tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post6622349888543423728..comments2024-03-27T20:01:11.889-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Friday Open ThreadMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-79927646375671520212015-08-20T08:32:12.753-07:002015-08-20T08:32:12.753-07:00This is an open thread, so I'm hoping someone ...This is an open thread, so I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction. My daughter just returned from a year long exchange in another country. She is heading in to her senior year at Garfield. Her counselor is telling her that it is nearly impossible for her to graduate this year, the primary sticking point being occupational education credits.<br /><br />The school manual says that choir classes can be considered either Fine Arts or Occ Ed. The counselor is now saying only choir classes taken in Junior and Senior Year can count as Occ Ed.<br /><br />(1) Has anyone else dealt with the issue of counting FA as Occ Ed?<br />(2) Has anyone had experience with relying on the school's published manual and later being told the published information is wrong?<br />(3) Does anyone have experience with waiver procedures for FA or Occ Ed, since the published materials make an Occ Ed seem impossible to get.<br />(4) Finally, there is a running start issue, since she will have to take running start as well as classes at Garfield.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15956389281747413568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-43269472908700900262015-08-18T10:41:15.966-07:002015-08-18T10:41:15.966-07:00District wide, opt outs ranged from an average of ...District wide, opt outs ranged from an average of around 3% in 3rd grade, up to around 9% in 8th grade. If you look at all "no scores," the percentages are a couple of points higher. Some of the highest opt out rates (outside of high school) were at option schools, such as TOPS (54% in 8th grade) and Thornton Creek (almost 90% in 3rd grade). What's interesting at Thornton Creek is none of the "no scores" are categorized as unexcused refusals, as at other schools. They are 100% "other." Did they all happen to call in sick on test days? Hmm. <br /><br />-opted outAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-49642178312131246222015-08-18T09:42:41.100-07:002015-08-18T09:42:41.100-07:00State results were viewable earlier in the day. So...State results were viewable earlier in the day. Some high school results were blocked, but other than that, the site was working. <br /><br />The refusal rates skewed results (refusals counted as not passing), but pass rates were also given with the opt outs excluded. Hale made the news for high opt out rates, but opt outs happened at all grade levels. HCC schools seemed to have higher opt out rates compared to neighborhood schools - around 16% at JAMS, 14% at HIMS, and 8% at WMS. <br /><br />-opted outAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-86753284763743537582015-08-18T08:41:09.056-07:002015-08-18T08:41:09.056-07:00OSPI results website hasn't been working since...OSPI results website hasn't been working since yesterday. Predictable. Randy Dorn posted state wide flim flam with overall results. Basically 50ish pass rates. 80% graduation pass rates with the reduced cut scores. Up from 76% it would have been. 24% from 11th graders, but opt out rate 50%.<br /><br />Also Waiting Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-45664795121814035472015-08-17T23:31:51.015-07:002015-08-17T23:31:51.015-07:00Interested, I promise tomorrow I'll do a write...Interested, I promise tomorrow I'll do a write-up.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-13129208191815803852015-08-17T19:14:58.936-07:002015-08-17T19:14:58.936-07:00Anyone else get a letter from Seattle Public Schoo...Anyone else get a letter from Seattle Public Schools today for their child but addressed to the wrong name? I heard this was some sort of system-wide mistake, but would like to get confirmation.Gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-55587030290084803872015-08-17T18:15:04.489-07:002015-08-17T18:15:04.489-07:00Were the SBAC results released today?
-Interested...Were the SBAC results released today?<br /><br />-Interested to HearAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-33481955447203967392015-08-17T08:48:25.319-07:002015-08-17T08:48:25.319-07:00Waiting, I don't know if this would work for y...<b>Waiting</b>, I don't know if this would work for your family, but we did Co-op preschool through the Community College system and it was about as cheap as it could be (they offer scholarships as well.) It's hard if you don't have one parent with a flexible schedule, but it's a great learning environment for the kids and a support group for the parents.<br /><br /><br /><br />Maureennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-22921349909340744572015-08-17T08:17:36.377-07:002015-08-17T08:17:36.377-07:00Waiting to Hear, I don't know how many applied...Waiting to Hear, I don't know how many applied for those particular slots but they had extended the application period by about 10 days. I think that is more a signal to the non-free slots than free (I'd have to believe that is the case). However, as you may know, the slots are charged by income so hopefully, you will be able to get one that best matches your income. Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-58137336132894309682015-08-17T07:35:56.531-07:002015-08-17T07:35:56.531-07:00Does anyone know how to find out how many people a...Does anyone know how to find out how many people applied for the limited number of free Seattle Preschool Program slots? We dont know how to pay for preschool for our Next- year kindergartener, and yet we hate the idea of him being the only kid in his class next year who didn't go to preschool.<br /><br />(And please no comments about how we can just "trim our expenses" to make it work - we've already cut out all discretionary spending and we are just getting by)<br /><br />- Waiting to HearAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-72175650974992211162015-08-16T20:39:05.993-07:002015-08-16T20:39:05.993-07:00I love it when smart people respond to Christie...I love it when smart people respond to Christie's thug rhetoric:<br /><br />From Daily Kos:<br /><br />Christie Suggests Teachers Should Be "Punched In The Face." Teacher Takes Him Up On It. <br /><br />https://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/06/1409162/-Christie-Suggests-Teachers-Should-Be-Punched-In-The-Face-Teacher-Takes-Him-Up-On-it?detail=emailclassicnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-3320256478209699302015-08-16T14:31:54.524-07:002015-08-16T14:31:54.524-07:00Yes, CT, I have noticed. Blankinship, seemingly, ...Yes, CT, I have noticed. Blankinship, seemingly, has been peppering her articles for quite awhile now with a pro-charter nod. Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-22759435966909988702015-08-16T13:19:44.869-07:002015-08-16T13:19:44.869-07:00Has anyone else noted the parade of charter school...Has anyone else noted the parade of charter school rah-rah articles appearing almost weekly on most of the local news websites like KOMO, etc., all courtesy of the so-called journalist Donna Gordon-Blankinship? I'm curious who is paying her to write them, or who is having coffee with her each week to provide her with the propaganda materials. Gates? LEV? WA State Charter Assoc? They are fairly one-sided, most definitely propaganda, certainly not news-worthy. It's as if she is the publicist for the charter schools rather than a journalist with the Associated Press. On the rare occasion that she does write about public school stuff rather than charter school stuff, she is nearly always very negative towards the public schools. <br /><br />CT<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-1569502858515464942015-08-15T13:28:41.592-07:002015-08-15T13:28:41.592-07:00Got the answer from Nathan Olson at OSPI
Superint...Got the answer from Nathan Olson at OSPI<br /><br /><b>Superintendent Randy Dorn will release the SBAC scores at a press conference at 10 AM<br /><br />in the Senate building (Cherberg).</b><br /><br /><br />-- Dan Dempsey <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-79442873741077808142015-08-15T08:40:13.083-07:002015-08-15T08:40:13.083-07:00Josh Hayes is sure correct about reading those com...Josh Hayes is sure correct about reading those comments at NY Times on the opt-outs. It looks like a whole new day for any publications attempting to sell SBAC and PARCC Nonsense Testing as beneficial to students as the public is no longer buying it.<br /><br />Melissa wrote:<br /><i>Superintendent Randy Dorn will finally release the SBAC scores at a press conference in Olympia on Monday.</i><br /><br />Where and at what time will this take place?<br /><br />-- Dan DempseyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-81247917425177177892015-08-15T08:03:03.255-07:002015-08-15T08:03:03.255-07:00Saturday's NY Times has an editorial deploring...Saturday's NY Times has an editorial deploring those silly opting-out families. It's extraordinarily bad; our "newspaper of record" seems to have taken a Pearson press release and an SBAC press release and mashed them together into an editorial.<br /><br />Unlike most newspaper articles, however, the comments on this one are well worth reading, including one from our friend Diane Ravitch. As usual, you have to deal with the NYT paywall, but in this case I'd burn one of my ten free monthly articles to read it.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/15/opinion/opting-out-of-standardized-tests-isnt-the-answer.html" rel="nofollow">Here it is. Check it out.</a>Josh Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17242600011474990770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-72695463431106267782015-08-15T07:58:20.585-07:002015-08-15T07:58:20.585-07:00Randy Dorn appears to realize that many students n...Randy Dorn appears to realize that many students need and prefer technical career-ready skills minimizing the need for expensive and semi frequently irrelevant college debt. The diploma alternatives is a good question Dan. In terms of the 80% stat, if accurate, I'd say it's partly due to our overdone pushing all to "college" and a lack of realism by students, especially by those who barely squeaked by graduation more due to school supports than their own initiative. Unfortunately I also saw a stat recently claiming 10% drop out due to credit card debt.<br /><br />JRAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-13691883383559201812015-08-15T06:16:33.746-07:002015-08-15T06:16:33.746-07:00At Brookings ...
80% of those entering community ...At Brookings ...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/social-mobility-memos/posts/2015/08/12-clinton-community-college-plan-reeves?hs_u=dempsey_dan@yahoo.com&utm_campaign=Brookings+Brief&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=21330426&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_ovwZ6w9pJ0GogIRMmVdoDIl5eeVBNk-ikoMOCNgKDFVFNX9yi_EodGGtE5cuYx0Hs8r6W_EUpgzA6pZwy1Owft0onMA&_hsmi=21330426" rel="nofollow"><b>80% of those entering community college want at least a bachelors degree</b></a><br /><br />6 years later 15% have that bachelors degree. Claims that lack of guidance may be part of the problem.<br /><br />-- Dan DempseyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-70271516548230159252015-08-14T16:42:40.281-07:002015-08-14T16:42:40.281-07:00I was helping a father and son at JSCEE yesterday....I was helping a father and son at JSCEE yesterday. They were filling out the enrollment form for middle school and naming their choices out loud. The dad seemed worried and it turns out that he got a letter assigning his son to a middle school that was not in the region of his son's elementary school nor near his address. I told the father it seemed like a mistake and it turned out it was.<br /><br />But the father seemed a bit overwhelmed and, of course, was very worried his son had been assigned far away. Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-33477075291919383992015-08-14T15:37:17.713-07:002015-08-14T15:37:17.713-07:00If you need the school bus to pick up or drop off ...If you need the school bus to pick up or drop off your child at an address different than your home, now would be a good time to contact SPS transportation about the change. I'm pretty sure you need to do this every year. I did it with a quick phone call a couple days ago. If you wait until closer to school, your child will likely end up needing to use the green card system for weeks until Transportation can get the new address entered.<br /><br />--Plan AheadAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-77551035047031523732015-08-14T12:27:37.751-07:002015-08-14T12:27:37.751-07:00More Charter School Expansion coming in LAUSD
A p...<a href="http://www.latimes.com/local/education/la-me-lausd-charters-20150808-story.html" rel="nofollow">More Charter School Expansion coming in LAUSD</a><br /><br />A prominent local education foundation is discussing a major expansion of charter schools in Los Angeles aimed at boosting academic achievement for students at the lowest performing campuses.<br /><br />Details of the project are not yet fully clear. But <b>charter school leaders said they have met with officials from the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation in recent months about the effort. The Keck Foundation, the Walton Family Foundation and other organizations that support the independently run, publicly financed charters also are involved, according to people who attended the meetings. They requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the matter.</b><br /><br />The Broad Foundation said the charter plan is in an early, exploratory phase, but declined to provide specific information.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-7156359522446869342015-08-14T12:22:06.229-07:002015-08-14T12:22:06.229-07:00Melissa,
Ask Randy Dorn about the need to replace...Melissa,<br /><br />Ask Randy Dorn about the need to replace the one-size fits-all diploma.<br /><br />The legislature would like all students to achieve "internationally competitive" standards, yet the SBE finds it necessary to lower SBAC cut scores.<br /><br />Where is the coming likely 24 credit graduation requirement going to take us?<br /><br /><a href="http://mathunderground.blogspot.com/2015/08/replace-one-size-fits-all-diploma.html" rel="nofollow"> Replace One-Size Fits-All Diploma </a>dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-45939723647492314502015-08-14T12:17:52.812-07:002015-08-14T12:17:52.812-07:00Carol, the meeting ran so long that I didn't s...Carol, the meeting ran so long that I didn't stay for that part. However, they discussed the agendas for the next two Board meetings. The one next week - August 19th - had an Action item on the moratorium. That means voting for it, right?<br /><br />Carr announced that it would be pulled due to a request from Director Martin-Morris (the sponsor of that item) and wouldn't come back on until late September. No explanation and Martin-Morris was not at the meeting.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-91955069432374211262015-08-14T11:59:07.171-07:002015-08-14T11:59:07.171-07:00HI Melissa,
Thank you for attending the meetings...HI Melissa, <br />Thank you for attending the meetings. I noticed on the Agenda for the Executive meeting that there would be a discussion regarding the Resolution on the Moratorium for suspensions for Elementary students. Would you (or if anyone else attended) please give a report on what was said or decided or debated, or?<br /><br />Thank you<br />CarolCarol Simmonsnoreply@blogger.com