This may only be a partial list of reasons; please, add anything else in the comments. The deadline to file to run for the Board is May 19th. Entire Board Majority NOT vetting the Superintendent in any way, shape or form. Even the Seattle Times thought that was wrong. It was just absolute hubris and it was wrong. For the second time in just over a year , board members voted to negotiate a superintendent contract during a special meeting with no opportunity for public comment. This time, they showed an even deeper disregard for their responsibilities as public servants: Aborting a national search for a new superintendent and denying Interim Superintendent Brent Jones a chance to show students, parents and taxpayers that, indeed, he is the best person for the job. Government bodies can’t fast-forward through transparent processes just because they think they know the right answer. One other odd thing about the hiring of Brent Jones - most permanent SPS superintendent contracts ar
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The facts,
1) 75% of special ed students have average or better IQ's... but only 7% passed the WASL or the WAAS in the state in 2006. This is the real acheivement gap.
2) If we introduce a loophole in accountability by removing special education students from NCLB requirements, special education will become a dumping ground for all the other failing groups. In fact, it already is a dumping ground for minorities the district choses not to educate. It is well documented that SPS sped students are highly over-represented by minorities, especially considering that the city is actually 70% white.
3) Special education students are very often excluded from any special WASL preparation that other at risk students receive. The argument usually goes, "Well, they already get special ed. Isn't that enough?"