Friday Open Thread
The first Friday the 13th of the year.
Best wishes and get well soon go out to the following:
Best wishes and get well soon go out to the following:
- Dr. Enfield for pending surgery on her hand
- Communications' Teresa Whippel who broke both wrists
- Director Patu who sustained a fall and is now limping
- Anyone and everyone who gets this cold that is going around
Comments
He also shared a rumor that the feds may similarly disband the TIF grant early. Oh boy, that will be a mess. Unlike the Mandarin grant, the district could not easily just eliminate the work which would have to come out of the general fund. (And the TIF grant funds work of dubious quality and effect, grr)
All of that said, a north end middle school is pretty much a done deal. Where it will be placed is a bit up in the air, so there's room to advocate on that if you have any special desires. It's hard not to see Wilson-Pacific as the frontrunner given its central location and plenty of space.
After the site is selected and funded (assuming the levy passes), there will be some kind of design team that will direct the architect who makes the detailed plans. I don't know if the general public can get a spot on the design team or how you would go about doing that.
Delridge mom
And we stink in relation to state expenditures as a percent of state taxable resources
Ed Week reports:
Few States Cite Full Plans for Carrying Out Standards
As Dorothy mentioned the Feds on occasion pull the plug.... no consider the current ED Reform moves in WA State. .... As we look at the RttT extortion action from Arne D ... pushing Charters and Value Added Assessments of teachers .... look back on 6696 which the legislature essentially said go for it in 2010 on CCSS while not knowing what "it" was.
Dorn was to have a big report delivered on or before Jan 1, 2011 .... which was not delivered until 30 days later ..... Now I was thinking since Dorn was such a pusher of all things RttT ... that CCSS would take a priority postion .... but NO.
The report found that “a handful of states are particularly far along” in their plans to transform the common standards into practice, but “most states ... still have a long way to go” before they have blueprints to take the standards from paper to practice.
The report...
Preparing for Change A National Perspective
on Common Core State Standards
Implementation Planning
.... says for WA state:
Teacher Professional Development =>
In development
Curriculum Guides or instructional materials =>
No Planning Activity Reported
Teacher Evaluation Systems =>
No Planning Activity Reported
============
So if the money should dry up, why are we going for the the Ed Reform bribes?
WA lawmakers aim to strengthen teacher evaluations
A bipartisan group of Washington state lawmakers announced plans Thursday to make statewide evaluations of teachers and principals more rigorous and uniform.
Bloomberg dangles dough while debate over teacher evaluations rages
================================
Mayor Bloomberg dangled a lot of dough at teachers on Thursday in a move to force the hands of union officials in the debate over teacher evaluation.
In a groundbreaking state of the city address, Bloomberg proposed giving $20,000 pay bumps to “highly effective teachers,” but hinged the raises on creating a rating system for the city’s teaching force. He also vowed to ax half the teachers in 33 low-performing schools — even without the union’s consent.
“Historically, teachers unions around the country have opposed rewarding great teaching through merit pay, but more and more teachers are asking why,” said Bloomberg.
“Our teachers deserve that. And so do our children.”
Both moves put pressure on union officials to reach a deal on evaluations, a contentious issues since 2010, when the state required teacher ratings reflect students’ test scores. The overhauled law was part of winning $700 million in federal Race to the Top funds.
Under the state changes, teachers can be labeled “highly effective,” “effective,” “developing” and “ineffective.”
A teacher who earns two “ineffective” reviews would be placed on a fast-track for removal.
The state left the union and the city to hammer out an agreement, but no deal has stuck.
I tried to post this link on Wallyhood but it didn't go through; not sure why.
This page describes known and possible benefits of language learning/immersion, and has links to the studies that back up those benefits:
http://www.actfl.org/i4a/pages/Index.cfm?pageID=4526#improves_cognitive
Sea
Do I need to transfer my younger children to a Spectrum school for the next few years to guarantee a Spectrum spot in the future, and are those schools able to handle more kids transferring in?
Wasn't this the whole point of the ALO program, to keep kids at their neighborhood schools, reduce busing costs, etc. Now they are basically saying ALO schools don't positively affect those kids enough to make them qualified for a middle school Spectrum program. What's the deal with that?
Disappointed by ALO
WAC 392-170-078 Program services.
Education program plans for each identified highly capable student or plans for a group of students with similar academic abilities shall be developed based on the results of the assessed academic need of that student or group of students. A variety of appropriate program services shall be made available. Once services are started, a continuum of services shall be provided and may include kindergarten through twelfth grade.
I haven't seen the district rationale for the NSAP change, but according to Washington Administrative Code, a "continuum" of services shall be provided."
The change was just approved by the Board, along with some other changes to the NSAP.
Before everyone gets too distracted by the charter school debate, you may want to read the Board Procedure being introduced at the next meeting - it deals with the Board/Superintendent relationship.
a parent
~ Just Wondering ~
The student's program participation in the 5th grade is not a factor. It doesn't matter if the student was in Spectrum, in an ALO, in a general education class, or in any other program in the 5th grade. 6th grade Spectrum eligibility is the only determinant.
The catch, as I see it, is that student can have a seat in the Spectrum program in their attendance area school. There is no promise of a Spectrum seat in any other school.
If you lived in the Lafayette attendance area, you could list "Spectrum - Washington" as your first choice and "Spectrum - Madison" as your second choice. Then, if you didn't get into Washington, you could still take the guaranteed seat in the program at Madison.
While this is clearly a sort of bribe to encourage people to choose their attendance area school, I'm okay with it. I would rather see the District pull people into programs than see them push people into programs.
The tricky part, of course, is how some schools are going to schedule classes to meet the demand. Washington Middle School has, for years, set a hard ceiling of 180 students on their Spectrum program. They won't be able to do that anymore. How will they group 72 6th grade Spectrum students? Two classes of 36? Three classes of 24? Will they have three classes with 24 District-identified Spectrum students and 6 high performing students? 24 District-identified Spectrum students and 6 students of all skill levels? What guidance, if any, have they received from the District?
Perhaps this is a question for the Advanced Learning Task Force to address.
I would like my kids to actually develop fluency in another language. I don't see any realistic options to make that happen on my own. We have considered moving near one of the language immersion schools, but between the fact that I have four kids + one on the way, the oldest two are already in school, and the incredible churn in this district (such that as we are seeing the JSIS boundaries move and calls for the language immersion schools to become option schools), I think making a residential decision around living by an immersion school is a sucker's bet.
Can anyone please help me to find access to the City of Seattle Department that has contracted with SSD to handle complaints?
A Teacher
I thought that this proposed change to the NSAP was, at least in part, an effort to cut down on headaches and paperwork for all 5th grade spectrum students headed to middle school. This past year, all of the rising 6th grade Spectrum eligible students assigned to their neighborhood middle school still had to apply during open enrollment for Spectrum at that same school. I wondered then about the extra open enrollment application for this cohort and how it seemed contrary to the idea enrollment could be streamlined a bit w/ the neighborhood-based approach. Plus it meant a whole bunch more paperwork for the enrollment folks.
But that's just me - I've been wrong before.
It was a long time ago that I added this blog to my subscriptions in Google Reader. I also added the APP discussion blog and Meg Diaz's Dolce and Nutella. But it wasn't until just this week I also added a long list of Education Reform blogs to my subscription list.
Hoo-boy! You think Mel, Sue and I write a lot? These folks write as much or more.
Subscribing to their blogs has made me more efficient about checking them for updates and has made me able to either report or respond more promptly.
For ethics complaints or whistleblower complaints see this form:
http://district.seattleschools.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1583136/File/Departmental%20Content/general%20counsel/ethicscomplaintform.pdf
The contact information is at the top.
Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission
P.O. Box 94729
Seattle, WA 98124-4729
chris.thomas@seattle.gov
(206) 615-0091
FAX: (206) 684-8590
5th grade students who are enrolled in a Spectrum program will receive a default assignment to the 6th grade Spectrum program at their attendance area school. Other Spectrum-eligible 5th grade students will not. 5th grade students who are Spectrum-eligible for the 6th grade but are not enrolled in 5th grade Spectrum will have to choose the 6th grade Spectrum program during Open Enrollment if they want to enter the program at that time.
They will have to choose it during Open Enrollment, but their assignment to the program - if they choose it - is assured.
All rising 6th grade Spectrum-eligible students are guaranteed access to the Spectrum program in their attendance area school, but only those already in a 5th grade Spectrum class will get a default assignment to the program. The rest will have to choose it during Open Enrollment.
Spectrum is not covered by the Highly Capable law or grant. APP is the district's Highly Capable program. Spectrum is not part of it. You will note that there is no Spectrum after 8th grade, and therefore no continuum of service through grade 12.
But I think we should have foreign language in elementary as that is really the best time to start.
As to advocating for a new north-end middle school, the district will be doing some middle schools this round. I can say with the certainty of watching this process and discussion for years, that yes, we will see at least one north-end middle school renovated. Both Eckstein and Whitman are due as is Washington.
As to a new one, well, you'd have to decide where to put it and what existing one wouldn't get a remodel. Charlie has said Wilson-Pacific would be a good location and I would agree (given the limited choices). They already have a large playfield and it is between Eckstein and Whitman.
I wouldn't bother advocating to the BEX Oversight Committee. They don't make or give input on these decisions. Go to the Board and outline your reasons and get as many parents as you know to do the same. Use as much data as you can. Also, advocate to FACMAC or at least keep track of their data and findings.
2011-2012 enrollment data
Scroll down, Sections 3 & 4 may give you what you need.
-yumpears
Ted Dezember is coming from McClure to Hamilton as House Administrator. There was plenty of discussion on this blog about low staff morale at McClure some time back. Any connection? Any idea about his outlook on advanced learners?
open ears
I wish more teachers would post morale issues at their schools. Ours in the north end is experiencing extremely low morale. I'm wondering if principals have been put on notice to either get rid of teachers or simply work us to death. I, for one, will be glad to see the end of Susan Enfield.
northender
-nt
Looking for an alternative to your neighborhood school?
Interested in a smaller learning environment for middle school?
Just interested in coming to take a look?
Join us for a tour.
Jane Addams is a K-8 school with an emphasis on environmental science. We offer an integrated Spectrum program, bilingual services for English Language Learners (ELL), special education services, and rich arts offerings. An exceptional faculty and staff, diverse student body and engaged parents have created this thriving school community in record time. Come see what all the excitement is about!
Evening Open Houses:
February 9, 6:30-8:30pm
February 29, 6:30-8:30pm
Morning Tours:
Tuesday, January 31, 9:30-11:30am
Monday, February 13, 8:30-10:30am
Thursday, March 1, 8:30-10:30am
Thursday, March 8, 9:30-11:30am
(please note there are 2 different start times for morning tours)
Please visit our school (http://addamsk8.seattleschools.org/) or PTSA (www.janeaddamsptsa.org) websites to learn more.
Jane Addams K-8 is a Seattle Public School located at 11051 34th Ave NE, Seattle WA 98125
206-252-4500
The answer is they assign them to the class that has room given the constraints of the student schedules. That is what they do at Washington. In your example, they would probably have two classes, any "extras would either go into an APP class or a general ed class - WITH NO ATTENTION TO THE STUDENTS LEVEL. There is no attempt to have hard lines between the programs.
Heads up. Ted is the perfect example of a cronyism-hire. One year as an administrative intern under Sarah Pritchett and then magically hired as an LA teacher - over the heads of how mnay RIFed teachers.
The quitely whispered comments at McClure rate Ted very low on all counts.
Good luck.
-JC. (signed this time - sorry)
Looks like Marty is withdrawing her amendment, after pressure from the district:
http://westseattleblog.com/2012/01/west-seattle-schools-board-rep-mclaren-decides-not-to-try-to-delay-boren-re-opening-after-all
All of that, yet at Marty's community meeting a straw poll resulted in only 1 out of 20 K-5 parents actually said they would sign their kid up at Boren if it was opened next year.
never ceased to be amazed...
How about a status report on the AL Advisory task force?
Is it possible to attend meetings, for non-task force members, I mean.
Susanne
The progress has been painfully slow. There won't be any recommendations ready for implementation in the fall of 2012. That's not the schedule.
The meetings are open to the public. The next meeting is January 26 at 4:15 in room 2700 of the JSCEE.
At the January 26th meeting, our group will
1) Hear from FACMAC leadership about capacity and program placement issues
2) Hear a presentation from Teaching and Learning and the educators on the task force about quality/consistency of program offerings
3) Staff will provide information about the geographic distribution of students in Advanced Learning programs throughout the district.
JA mom
Wondering
It looks like they have reinstated the old scores. When I checked today there was this message:
Some MAP data was loaded into the Source incorrectly during the past week (12/8 - 12/13) . The data on this page should now be consistent with data reported in November. We apologize for the inconvenience and any confusion this may have caused.
Not convinced. Why does he raise this at the eleventh hour before the deadline to submit amendments. Based on my experience of how senior staff works, yer only given as much as they allow...
Bryant Community Member
--Has a student at Bryant
She may say that she can't give you certain information, but she will not lie to you. She will not tell you one thing & say another thing to someone else. She will not run down teachers, students or parents to other people. She will not allow one group to 'gang up' on another. She will try to protect her staff, school & students from the district. She will push hard for what she wants, but she will seek 'buy in' from the BLT or staff & not force an issue with them, if the district gives her a choice.
I didn't always agree with Linda Robinson but I always trusted her ethics.
Former Bryant Parent
There has been so much teacher turnover in the past few years, that more than a third of the staff is brand new, many of them young. Instead of being mentored or constructively criticized, she bullies and harasses, and actively encourages parents to complain openly in meetings and document teacher criticisms for their file.
All that being said, Bryant is still a school with caring and talented teachers whose priorities are always the kids. Kindergarten is an especially strong year for kids, with a fantastic staff.
Bryant Community Member
Bryant mom