tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post7900571447183272675..comments2024-03-18T16:51:10.406-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Strategic Plan: Moving FastMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-46692642263414724362019-02-05T19:56:24.839-08:002019-02-05T19:56:24.839-08:00We can see where this district wants to go. It'...We can see where this district wants to go. It's a combination of Washington Middle School and Amplify Science. If you like that, great. If you don't, then you need to weigh in on the strategic plan. No online learning. No definition of equity that involves taking away things from some kids. And fire the WMS principal.<br /><br />Delridge DadAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-63373321999298978312019-02-05T16:22:44.922-08:002019-02-05T16:22:44.922-08:00I am also concerned with the direction the distric...I am also concerned with the direction the district is going with the science curriculum. In the quest for equity "amplify" will be enforced. It is a computer program that the district will monitor scores, not allowing for teacher input and expertise. The push is every student doing the exact same lessons at the same time. (no option school waivers) Taking the joy out of teaching and learning science. This program will only make sure every student hates science equally. Plug and play.<br /><br />- anonymousteachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12644749819602709250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-25226095193300405582019-02-05T15:55:10.709-08:002019-02-05T15:55:10.709-08:00One important aspect of the need to focus on the o...One important aspect of the need to focus on the overall student population is the need to also focus on overall outcome measures, such as graduation rates. With the "new" 24-credit requirement, graduation rates may fall. Data presented earlier indicated that a surprisingly large percentage of last year's 9th graders did not complete 6 units, meaning those students are already at-risk for failure to graduate if they aren't able to recover those credits somehow. Since SPS has not addressed this issue yet, a similar number of current 10th grade students will likely be in the same boat at the end of this year, meaning an even larger percentage of the class of 2021 will be at risk of not graduating on time. SPS has also punted on this for the upcoming year, meaning that the percentage may grow yet again in 11th grade (unless the students who are failing to complete 6 credits in 9th and 10th are the ones who will move on to Running Start classes in 11th, which doesn't seem likely to be the case for most). <br /><br />Does the district care about overall graduation rates? If so, they're going to have to focus on providing sufficient services to everyone, not just a small portion of the school population. Providing focused and intensive and yes, more expensive, services to students most in need is great--but you can't leave everyone else out in the cold. Their mandate is to serve everyone.<br /><br />do goodAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-46065794201317112642019-02-05T09:07:04.623-08:002019-02-05T09:07:04.623-08:00And equity doesn't mean equal. But what it me...And equity doesn't mean equal. But what it means in how SPS delivers educational services to the students in the district is something of a mystery. It's irritating that it can't/won't be defined by this district. I'm happy if they just pick any dictionary definition but tell parents and the public what you mean. <br /><br />Otherwise, it's just a word and maybe a tool. <br /><br />I hope readers contact the Board and tell them that the Strategic Plan has to mention the goal of serving all students while understanding that those who have been historically underserved and are likely students at risk will need special care.<br /><br />Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-63289529623185830192019-02-05T09:01:04.132-08:002019-02-05T09:01:04.132-08:00I seem to remember former board member Stephen Bla...I seem to remember former board member Stephen Blanford stating something to the effect <br />that "equity does not mean equal". Therefore, by design I believe they are following a plan that focuses entirely on kids who are below grade level, excluding all others. But this is what percentage of the overall SPS public population...? <br /><br />I understand those who are below need more resources than those who are grade level. More money per student is and has been spent on kids who are not up to grade level. There is also an African American focus to the strategic plan as many (but we SHOULD remember not all) of the kids not up to grade level are African American. I also thought it odd in one stated objective to focus exclusively on African American males and not females, but I believe they are trying to set a very narrow objective to make the outcome more measureable and achievable. <br /><br />I am just a parent and by no means an expert in strategic plans. However, in creating a strategic plan for a public education system that is supposed to serve all kids IMO there seems to be a problem with this approach. It seems like somewhere the strategic plan should also state a focus on providing some specific baseline objective for all their public school students as is required by law. <br /><br />Mom Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-57741662115509242512019-02-04T23:39:31.777-08:002019-02-04T23:39:31.777-08:00Washington Middle School receives $8,512 of fundin...Washington Middle School receives $8,512 of funding per student and with all that money, they haven't been able to teach the students to safely use the bathroom! All the money taxpayers pay for public education is a huge waste if schools aren't even producing students who are competent to go the bathroom. Public education fail.Pee Safenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-46712009093034266912019-02-04T21:04:06.435-08:002019-02-04T21:04:06.435-08:00"Also...nobody in Seattle is going to pass a ..."Also...nobody in Seattle is going to pass a levy if it means money gets taken away from some schools just to go to others."<br /><br />Some schools do get more money because of mitigation needs or high-risk needs. I have no problem with that. It's not as transparent as it should be, though.<br /><br />I think for many parents and senior staff that feels fine because (1) those are the students with the greatest needs and (2) many schools get shored up by PTA funds. <br /><br />I'm not sure that (2) is altogether fair to those schools that raise the funds but I think the district thinks the kids at those schools come from more stable homes and their parents can fundraise so it's fair.<br /><br />Some forget that high-needs schools get many more grants than other schools as well as federal funds. There are some high-risk schools that have a lot of money coming into them. But all that money doesn't necessary change the dynamic when the kids are not at school. I think some people believe if funding at schools is somehow both equitable and equal, the outcomes will even out. <br /><br />Will they? I don't know. <br />Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-70870378235444126642019-02-04T19:28:12.725-08:002019-02-04T19:28:12.725-08:00Yes - equity means all children get what they need...Yes - equity means all children get what they need, including a great education. Anything else is by definition inequitable. It's reducing everyone to the lowest common denominator and justifying that with a frankly offensive claim that it's somehow anti-racist.<br /><br />The effect of this is clear: parents are fleeing WMS as fast as they can. And the district seems to not care even the smallest bit about what is happening there, even when students show up and protest. What a failure.<br /><br />Also...nobody in Seattle is going to pass a levy if it means money gets taken away from some schools just to go to others.<br /><br />GeorgicusAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-74338900433881636972019-02-04T16:04:32.571-08:002019-02-04T16:04:32.571-08:00That is what the principal at Washington middle Sc...That is what the principal at Washington middle School is doing. The rationale is why should you have world language classes when some students aren't up to grade level in English / language arts. And why should we focus on chemistry physics and biology when you have students performing well below grade level in math. <br /><br />The answer is because those kids need those classes and should be considered basic education. The disparity of services North vs South of the ship canal should alarm everyone. <br /><br />ALL STUDENTS SHOULD BE SERVED. THAT IS EQUITY.<br /><br />Cool cat<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-50660972625649496012019-02-04T08:14:33.717-08:002019-02-04T08:14:33.717-08:00It's right to open the strategic plan with a d...It's right to open the strategic plan with a discussion and focus on educational justice. It's wrong for the strategic plan to stop there. There are some folks in this district who define "equity" as taking resources from some kids and giving it to others. There's nothing equitable about that. We need to build a school system where every child has what they need, and if we need more resources to do that, we get serious about taxing the wealthy.<br /><br />Mac KenzieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-9220933250822766112019-02-02T10:15:41.610-08:002019-02-02T10:15:41.610-08:00All Types, I agree. I think that there is no state...All Types, I agree. I think that there is no statement about SPS serving all kids is troubling. I think you should let the Board know that - spsdirectors@seattleschools.org.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-67753298748906998592019-02-02T09:22:20.403-08:002019-02-02T09:22:20.403-08:00Shouldn’t the overall plan be to serve all student...Shouldn’t the overall plan be to serve all students well, with some specific priorities around groups that are particularly in need of extra attention? <br /><br />It really seems like there needs to be one overarching statement that includes everyone—with a couple corresponding indicators/measures—then a few more targeted strategies to reach the at-risk groups (with other indicatorsmeasures). <br /><br />If the goal is a world class education for all, what does that look like? There’s nothing in the draft that reflects that. <br /><br />All typesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com