News Items


On KUOW this Tuesday morning
9 - 10 AM: Textbooks: Beyond the Culture Wars

In this era of standardized testing, what role do textbooks play? In an era of multi-media access, how do textbooks fit into the education system? Are textbooks obsolete? How are they being updated? How are textbooks adopted (or rejected) in Seattle and other districts in the state and around the nation? Today we explore the changing world of textbooks with educators, authors and teachers. Call in to join the discussion.

From the Seattle Council PTSA:

Council PTSA GENERAL MEETING
Monday, September 24, Stanford Center Auditorium, 2445 3rd Ave S, Seattle,WA 98134, 6:30pm Extra bonus! Light dinner and networking
Meet other PTA leaders in your neighborhood or help us plan our legislative advocacy for the year!
7:00pm
Vote to Endorse EHJR 4204 and Donate to the Simple Majority campaign
Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson shares her academic plan for Seattle Public Schools and how families and PTSAs can support their students’ academic achievement under these new initiatives. Q&A.

Public meetings scheduled to explain new method of allocating funds to schools
Seattle Public Schools is proposing a change in the method of how funds are allocated to schools – from the "Weighted Student Formula" to "Weighted Staffing Standards." Work is under way to develop the details of the model, which will be presented in more detail at the meetings listed below. The School Board is scheduled to vote on the new budget process at its Oct. 17 board meeting.
Oct. 1, 6:30-8pm: Hamilton International Middle School, 1610 N. 41
Oct. 2, 6:30-8pm: First AME Church, 1522 14 Ave.
Oct. 4, 6:30-8pm, Madison Middle School, 3429 45 Ave. S.W.
(Interpreters available for Cambodian, Chinese, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese at the Oct. 4 meeting.) For more information, visit http://www.seattleschools.org/area/news/0708/WSS_FAQ.pdf" www.seattleschools.org/area/news/0708/WSS_FAQ.pdf

Seattle Public Schools Curriculum Audit Drop-in meetings
October 1,2, 3 and 4, 4-6pm,
John Stanford Center Family Room
Seattle Schools is conducting an external curriculum audit to examine their instructional systems. As part of the audit process, will be drop in/open times for parents, guardians, and/or teachers who with to speak to an auditor regarding curriculum. These will take place from 4-6pm on Monday October 1, Tuesday October 2, Wednesday October 3, and Thursday October 4 in the family room on the first floor of the JSCEE lobby. Please feel free to “drop-in” and talk to auditors about curriculum. For more information please contact the curriculum department at 206.252.0050

Seattle School Board Candidate Forums
Thursday, September 27, 7pm, Franklin High School Room 205
Hosted by the Franklin High School PTSA and Beacon Hill PTSA,
Thursday, October 11, 6:30-8:30pm, JSCEE Auditorium, hosted by a city-wide coalition of education organizations including Seattle Council PTSA.

A Town Hall with Governor Chris Gregoire
Monday, October 3, 2007
Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8th Ave.
Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. – Please plan to arrive early. The program will begin at 7:00 p.m.
http://www.townhallseattle.org

I find the curriculum audit posting to be interesting. Does anyone have a good idea about what this would entail and what feedback they would be looking for?

Comments

Dan Dempsey said…
Here is the info about the audit-

It is the first step in a three year process.

http://www.k12.wa.us/SchoolImprovement/overview.aspx
9/22/07, 4:05 PM
Anonymous said…
Does anyone have any info on the change from weighted student formula to weighted staffing standards?
9/22/07, 10:39 PM
Charlie Mas said…
There is not a lot of information to be had yet about the Weighted Staffing Standards. The details have not yet been determined.

You can learn about the general ides behind the new method from the FAQs page on the District site.

You can learn what has been determined so far from the motion approved by the School Board.
9/23/07, 6:55 AM
Dan Dempsey said…
I believe this audit has no connection to the three year process that I linked to SchoolImprovement in my first comment.

It appears that this audit is an external audit that is not related to either the State Auditor, OSPI, or the SBE.

Dan
9/30/07, 3:57 PM
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