tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post4672148438236447309..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Friday Open ThreadMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-72889429803488422502019-01-15T08:12:25.742-08:002019-01-15T08:12:25.742-08:00@MW Thank you that article is very illuminating ab...@MW Thank you that article is very illuminating about the challenges of how to identify and count low income students. <br /><br />LMAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-65622252499901217022019-01-14T21:00:13.307-08:002019-01-14T21:00:13.307-08:00Some of you may have missed this article that I po...Some of you may have missed this article that I posted elsewhere:<br />A wonky article but one about an issue with real effects - how do we count the number of low-income students? From U.S. News & World Report:<br /><br />https://www.usnews.com/news/education-news/articles/2019-01-07/why-its-getting-harder-to-count-poor-children-in-the-nations-schoolsMelissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-51264524890720946112019-01-14T17:45:31.623-08:002019-01-14T17:45:31.623-08:00@LakeCityMom The FRL designation also serves as a ...@LakeCityMom The FRL designation also serves as a more nuanced way of identifying many kids that need additional support, including not only Asian, but also white kids who also may come from multi-generational disadvantaged backgrounds. Ex Multiple generations of teen parents, homelessness, multi-generational drug abuse issues etc. <br /><br />MK Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-72481741163970717662019-01-14T17:16:26.304-08:002019-01-14T17:16:26.304-08:00The best way to demolish identity safety for Afric...The best way to demolish identity safety for African-American male students is for the primary goal of the entire district to be trying to keep them from flunking out. Talk about stereotype threat! <br /><br />Vannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-64258447936183827572019-01-14T16:50:46.655-08:002019-01-14T16:50:46.655-08:00I recall seeing statistics elsewhere in SPS materi...I recall seeing statistics elsewhere in SPS materials that indicate that something like 70-80% of African American students enrolled in the district also qualify for free/reduced lunch. I do not deny that we have a history of racial prejudice/discrimination that needs to be reckoned with, but it seems disingenuous for the district to continue to fail to disaggregate race and SES in this context. Especially as the FRL designation also serves as a more nuanced way of identifying those "Asian" subgroups in the district that also need additional support.<br /><br />LakeCityMomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-38263269379962015472019-01-14T16:20:26.225-08:002019-01-14T16:20:26.225-08:00The draft strategic plan looks like a first draft ...The draft strategic plan looks like a first draft - as if someone forgot to upload additional pages. It makes sense for educational justice to be a priority for the district. But to make it the only thing in the strategic plan is not equitable. SPS needs to show us a complete draft that includes the rest of the plan for every child in SPS, even as we can surely all agree it's good for educational justice to be the first thing listed.<br /><br />Newton SealeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-58641532468575947462019-01-14T14:32:32.525-08:002019-01-14T14:32:32.525-08:00Equity in Identifying Highly Capable Students
http...Equity in Identifying Highly Capable Students<br />http://storiesfromschool.org/equity-in-identifying-highly-capable-students/<br /><br /><i>We are looking for reasons TO identify students, not reasons to deny services.</i><br />Because while financially advantaged students can access opportunities outside of school to develop their talent, financially disadvantaged students rely on public education programs to develop their talent.M.M.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-48050016118465642572019-01-14T08:38:35.969-08:002019-01-14T08:38:35.969-08:00It says "measurable goals" but I don'...It says "measurable goals" but I don't see any numbers. I always thought a SMART goal had some sort of number attached....Maybe they'll drop those in later?Seattle Citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13832728366881584295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-10967732354367937972019-01-12T11:41:20.390-08:002019-01-12T11:41:20.390-08:00Stealing wheelchair ramps from a school? How low c...Stealing wheelchair ramps from a school? How low can you go?Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-89559410976480333892019-01-11T22:33:58.944-08:002019-01-11T22:33:58.944-08:00https://www.myballard.com/2019/01/10/thieves-targe...https://www.myballard.com/2019/01/10/thieves-target-elementary-school-wheelchair-ramps/#comments<br /><br />"Earlier this week, someone made off with the wheelchair ramp leading up to a portable classroom at Adams Elementary School. It happened in the middle of the night, and followed a similar theft at North Beach Elementary — one of their ramps was stolen over the holidays."<br />Ann S.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-85454400434565658112019-01-11T17:30:36.648-08:002019-01-11T17:30:36.648-08:00Dear Seattle Citizen,
Welcome back. Thank you for...Dear Seattle Citizen,<br />Welcome back. Thank you for your post. <br />Is the District trying to become more transparent with regard to the requested input into the Secret Strategic Plan Committee Goals with regard to selection and meetings and membership? <br /> If so, it is a beginning in addressing the transparency of the committee meetings and the inclusion of additional members on the steering committee. Questions remain unanswered regarding who selected the Consulting company and why and how representative it is. Also, there is no mention of the inclusion of the Disproportionality Task Forces recommendations nor the timeline, implementation methods and evaluation. The community needs to know and understand who formed the steering committee and who selected the committee members. All of these questions have been asked many times by community members with no response from the District. The Committee is not representative of many groups such as UNEA and others. Why won't the District answer these questions? Carol Simmonsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-54325732193916666072019-01-11T15:37:23.711-08:002019-01-11T15:37:23.711-08:00They're paying a consultant? Is that Michael T...They're paying a consultant? Is that Michael Tolley's new job?LWAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-61711087966175109612019-01-11T15:36:17.304-08:002019-01-11T15:36:17.304-08:00And yet there is really nothing to unpack. Even fo...And yet there is really nothing to unpack. Even for the populations they want to prioritize there is no there there. Send that consulting company packing, they are part of the problem (invisibility of special education students) not part of the solution. But then think of all who signed off including Juneau on letting this whatever it is see the light of day. <br /><br />TroubledAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-9447836100415987142019-01-11T15:34:39.555-08:002019-01-11T15:34:39.555-08:00It's cruel to ignore low SES and SPED. I hope ...It's cruel to ignore low SES and SPED. I hope she accomplishes the listed priorities, but it's heartbreaking not to see a few other things prioritized as well. And the furthest from educational justice phrasing is kind of creepy. Am I reading that wrong or does that mean the district's goal is for Asian students to do less well in school to help close gaps?<br /><br />S Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-15244652611805485352019-01-11T15:32:52.698-08:002019-01-11T15:32:52.698-08:00I will put up a separate post on the draft Strateg...I will put up a separate post on the draft Strategic Plan as there is a lot to unpack. <br /><br />Please note that the district is paying a consulting firm for this work; I'm not really impressed at this point.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-20920467801477339522019-01-11T15:07:24.614-08:002019-01-11T15:07:24.614-08:00What is the percentage of special ed students in o...What is the percentage of special ed students in our district? I bet there is more than 5%. I Yeah, isn't it so interesting how some groups get completely ignored due to whatever "discourse" is currently a hot topic. Not that AA males are not important. They are absolutely important and they are getting alot of attention in current discourse everywhere it seems. It's just that there are other groups of kids where equity is also an issue, yet no dialogue. Not a peep. Very unjust. I also heard (from an administrator) the laser focus & exclusion of focus other groups is very intentional. It preceded this administration. <br /><br />JuneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-8002944787970101152019-01-11T14:41:20.136-08:002019-01-11T14:41:20.136-08:00I was really hoping this superintendent might say ...I was really hoping this superintendent might say something about the kids in the middle. You know, not the hcc kids, not the 5% of our district who are African American males, but the overwhelming majority of students in this district. What can they expect? What does the district actually offer most students? Principal churn, slashed budgets, more watered down curricula, and a more explicit message that they don't matter? Great.<br /><br />StuckAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-60348199833173203692019-01-11T14:31:19.775-08:002019-01-11T14:31:19.775-08:00It's not very bright, though, is it? That they...It's not very bright, though, is it? That they couldn't come up with a framework where, from the evidence base, they could show that is is totally logical to include students with disabilities in a SP that is supposedly about equity, and tie that in to the outcomes for other vulnerable groups? This is not inspiring confidence. This is dismal. <br /><br />titantic2Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-41767793084817744562019-01-11T14:16:21.169-08:002019-01-11T14:16:21.169-08:00Wow. Yeah, that draft strategic plan is pretty muc...Wow. Yeah, that draft strategic plan is pretty much all about racial equity (but still undefined, of course). Absolutely zero about providing high quality education and improving outcomes for anyone else. Nothing about special ed, highly capable, low income, average GE learners, etc. At least the old strategic plan thew a bone to everyone else and mentioned learning for all--this new plan seems like they could care less about whether most students learn, as long as the right students learn to close the gaps. <br /><br />Not pretty, but at least they're being honest that they really don't care. <br /><br />titanicAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-56585445525514073282019-01-11T14:01:10.093-08:002019-01-11T14:01:10.093-08:00Hey, Popcorn Eater, not a peep about students with...Hey, Popcorn Eater, not a peep about students with disabilities either. Same old story for SPS. <br /><br />UnicornAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-22431143373317664472019-01-11T13:50:30.422-08:002019-01-11T13:50:30.422-08:00Draft strategic plan now online.
Topping the list:...Draft strategic plan now online.<br />Topping the list: Racial equity and bringing students up to standard, especially AA male students.<br />Not a peep on AL<br />Hella North Seattle families about to blow a gasket.<br />Honeymoon's over for Juneau. <br /><br />Long live Juneau!<br /><br />Popcorn Eater<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-22728312424988244872019-01-11T13:44:46.651-08:002019-01-11T13:44:46.651-08:00This information might have already been posted el...This information might have already been posted elsewhere (I looked but did not see it) but SPS is soliciting feedback on its draft Strategic Plan.<br /><br />Here is their webpage with the information about it:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.seattleschools.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=627&pageId=66673204" rel="nofollow">draft strategic plan and feedback form</a>seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-52113047280370743832019-01-11T10:25:07.417-08:002019-01-11T10:25:07.417-08:00In schools parents hear a lot about growth mindset...In schools parents hear a lot about growth mindset for students but rarely for teachers. This article at OSPI about growth mindset for teachers was fun for that reason:<br /><br />https://waospi.instructure.com/courses/34/files/folder/Module%203/Module%203%3A%20Key%20Readings?preview=1558Book Doctornoreply@blogger.com