tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post3570796278164965098..comments2024-03-29T02:41:52.718-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools NewsMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-5299572932971079902018-11-18T21:25:42.334-08:002018-11-18T21:25:42.334-08:00เลเซอร์หน้าใส เป็นอีกหนึ่งสิ่งใหม่ทางความสวยที่ช่ว...เลเซอร์หน้าใส เป็นอีกหนึ่งสิ่งใหม่ทางความสวยที่ช่วยฟื้นฟูผิวหนังที่แห้งกระด้าง บริเวณใบหน้าหมองคล้ำให้กลับมาผ่องใสมองเบิกบานใจ ผ่องใสภายในช่วงเวลาอันเร็วทันใจ นับว่าเป็นทางลัดความงดงามที่กำลังเป็นที่นิยมสูง ช่วยรับใช้ผิวให้ขาวกระจ่างขาวใส จากการลดลางเลือนริ้วรอยจุดด่างดำได้อย่างมีคุณภาพ<br /><br /><a href="http://www.gangnamclinicthailand.com/%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3/%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A5%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%8B%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%8C/40-%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A5%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%8B%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%8C%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B2%E0%B9%83%E0%B8%AA" rel="nofollow">เลเซอร์หน้าใส</a><br /><a href="http://www.gangnamclinicthailand.com/%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3/%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A5%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%8B%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%8C/40-%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A5%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%8B%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%8C%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B2%E0%B9%83%E0%B8%AA" rel="nofollow">เลเซอร์ลดริ้วรอย</a><br /><a href="http://www.gangnamclinicthailand.com/%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3/%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A5%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%8B%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%8C/40-%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A5%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%8B%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%8C%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B2%E0%B9%83%E0%B8%AA" rel="nofollow">เลเซอร์รอยสิว</a><br />dokdokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08325980699815509385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-17110568031034543842017-05-25T03:29:27.723-07:002017-05-25T03:29:27.723-07:00Your news should make a lot of people here very ha...Your news should make a lot of people here very happy!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://www.gclub-casino.com/baccarat/" rel="nofollow">บาคาร่าออนไลน์</a><br /><a href="https://www.gclub-casino.com/" rel="nofollow">จีคลับ</a><br />Panharithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07162618900710201262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-60988023496962816932016-03-06T13:25:58.231-08:002016-03-06T13:25:58.231-08:00I think of it as like any program to direct funds ...I think of it as like any program to direct funds at impoverished kids to offset the effects of poverty. I know it is not as simple as poverty=-10 achievement points, but I was glad to see a program directed not just at getting kids who are behind to catch up to grade level, but to counteract the effects of poverty on kids who would be performing well above grade level but for poverty effects. Maybe it wouldn't work, and maybe the neighborhood gen Ed classroom is the best place for them after all, but this seemed so worth a shot, and if this district was really serious about helping the demographic issue(instead of allowing low level animosity toward the program to flourish so they can move it whenever and however they want to solve capacity crises), they would have jumped right on it.<br /><br />-sleeperAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-15344263063500860182016-03-06T10:33:31.862-08:002016-03-06T10:33:31.862-08:00It was a budget request from advanced learning. Th...It was a budget request from advanced learning. They identified some promising students when they screened all second grade (I think) students in the SE and wanted to pay teachers to work with these kids after school in the hope that they would eventually qualify for Spectrum or HCC.<br /><br />I don't get it. How would it be appropriate for the district to pay for special enrichment programs for promising students at a high poverty school? First, I thought improving the scores of low achieving students was the number one priority (the <i>most important work of our time</i>). Second, advanced learning services exist to meet the needs of students who can't be/ are not served in the general education classroom. If these students aren't already working above grade level, the general education classroom is exactly what they need. The curriculum is designed for students working at grade level.Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-1000418113869107172016-03-06T10:06:43.110-08:002016-03-06T10:06:43.110-08:00"Yes, other cities and states are very oppose..."Yes, other cities and states are very opposed when advanced learning/highly capable programs (not synonyms for gifted, but can include gifted) systematically exclude demographically underrepresented students."<br /><br />I don't believe that was the question.<br /><br />Also charter schools serving gifted kids? That's a funny one because one of the first things I researched on charters was how they serve gifted kids. There's just not a lot out there. Will your kid be in smaller classes and get more attention at a charter? Probably but that's not gifted education.<br /><br /> "I wish the district would have let the advanced learning go ahead with their project to give enrichment to high IQ lower achievement kids in the SE to help work then into HCC, but the district gave a flat no."<br /><br />I don't recall this event, could you refresh my memory?Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-31703866458009620432016-03-06T09:49:55.633-08:002016-03-06T09:49:55.633-08:00Underrepresented students have systematically been...<i>Underrepresented students have systematically been denied services because they haven't been identified.</i><br /><br />What specific systems and policies are denying services for them? Or is it that they are not scoring as high on the eligibility assessments, and thus are not qualifying? Are those one and the same?<br /><br />HFAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-46798709517960640032016-03-06T01:49:15.345-08:002016-03-06T01:49:15.345-08:00HCC is the only legally protected group in SPS und...HCC is the only legally protected group in SPS under the state's definition of Advanced Learning (as determined by SPS). All other AL students in SPS are general education students.<br /><br />Lynn, the district is now required by state law to have the highly capable program reflect the district's demographics. The identification process has been biased. No one said the district isn't guaranteed to give services once they are identified. Underrepresented students have sytematically been denied services because they haven't been identified. That will be changing per state law.<br /><br />Read Special Education law regarding LRE. Spectrum was in clear violation of LRE and the district knows it. You can't warehouse students with IEPs in classrooms when other general ed students in the building have considerably fewer students with IEPs in their classrooms.<br /><br />Many other cities and states have been more proactive and didn't get to the point where Seattle is regarding advanced learning (or lack of diversity in schools, for that matter--see Louisville's answer to Supreme Court ruling). Changing unfair policies in response to research and ethics, rather than having to react to state and federal law, would have been a much better, less acrimonius result. <br /><br />Seattle's response is not what I would define as "optimistic" but, rather, reactive. SPS policies are typically far from "progressive".<br /><br />--about time<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-88208897357768527182016-03-05T22:41:20.443-08:002016-03-05T22:41:20.443-08:00Parents of students who are highly capable but hav...<i>Parents of students who are highly capable but have been systematically denied services</i> are a figment of your imagination. These students do not exist. Every highly capable student in the district is guaranteed access to services. Other students may be bright or gifted, but unless the district has identified them, they are not highly capable.<br /><br />You keep making the claim that there is a legal issue with Spectrum but provide no evidence. This is merely your opinion. <br /><br />The district has <b>not</b> defined Advanced Learning as HCC. Advanced Learners is the new label for Spectrum students. Advanced Learning services include the former Spectrum and ALO programs, Honors and AP and IB courses.<br />Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-61086449599269800762016-03-05T22:09:51.718-08:002016-03-05T22:09:51.718-08:00No, other cities don't have as much animosity,...No, other cities don't have as much animosity, regardless of demographics (which almost always skew wealthier/whiter because of the deleterious effects of poverty of children). I think people in Seattle more often think the school district alone can fix every problem plagueing society. In some ways it is very optimistic. In other ways it is closed minded.<br /><br />Yes, it is difficult to get an IEP if you are performing above grade level. This fact naturally depresses the number at Cascadia. Lately the number of 504s has been skyrocketing, but because of an especially proactive special Ed team, no change in population. And the demographics are only supposed to represent the area, which they do- they specifically use the word area when in that same paragraph they use the word district. I wish the district would have let the advanced learning go ahead with their project to give enrichment to high IQ lower achievement kids in the SE to help work then into HCC, but the district gave a flat no. I don't even think they needed much money.<br /><br />-sleeperAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-47890622498899222862016-03-05T21:54:01.740-08:002016-03-05T21:54:01.740-08:00Yes, other cities and states are very opposed when...Yes, other cities and states are very opposed when advanced learning/highly capable programs (not synonyms for gifted, but can include gifted) systematically exclude demographically underrepresented students. In fact, many districts changed their identification criteria several years ago. The students who qualify and need services are now legally protected to receive services in WA. <br /><br />The state of WA also now requires these programs to reflect the demographics of the district. This is a direct result of research and best practices being followed in other places. A continuum of services model means that students get served based on their needs, not that they will denied services. <br /><br />The parents of students who are highly capable but have been systematically denied services are the focus of this thread. They want their children to be taught at an appropriate level, too, but their students have been systematically denied entrance.<br />Many of them seek Charter Schools as a recourse.<br /><br />Spectrum, a general education program, is over because it was a federal violation of LRE for students with IEPs (students in Spectrum and HCC have proportionally much fewer IEPs than in gen ed). Once the district established that HCC is their definition of Advanced Learning, SPS had no choice but to get rid of Spectrum (or deal with federal violation penalties). Charlie also acknowledged this several weeks ago. I think many Special Education advocates are likely relieved. <br /><br />--about timeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-81962719170205345252016-03-05T19:34:32.065-08:002016-03-05T19:34:32.065-08:00Most HCC parents just want a school that can teach...Most HCC parents just want a school that can teach their child at the appropriate level (or close to it). We are willing to sacrifice being able to go to the neighborhood school, having a decent playground in elementary school, being shipped around by the district based on their ongoing capacity crises, etc.<br /><br />Momof2Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-31929652089503650962016-03-05T19:30:17.959-08:002016-03-05T19:30:17.959-08:00Are people in other cities as opposed to HCC-type ...Are people in other cities as opposed to HCC-type programs as Seattle? It's so frustrating to keep hearing that HCC must be racist, is definitely elitist, is not needed because gifted kids can do just fine in regular classrooms at their neighborhood school, etc.<br /> <br />Momof2Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-29565918923732415272016-03-05T18:35:15.693-08:002016-03-05T18:35:15.693-08:00So Lynn, your news should make a lot of people her...So Lynn, your news should make a lot of people here very happy (you'd think.)Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-80651421797483306522016-03-05T18:07:03.671-08:002016-03-05T18:07:03.671-08:00Unfortunately the last elementary Spectrum classro...Unfortunately the last elementary Spectrum classrooms will be gone next year. Local advanced learning options have been reduced to whatever your principal and teacher choose to offer as frequently as they get around to offering it. If that was sufficient, we would not have 5,000 students referred for advanced learning testing each year.<br /><br />Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-12634418043349574782016-03-05T17:15:18.040-08:002016-03-05T17:15:18.040-08:00I believe Melissa has worked for a long time to im...I believe Melissa has worked for a long time to improve these programs, including the demographics. Not just behind the scenes, but here. She has said that she is not against self contained programs, which some people have taken to mean an endorsement of demographics. I would also like to see the program improved, including demographics, and think the first best step would be advanced learning in every school. The longer I am involved with sps the more ridiculous it is to me that we don't have this. It would help with so many issues. I think some people think unless you are willing to dismantle hcc tomorrow you aren't committed enough, somehow, but that's not true. I think the district likes hcc big, honestly. They have a lot of kids to siphon out of crowded areas, and this makes them into moveable chunks.<br /><br />I also have complained on the app blog about the lack of rigor, but at the middle school level it appears to be 100% district driven. Our school has mixed spectrum and hcc kids, and we actually have no idea whether the spectrum kids could do hcc level work because no one is getting it. The district should allow the middle school la pathway to have an advanced option. And a lot of the other ones, especially at the middle school level- the watering down really is district level, not population driven. Different at elementary, but the fix for that is local advanced learning options.<br /><br />-sleeperAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-22995667319473155862016-03-05T16:28:45.116-08:002016-03-05T16:28:45.116-08:00Great news that you have been working behind the s...Great news that you have been working behind the scenes to get this issue addressed.<br /><br />When you say on your blog--for years--that these programs are "not exclusive" because<br />anyone can test in, you have given a very different message. That message, which has often been a rebuttal to people who have had concerns about the demographic exclusivity of these programs, has helped defend the demographic composition of these programs. Like it or not, words matter. Stating facts is not an attack.<br /><br />I have worked for a long time educating and advocating for children and their families. I don't like to toot my horn, but I want to make it clear that I don't sit on the couch with a remote.<br /><br />--about timeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-70971284290418412062016-03-05T15:23:31.413-08:002016-03-05T15:23:31.413-08:00About Time, I have never said I don't have a p...About Time, I have never said I don't have a problem with the demographics. I do.<br /><br />Again, what would you change? Still waiting for constructive answers.<br /><br />I wasn't being "curt" on lower the scores; I was asking a question. <br /><br />Also, those links? I've sent them onto the Board over the years. Nothing changed and that's because 1) Charlie and I have gotten zero traction on this issue and 2) there is no champion for AL in this district to make it a better program or better represented program.<br /><br />Please go right ahead and attack me and Charlie. How did you help with solutions?Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-84043651268399783102016-03-05T15:05:09.512-08:002016-03-05T15:05:09.512-08:00Melissa, you have said--for years--that these prog...Melissa, you have said--for years--that these programs are not exclusive because all students can apply and get in. That disregards the reams of research that demonstrates that the entrance criteria itself has usually been biased against underrepresented groups. That is long-standing defense of the demographics in which I was referring.<br /><br />As long as you don't see any problems with the demographics, you are defending the demographics.<br /><br />People can also search this blog under key words and find your quotes over the years when you were much less guarded in your defense of the exclusion of these programs--it's here for the world to see. Plus, I'm sure many of your readers have good enough memories that they know the pattern.<br /><br />Your words have spoken for themselves. Your curt "lower the scores" comment (rather than referring to the intensive research, including the links that readers have sent over the years on how other districts now identify students who have been systematically excluded) sadly pretty much sums it up.<br /><br />--about time<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-54118448026837713642016-03-05T12:07:59.908-08:002016-03-05T12:07:59.908-08:00I didn't call anyone racist. Not kids, not any...I didn't call anyone racist. Not kids, not anyone. I said racism is alive in our culture and AA parents might be feeling that a school with 0.3% AA kids might not be comfortable for them.<br /><br />DocAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-76372493548014568902016-03-05T11:21:09.158-08:002016-03-05T11:21:09.158-08:00About Time, I have never defended the demographics...About Time, I have never defended the demographics of the HC program. <br /><br />Again, be reality-based an offer solutions. <br /><br />I know that the district has tried many ways to get to more kids of color. Seemingly none of worked if you look at the stats. I know that Bob Vaughn had personally called families whose children had scored well on the WASL and got no traction. I think what would help is for principals with large populations of students of color would get on-board but, for various reason, don't seem to push the program. <br /><br />The issue of seeing few kids (or teachers) of color in the program is a good point, Doc. I'll bet most people wouldn't like having their kid being the one of few in a mostly Asian/white program. <br /><br />Lower the scores for kids of color in underserved categories? Maybe, I don't know the current research on that. <br /><br />But if someone has a better idea - beyond just serving kids in their own schools which doesn't look to be happening either - please tell us (or your board member.)<br /><br />Maybe the new program for African-American boys can include this issue.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-42242447851639277312016-03-05T10:46:56.270-08:002016-03-05T10:46:56.270-08:00Here is some more data on the area served by Casca...Here is some more data on the area served by Cascadia. I looked at the reading MSP scores of sixth grade students enrolled in Eckstein, Hamilton, McClure and Whitman in 2013-14.<br /><br />The students who scored Level 4 (exceeds standards) at those schools were identified as:<br /><br />.18% American Indian<br />8.42% Asian and Pacific Islander<br />1.75% Black<br />5.96% Hispanic/Latino of any race<br />75.79% White<br />7.89% Two or more races<br /><br />Enrollment at Cascadia was:<br /><br />0 American Indian<br />12.5% Asian and Pacific Islander<br />.3% Black<br />2.2% Hispanic/Latino of any race<br />75.3% White<br />9.7% Two or more races<br /><br />The advanced learning office looked at reducing the required achievement scores for all students for HCC and Spectrum identification. This would have increased the percentage of advanced learners who were white. I don't recall hearing that they've ever considered reducing the required achievement scores based on economic factors or racial identification. They do say that they are now considering socioeconomic status and English Language Learner status in the selection process.Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-83416889204617553102016-03-05T10:20:16.539-08:002016-03-05T10:20:16.539-08:00I think we throw words and phrases around sometime...I think we throw words and phrases around sometimes without really thinking about them. Like just now when you called 750 kids racist? I'm sure you didn't really mean that. I mean that's just so unfounded, how could you have meant that? Certainly white privilege is alive in Seattle, but the situation at Cascadia is not racism. Those kids and their parents did not choose the school because it's 74% white. <br /><br />But luckily I moved past that throwaway sentiment to the meat of what you are saying, and I think you have landed on something very true. Parents of children of color are hesitant to send their kid to Cascadia because of the lack of diversity by the numbers. To change this we need outreach in the underrepresented communities: awareness building, access to testing, and personalized contact from a counselor and/or other families of color when a child tests in. That's a start. When enough people make the first step, others will follow. <br /><br />I know children of color at Cascadia. I don't know what box their parents checked on the form and I'm not going to ask that. They are thriving just like the other kids who are finally experiencing school the way they need it to be. <br /><br />2HCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-29193028129409669172016-03-05T09:53:01.888-08:002016-03-05T09:53:01.888-08:00Why would African American parents send their kids...Why would African American parents send their kids to Cascadia?<br /><br />Let's not kid ourselves, racism is still alive in Seattle and looking at a school with 3 out of 700 kids being African American? The odds are that your child would never in the course of their studies at Cascadia have another African American in their classroom and would stand out ALL the time.<br /><br />I'm not saying Cascadia is unwelcoming, I am sure many, many families wish it was more diverse, but its current composition will make the parents of African American students think twice and apparently they are deciding it's not a good fit.<br /><br />As the AL department can give HC status to kids who don't make the threshold(affirmative action), one would presume it does and wants to make HCC more diverse, but if parents are scared off by the lack of diversity, what can they do? They can't force kids to go.<br /><br />Doc<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-43443896216543822632016-03-05T09:00:09.755-08:002016-03-05T09:00:09.755-08:00Is the problem that underrepresented groups aren&#...Is the problem that underrepresented groups aren't seeking out testing and/or aren't accepting placement in HCC, or is the problem that fewer of those kids aren't meeting the eligibility criteria? If the latter, has the district ever analyzed the data to see how much lower the cutoffs would need to be to get proportionate qualifications by race? It would be valuable to know. If the discrepancy is large, they could always pilot a less drastic set of alternate criteria, say for ELL and FRL kids. Then see how they do in the program for a couple years--do they keep up ok in classes, do test scores stay a bit lower or do those gaps disappear, etc. <br /><br />HFAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-71782533039147577332016-03-04T20:49:03.533-08:002016-03-04T20:49:03.533-08:00State law say there must be access to acceleration...State law say there must be access to acceleration and enhanced instruction for HC. It doesn't say that some HC kids aren't really HC because they don't measure up to your definition of "outlier." <br /><br />HCC is serving kids in the 98th to 99.99th percentile of the entire state. From 98 to 99.99 is a huge jump. Crazy big. That doesn't mean we shouldn't serve the 98ers. Because not a chance Gen Ed is going to be right for those kids. All of them are outliers. The 99.99 percenters are outliers among outliers. (And I heartily agree that we could do better serving the extreme cases.)<br /><br />What is advanced? To the parent of a 99.99 percenter, a mere 98 percenter may not seem all that advanced. Those parents may complain about a watered down program on a blog. Let me make something perfectly clear: it is not students watering down the program. It is curriculum imposed by the district. Students did not suddenly decide 6th grade ELA was too hard and that they should go repeat what they'd already covered in 4th. The district made that choice. <br /><br />Next, almost 9% of the district is identified as HC. 9% of the district at 98% and above seems mathematically impossible. Because how can they be 98th if they are really 91st? It's a percentile across the state. Seattle is a very highly-educated city. It makes sense that we would have a higher percentage of 98th and above here. All of those many 98 and above kids in HCC did not cheat their way in. I wish that tired assumption would go away.<br /><br />Lastly, Cascadia fills from the north end, which is less diverse than other parts of the city. While a very low percentage identifies as black, 26% identifies as Asian, Hispanic and mixed race. Those numbers aren't surprising when you look at the makeup of Seattle as a whole. And FWIW, my kids have met friends in the program who moved to Seattle from 15 different countries. That certainly counts as cultural diversity, if not racial. That said, it's just not true that underrepresented groups are excluded. No one is excluded. HCC is open to all who qualify. I really would like more racial diversity in the program. Rather than complain about how disgraceful it is, I'd like to see more creative solutions for identifying people who don't seek out testing, and enticing them to move into the program.<br /><br />2HCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com