malloy and Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor were able to find $25 million in state bonding to buy computers so that more […]The post No Really… Nothing more for instructio

19 by jonpelto / 6d 

Connecticut need not look far for model on improving academic performance (by Wendy Lecker)

Hearst media commentator and fellow pro-public education advocate Wendy Lecker has another great commentary piece in this weekend’s Stamford Advocate. Wendy writes: “High-quality preschool is one of the best investments society can make in our children. It has been proven to improve academic outcomes and reduce the costly incidence of special education and grade retention. […]The post Connecticut

10 by jonpelto / 6d 

1-18-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum Week

Seattle Schools Community Forum:

Seattle Schools Community Forum

The Internet and Free Speech

Gentle readers, The last couple of months have been something of a strain for me. I was busy fighting a petition in court for an order of protection against me, claiming I had harassed someone via this blog and this person feared loss of their job because of the alleged harassment. I will go into some detail about this case in another thread but suffice to say that, of course, it was without meri

by Melissa Westbrook / 28min

Saturday Food for Thought

 From The New Yorker, a thoughtful article by Mark O'Connell, "First Thought, Worst Thought," about thinking before you hit send.  I would think that includes Facebook, e-mail, texts or Twitter.  Something to talk to the kids about, perhaps.On the one hand:As Roxane Gay put it in an essay on her ambivalence about the public shaming of Sacco: “The world is full of unanswered injustice and

by Melissa Westbrook / 47min 

Comments and an Open Forum Blog

We can all feel this way sometimes. 

by Melissa Westbrook / 14h 

Friday Open Thread

Fun math challenges via UW's Computer Science and Engineering department.  Former School Board President Kay Smith-Blum will have her name on the scholarship wall at JSCEE via a constituent, Eleanor Towes, for Smith-Blum's service to Seattle Schools and students.  It's a great way to honor someone and help a student.Today I'll chatting with folks about student data privacy and other public educati

by Melissa Westbrook / 22h 

JAN 16

Really? The Legislature isn't going to pay up on K-12 funding?

Publicola is reporting that some legislators - notably Senator Rodney Tom - aren't really interested in putting more money into our K-12 public education system.  Apparently, even with all the mandates (including Common Core),our schools have enough money.I keep asking - over and over - how Senator Tom would spend the money for better outcomes.  What are districts spending the money on that he thi

by Melissa Westbrook / 1d 

Seattle Ed Meetup Tomorrow: Student Data Privacy

From Seattle Education blog via writer Dora Taylor:Our first Meetup was a success with our guest, the newly elected School Board Director Sue Peters. We were also fortunate to have with us at the Meetup two previous board members Amy Hagopian and Sally Soriano. It was a great discussion and we learned more about the history of our district and how the school board works along with Sue’s priorities

by Melissa Westbrook / 1d 

JAN 15

Education Reading List for 2014?

Fascinating reading provided via the Center on Reinventing Public Education (our local ed reform think tank).  They are recommending the list "top eight books that schools reformers should read" from Dropout Nation.  Boy, are there some interesting picks.One is I Got Schooled by none other than "I see dead people" director, M. Night Shymalan.  Here's what Dropout Nation says:Wr

by Melissa Westbrook / 2d 

Jam-packed exciting C & I meeting

The C & I meeting on Monday began with a change to the agenda. An update on Advanced Learning was added as an eighth discussion item.Yearbook Contract. I learned a lot. The staff brought forward the news that they will recommend a one-year extension of the contract with the yearbook publisher at about $400,000 from the ASB budget. This will be the third year of a one-year contract with options

by Charlie Mas / 3d 

Annual Program Placement report

I picked up a draft copy of the annual program placement report at Monday's C & I meeting. It was written by Misa Garmoe, the recently hired Executive Director of School Operations. She has been on the job for about three months. This is a new job which is different from the Assistant Superintendent for Operations.The copy I saw was clearly labelled as a draft and the final report won't be rel

by Charlie Mas / 3d 

JAN 14

Equitable Access Framework Explained

In response to an apparent need, I offer this explanation of the Equitable Access Framework. It begins with the differences among schools, services, programs, and curricular foci. The distinctions are based on the definitions provided in the Superintendent’s Procedure 2200SP. This document should have ended the confusion about what is a school, a service, a program, or a curricular focus. Unfortun

by Charlie Mas / 3d 

Best Anti-Smoking Ad Ever (and it features kids - little kids - asking for a light)

A great ad and the looks on the adults' faces is telling.

by Melissa Westbrook / 3d 

Charter School Applicant Forums

I will be attending several of the charter school applicant forums this week.  I am slowly making my way thru some of the applications and it makes for interesting reading (but what a slog - very long applications - one was 238 pages!).I don't want to give too much away because I do hope to make a public comment on several of them.  But here are a few highlights:no KIPP? Not to worry, there's a KI

by Melissa Westbrook / 3d 

Sad to Report: 30TH School Shooting Since Newtown

From Moms Demand Action:Details are still unfolding, but at least two children are in critical condition after a shooting today at a middle school in Roswell, New Mexico. Witnesses say a 13-year-old student shot a 14-year-old classmate in the face: http://tinyurl.com/kd9odt8 (from the Albuquerque Journal).The scene of parents waiting in a school parking lot to find out if their child was shot is a

by Melissa Westbrook / 3d 

Another Reason the Seahawks are Great

It's not just Russell Wilson and his quiet leadership (and off-the-field history of helping others). It's not just Marshawn Lynch who doesn't just power past the opposition's defense; he shoves them out of the way despite their size (and his).It's this guy - Derrick Coleman - who is the first deaf player in the NFL. Picked on and picked last his whole life.  Didn't get picked during his first NFL

by Melissa Westbrook / 3d 

Tell the Legislature - Obey McCleary and Fully-Fund our Public Schools

The Legislature has started its new session but because it is not a budget session (and therefore shorter), no one seems to think too much will get done.  Issues include the DREAM act to allow college financial aid for children brought illegally to this country, health insurance covering abortions, reducing the costs of vehicle registration and, oh yeah, fulfilling McCleary.Here's a link to the le

by Melissa Westbrook / 3d 

Tuesday Open Thread

From KING-5: apparently a drunk man wandered into Salmon Bay on Monday, January 6th and was found (not sure by whom) in a bathroom. He had entered via a door that is left open longer for students using wheelchairs.  All the rooms were secured and the man taken away by police/paramedics.  From the letter to parents:"At approximately 9:30 a.m., a transient man entered our building and attempted

by Melissa Westbrook / 3d 

JAN 13

Charter Applicant Forums

Updates from the Charter Commission:1.      Each applicant will be given 10 minutes of presentation time, followed by 30 minutes of public comment. Individuals will be provided up to 2 minutes for comments. We are hopeful that 15 people will be able to provide comment.2.      Individuals who wish to provide public comment are asked to sign up at the meeting. If there are more than 15 people that s

by Melissa Westbrook / 4d 

C & I Meeting this afternoon

Oh Boy! The Curriculum and Instruction Policy Committee meeting this afternoon is going to be good! I'm going to be there for sure. Just check out this list of discussion items from the agenda:Committee Discussion Itemsa. BAR for Yearbook Contract (Shauna/Kathleen/Misa)b. Policy 3130, Student Assignment (Shauna/Ronald/Janet B.)c. Policy 2415, High School Graduation Requirement (Michael/Janet B.)d.

by Charlie Mas / 4d 

JAN 12

Seattle Schools This Week

Monday, Jan. 13thCurriculum and Instruction Policy Committee meeting from 4:30-6:30 pm. AgendaDiscussion of Policy 3130, student assignment, Policy 2415, high school graduation requirement, CTE review, Equitable Access Annual report, math adoption progress reportI will be unable to attend this meeting but it does look interesting.Charter Commission Charter Applicant ForumStarting at 5 pm for Washi

by Melissa Westbrook / 5d 

JAN 10

Good Thing on a Friday

Arbor Heights Elementary School's photo.A VERY big thank you to Softchoice for their very generous donation. Today at our monthly assembly Harry Turpin, from Softchoice's Seattle office, presented a check for $3,829.49 to purchase replacement computers (stolen Fall 2012). Softchoice employees held a variety of fundraisers to help raise the dollars donated to our school. We will always remain appr

by Melissa Westbrook / 7d hide  //  save

Friday Open Thread

How to fund schools properly?  The Stranger Slog offers up not one but two alternatives.  It can be done and done without adding onerous bills (like grading schools) in order to say "we're doing something about education" before education is truly fully funded.Here's the district's "official" notice about proposed Transportation changes.  I'll note a couple of things.  One, the

by Melissa Westbrook / 7d