tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post6603476305800079399..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: SPS and Graduation RequirementsMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-64732033475756295942013-03-06T14:46:26.628-08:002013-03-06T14:46:26.628-08:00"did you ever think you might have to ask the..."did you ever think you might have to ask the district to rent space"<br /><br />Yes, I have participated in conversations dealing with overcrowded schools and renting space was a solution that was suggested to help make room for students.<br /><br />I understand you are frustrated and its easy to lash out at parents who just want to help or at school adminstrators that just can't help.<br /><br />Po3noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-77111664001065652692013-03-06T06:49:30.992-08:002013-03-06T06:49:30.992-08:00Po3, did you ever think you might have to ask the...Po3, did you ever think you might have to ask the district to rent space, or reach out, or go out on any limb, or organize a petition ... just to make sure there was third grade spot at your school for your child? How would you like it - if they said "Oh sorry. We're not doing 3rd grade this year. We're a small school, and we decided not to do that. We've got a whole lotta fourth graders, so... OH WELL for you!" ???<br /><br />Why do special ed parents always have to scrape and beg to ensure that there is even a seat for them at a school? Mirmac, it's more than "requesting inclusion". There are many types of special education - and all high schools should have all of them, including boutique schools. Or at least be able to accommodate all students with the special ed they have. AND IN ALL GRADES.<br /><br />(I'm not sure whose fault this is. Program placement is such a secret - that we don't know how those decisions are made.)<br /><br />sped parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-73083649672226193012013-03-05T17:39:12.030-08:002013-03-05T17:39:12.030-08:00Po3,
That is the problem in our district; it seem...Po3,<br /><br />That is the problem in our district; it seems incumbent upon parents of special education parents to "ask" for inclusion. Why doesn't every school consider it their mandate?<br /><br />Not sure if you're aware of a space shortage, but I am loathe to give administrators more excuses to say "sorry, no we can't include you here"mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-15578738188315567802013-03-05T16:37:41.019-08:002013-03-05T16:37:41.019-08:00sped parent
Doesn't the Center School rent ...sped parent <br /><br />Doesn't the Center School rent space? Has anybody from the special ed community ever approached the district to see if they could have the school increase their footprint and add more resource rooms so they can enroll more special needs students?Po3noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-86575984819471842302013-03-05T15:36:01.801-08:002013-03-05T15:36:01.801-08:00Maureen, yes Center is an option school for every...Maureen, yes Center is an option school for everyone, and seats do fill up. But, if you're a plain 'ol gen-ed student, you are all but assured a seat. Acceptance is virtually 100%. If you have a significant disability, well that program has exactly 8 seats and only for autistc students. Btw, it's completely full and won't be taking any for next year even for that narrowly defined group. That's hardly equitable. And no, schools need to be flexible and serve ALL students... not make excuses about their own cherry-picking... because that doesn't end.<br /><br />sped parent Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-2042804459883653982013-03-05T14:02:33.228-08:002013-03-05T14:02:33.228-08:00Roosevelt courses and graduation requirements.
ht...Roosevelt courses and graduation requirements.<br /><br />http://roosevelths.seattleschools.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1708880/File/Course%20Registration/Course%20descriptions%202013-2014.pdf?sessionid=582c56bdc758482b78d8624709683c00<br /><br />Public School ParentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-58844620391629916662013-03-05T11:46:31.365-08:002013-03-05T11:46:31.365-08:00PE ranks low on my worry list. My biggest concern...PE ranks low on my worry list. My biggest concerns are math and language arts. I am looking for teachers who know how to supplement the Discovery math books and pick good books for my students to read. I am looking for my students to learn how to write (after years of Writers Workshop) so they are ready to take on the challenges of college level writing.<br /><br />Honestly, how a student earns their 1.5 credits of PE is the least of my worries.Po3noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-25743118710184435082013-03-05T11:29:31.354-08:002013-03-05T11:29:31.354-08:00I'm sorry, I didn't at ALL mean to say tha...I'm sorry, I didn't at ALL mean to say that children with disabilities can't go to college, if it's my comment you are referring to, Mirmac1.<br /><br />LGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11805460941535289584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-86899333655932203372013-03-05T11:11:23.979-08:002013-03-05T11:11:23.979-08:00My daughter IS going to college. Children with di...My daughter IS going to college. Children with disabilities are college-material.<br /><br />Instead they are often "tracked" into dumbed down courses.mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-87444361530211194782013-03-05T11:02:37.600-08:002013-03-05T11:02:37.600-08:00Center school is pretty unique, small, option HS a...Center school is pretty unique, small, option HS and located in the Seattle Center. So if you want gym and cafeteria style HS, it's a little tough. Same goes for services. There are similar unique schools that are listed with the district budget such as the South Lake HS and Middle College HS (located in different sites all over the city). They have different goals and missions. So it's tough to make judgement based on stats alone especially when you compare to more traditional schools which can offer more comprehensive services. <br /><br />perspective Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-12643012181806191532013-03-05T08:39:46.091-08:002013-03-05T08:39:46.091-08:00My daughter goes to Center. It's a REALLY sma...My daughter goes to Center. It's a REALLY small school. Keep that in mind.<br /><br />There is one curriculum, general college prep. If that curriculum doesn't work for you, with accommodation, it's not the place for you. Sad, but true. That said, my limited observations are that students make an extra effort to include and support the students with disabilities who are there.<br /><br />(The flip side of this is that there are only 2 AP courses, only 4 years of only one language, etc. It's designed for the middle.)<br /><br />The entire admin staff consists of the principal and a part time guidance counselor. I agree that it can be hard to get information, but it's not being withheld on purpose I assure you. <br /><br />Being a small school with no cafeteria, they get those lunches that are delivered, not the kind that are cooked there. Most of the students bring lunches. Center families are neither as poor or as wealthy as the average SPS student. <br /><br />Orca cards are distributed to those that need them, just like at other HS.<br /><br />Yes, a few students cheat on the PE hours, but most of them learn to integrate physical activity into their out-of-school lives, which I think is a great thing for maintaining a lifelong exercise habit. <br /><br />LGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11805460941535289584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-68985234627380807662013-03-04T22:21:20.889-08:002013-03-04T22:21:20.889-08:00My daughter had an IEP until 8th grade when I had ...My daughter had an IEP until 8th grade when I had her exited as the IEP wasn't being followed, so it was more f a punishment, than a support.<br /><br />Garfield provided her with support classes without her formally in special education. That was not an option at Ballard. <br /><br />If she hadn't gone to Garfield, both Nathan Hale & Ingraham were her next choices.<br /><br />Neither Ballard or the Center School seemed interested in allowing her to take advanced classes in the areas where she was ready, as Garfield did, while giving her support to get up to grade level in the areas that were a struggle.<br /><br />Another concern I had with Center school was that I could not get a clear answer regarding school lunch & transportation. It seemed designed fr students who could afford to buy lunch at Larrys Market across the street and who could commute from the neighborhood.<br /><br />Re: grad requirements. I was under impression all high schools allowed PE credit if you were on a school team.<br />I also remember when orchestra/ jazz band full filled the CTE requirement, not sure if that isstill the case.Jet City momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14804841958585043967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-22662222466470593452013-03-04T19:19:17.385-08:002013-03-04T19:19:17.385-08:00Maureen,
What is behind those numbers is this; th...Maureen,<br /><br />What is behind those numbers is this; there is a vast difference between having 44 high-incidence (resource room) students versus 8 low-incidence (like autism-spectrum disorder) students. Remember that 1 in 88 children is diagnosed with autism-spectrum disorder, many of which can succeed in the regular classroom with appropriate supports.<br /><br />Look at Ballard, they like lots of high-incidence SpEd students because they can take their funding, throw them in any classroom and not support them. Those families who want their children to actually receive services for their funding, end up going to Nathan Hale where they are in fact served.<br /><br />So, no, the numbers don't tell the story. I believe the sped parents who tell me what CS admin tell them.mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-67249320426824343282013-03-04T18:45:47.275-08:002013-03-04T18:45:47.275-08:00Garfield seems to only have 6% of kids who need S...<a href="http://www.seattleschools.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1583136/File/Departmental%20Content/strategicplan/schoolreports/2011/SchoolReport_2011_014.pdf" rel="nofollow"> Garfield </a> seems to only have 6% of kids who need Sped services. And a smaller percent of them are ending up proficient on the HSPE exams than the sped eligible kids at Center.Maureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18444916440000921599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-60759850542762051892013-03-04T18:44:19.290-08:002013-03-04T18:44:19.290-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Maureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18444916440000921599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-56775200477933448292013-03-04T18:31:36.864-08:002013-03-04T18:31:36.864-08:00And isn't Center an Option School, so they do ...And isn't Center an Option School, so they do limit overall enrollment (unlike neighborhood assignment schools.) So, in effect, they are telling lots of gen ed kids that they "can't serve them" too. <br /><br /><b>mirmac and sped parent</b>, are you saying that Center is picking and choosing amongst the kids with disabilities who enter the lottery to be enrolled there? For instance, turning down the ones who need more help and accepting ones with more limited disabilities?<br /><br />8/278 is only 3%. The <a href="http://www.seattleschools.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1583136/File/Departmental%20Content/strategicplan/schoolreports/2011/SchoolReport_2011_024.pdf" rel="nofollow">Center School report</a> says that 16% of the students there are eligible for Sped services. That would be about 44 kids.Maureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18444916440000921599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-9183314234370839752013-03-04T18:05:58.928-08:002013-03-04T18:05:58.928-08:008 Students with significant disabilities maybe pro...8 Students with significant disabilities maybe proportionally extremely high given the overall small enrollment of Center school.<br /><br />I would be careful with implying that eight is small when you aren't also providing the overall total number of students. For example eight students out of a Garfield size high school would indeed be very small eight students out of 200 250 would be a significant portion.<br /><br />-IMHOAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-65172735293300256582013-03-04T17:51:56.743-08:002013-03-04T17:51:56.743-08:00Thank you sped parent.
What sped parent said......Thank you sped parent. <br /><br />What sped parent said.... <br /><br />Guess you have to be there when they look you in the face and say "we don't want your kid."mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-61923866208609156792013-03-04T17:41:53.161-08:002013-03-04T17:41:53.161-08:00Center School has only 1 program (8 students) for ...Center School has only 1 program (8 students) for students with significant disabilities. 8, that's it. When it gets filled up - there's no room in the inn. Including, whole grade levels. Indeed. It is the only secondary school with such limited access. <br /><br />No it isn't really a problem district-wide. Other schools are now required to accept students - even if their programs are full because of guaranteed assignment.<br /><br /><br />sped parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-57948453866459326522013-03-04T15:56:54.823-08:002013-03-04T15:56:54.823-08:00Sorry I bungled that one- typing on an Ipad...
Mi...Sorry I bungled that one- typing on an Ipad...<br /><br />Mirmic1 - can you provide some clarification to your claim that The Center School is also well-known for keeping students with disabilities OUT - saying that "we can't serve your kid here..." <br /><br />I see that 16.2% of the students are in Special Ed programs and 5% of the student population have 504 plans - both higher than the district percentages.<br /><br />So I don't understand how they tell parents they can't serve students with disabilities because the numbers say otherwise. Is it that they just don't have enough spots for every student with a disability? If so, isn't that a problem district-wide?Po3noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-3853485373670950332013-03-04T15:51:50.834-08:002013-03-04T15:51:50.834-08:00Mirmic1 - can you provide some clarification to yo...Mirmic1 - can you provide some clarification to your claim that The Center Schools is "also well-known for keeping students with disabilities OUT - saying that "we can't serve your kid here..." <br /><br />I see that they 16.2% of the students are Special Ed programs and 5% of the student population have 504 plans - both higher than the district percentages.<br /><br />So I don't understand how they are tell parents they can't servie students with disabilities becuase the numbers say otherwise. Is is that they just don't have enough spots for every student with a disability? If so, isn't that a problem district-wide? <br /><br />Po3noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-22987970726225424082013-03-04T13:48:36.556-08:002013-03-04T13:48:36.556-08:00On the Nathan Hale Site:
PE Waiver Forms must be ...On the Nathan Hale Site:<br /><br />PE Waiver Forms must be turned in by the following dates if the waiver is requested for category 3 (school sports). A student must start and finish the entire sports season in order to be eligible for a waiver. Managing a sport team does not qualify for a waiver. You may only waive one PE requirement per year and only two of the three requirements may be waived by participation in sports.<br /> <br />Winter Sports Deadline is Friday, March 8, 2013<br />Spring Sports Deadline is Friday June 7, 2013 <br />Senior Deadline for PE Waivers, Community Service Hours and Online Course Transcripts is Thursday, May 23, 2013.<br /> <br />All PE waivers must be approved by Ms. Colleen Davis<br />Completed forms should be returned to Ms. Davis’s mailbox in the Main Office<br />Forms are available at the end of each season in the Counseling Office.<br /><br /><br />HPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-6201106503168012542013-03-04T13:44:47.206-08:002013-03-04T13:44:47.206-08:00RHS not only has different graduation requirements...RHS not only has different graduation requirements from the district but different depending on graduating class. They change every year. Many are written somewhere, but not easy to find. And often there is no written record of how to satisfy the requirements. For example the PE waivers, or which classes count as Occ. Ed. No written policy in these cases that I have ever seen.<br /><br />Finally, colleges have different requirements also, so trying to fulfill so many requirements from the school may make it impossible to fulfill college entrance requirements leaving a lot of kids taking online classes.<br /><br />-RHS parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-74531298346928075662013-03-04T13:12:55.384-08:002013-03-04T13:12:55.384-08:00@Tami, That was my understanding filtered through ...@Tami, That was my understanding filtered through a freshman's explanation, so it may not be 100%. Garfield Mom talked about roughly the same deal at Garfield, though. Eric Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-8829972886954142262013-03-04T12:09:56.826-08:002013-03-04T12:09:56.826-08:00@Eric B- the IB as Washington State High School re...@Eric B- the IB as Washington State High School requirements is state law - I testified in Olympia when the bill was presented. I thought that was only for academic coursework - not PE. I've never heard of the 4 years of language in lieu of PE though.<br /><br />TamiAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com