Tuesday Open Thread

The South and the East Coast are covered in snow. What's on your mind?

Comments

English Mustgo! said…
What is going on with English? I got a letter about my kids' data that was breached and included "Other Special Education data."

What the heck is that their entire IEP? Or just a summary.

I love how they fired the law firm but have taken no public action the bone-head who sent over the embedded information or the person who embedded the information in the first place. That's accountability.

English mustgo!
Anonymous said…
If your student attended Roosevelt then YES it was the entire IEP document. Non-Roosevelt students name, address, phone, school, and disability information was released.

No one is saying a word as to why English is on leave. I think everyone knows there will be dire consequences if it's found out someone was leaking information.

Speculation is he messed with a parent who is very close to a board member and it blew up in his face. He was very belligerent to Nyland when asked about the incident.

public disclosure

Anonymous said…
English is belligerent to everyone. It's been a winning formula for him in keeping his territory within SPS for a very long time.

DistrictWatcher
English Mustgo! said…
Thank you for the information.
Anonymous said…
This article is on my mind: Oklahoma lawmakers vote to ban AP US History, on the basis that it "only teaches what is bad about America." They claim it fails to teach American exceptionalism. Another lawmaker claims it's similar to Common Core in that it imposes a national curriculum.
http://thinkprogress.org/education/2015/02/17/3623683/oklahoma-lawmakers-vote-overwhleming-ban-advanced-placement-history-class/

-Facepalm
Anonymous said…
I'm thinking about the ESEA/NCLB reauthorization and came across this reasoned and nuanced response from the Albert Shanker Institute to the question, Did NCLB work?

The Debate and Evidence On The Impact of NCLB

--- swk
Watching said…
Memphis: TFA will reduce recruits by 40%


http://dianeravitch.net/2015/02/17/memphis-tfa-will-reduce-recruits-by-40/

I am so glad Teach For America never got a strong-hold in Seattle Public Schools.

Special thanks to all those that fought to keep individuals with 5 weeks of training away from our children.
Anonymous said…
I read today that Oklahoma Republicans are attacking AP History as not promoting American Exceptionalism and that they may eliminate all AP classes from public schools.

HP
3inSPS said…
From Muarry at the state of the City-

Schools: “This fall, I will be convening an Education Summit to re-envision how a 21st Century urban public school system can work successfully for all students. The City, the school district, the state, the private sector, teachers and parents – all must engage in frank and honest conversation, and unite around a shared vision.”
Anonymous said…
Anonymous Watching said...
Memphis: TFA will reduce recruits by 40%
http://dianeravitch.net/2015/02/17/memphis-tfa-will-reduce-recruits-by-40/
I am so glad Teach For America never got a strong-hold in Seattle Public Schools.

Special thanks to all those that fought to keep individuals with 5 weeks of training away from our children.


Thank Sue Peters! Thank Betty Patu!

Sue wasn't on the Board at the time, but, she did all that she could to educate Board members and to help them vote no. She did not prevail: Kay Smith Blum voted YES to TFA.

Now, with Sue on the Board, flagrant BS has now chance!


Thank SUE P

3inSPS said…
English must-go,

I saw your post and got concerned as well about what was contained in our child's data breach as "Other." It seems like that is not very detailed but if you want to see the actual data that was released, you can make a student records request to: Robin Wyman at rwyman@seattleschools.org. You should specify that you want the inadvertently disclosed data for your child, and include the student ID number.
3inSPS said…
"Now, with Sue on the Board, flagrant BS has now chance!"

That is some typo ;-)
Anonymous said…
“This fall, I will be convening an Education Summit to re-envision how a 21st Century urban public school system can work successfully for all students. The City, the school district, the state, the private sector, teachers and parents – all must engage in frank and honest conversation, and unite around a shared vision.”

This made me want to puke. Ed Murray had many years in Olympia to figure this out. Oh wait it is not on the schedule until this Fall?? Why wait let's start the conversation before the current legislative session is over. I will believe his vision thing when I see it. This looks more and more like a Mayoral take over.

Disgusted
Anonymous said…
oops typo,

With Sue Peters on the Board, flagrant BS has NO chance!

She won't stand for non-answers, let alone BS answers. Staff know this. They know with her there, she won't just rubber stamp. She doesn't micromanage either (take that, DeBell!). She simply does her job: she asks pertinent questions, and, if the answers are nonsense or not forth coming, she won't be supplying them a yes vote, and, she will urge her colleague to also hold staff accountable. No more of this,

Staff to Board: "Just vote yes, and, we will explain this to you later/get the documents to you/supply you the data/provide you our thorough analysis/etc."

Board (Peters) to Staff: "No. Supply me the MOU now before I can be in a position to vote for this."

Love me some accountability.



Thank Sue P
Anonymous said…
Maybe this also belongs in the Juvenile Justice thread...The front page of The Seattle Times is reporting that a student in the state's #1- #2 ranked public high school -- Bellevue's International School planned to obtain firearms and do a mass school shooting. The report from the Times is so chilling and thought-provoking:

The teen told police he doesn’t have many friends at school and has anger-management issues as a result of being bullied, the police report said.

The teen, who has a 4.0 grade-point average, told police that he was suicidal and felt immense pressure over academic performance, the police report said.


Another reminder to do our best to watch and listen to our students, their friends and their classmates. To be involved. To think carefully and in partnership with one's student about his/her academic and socio-emotional status and goals. And to think critically about our students' school philosophy, environment and administration.

EdVoter
Anonymous said…
Sue's history as a journalist makes her extremely partial to a little respected and often overlooked thing from staff: Facts.

Be prepared for the onslaught of negativity the Big Ed Reform crowd will throw at her if she runs again in a couple years. The last thing they want is someone who keeps the ink dry until they get answers.

WSDWG
Watching said…
Senate Bill 6030:

There is now a Senate Bill in the Washington State Legislature to withdraw the state from the Common Core. The bill also addresses assessment issues and is to withdraw the state from the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium assessments.

SB 6030 is sponsored by Senators Chase, Roach, McCoy, Hasegawa, Miloscia, Padden, and Dansel.
Anonymous said…
Facepalm and HP,

If Seattle liberals can fill their school curriculums with "social justice" and "white privilege" discussions, why can't Oklahoma conservatives fill theirs with "American exceptionalism"? What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

Fairness
Charlie Mas said…
Yes. By all means, let's talk abput what makes America great - because we don't hear about that nearly often enough.
mirmac1 said…
Highly capable ID opportunity for HS

http://www.seattleschools.org/modules/cms/pages.phtml?sessionid=71d127085a2ccb7073e9003f393cfdf1&pageid=323015&
Anonymous said…
Yes. By all means, let's talk abput what makes America great - because we don't hear about that nearly often enough.

In my children's classrooms, I don't think they ever covered "what makes America great." In an effort to present multiple views, anything positive seemed to be left out. Basic historical content was barely covered. Civil War? Not covered. They learned very little about the structure of our government or even basic geography of the US.

Students need to hear both the good and bad of American history. The Zinnification of history lessons is just as limiting and extreme as focusing only on "American Exceptionalism."

-need balance
NW parent said…
Need balance, not sure where your kids went to school but I have been pleased with the history classes my kid has had at salmon bay and Ballard. US geography, the civil war, US govt structure, all covered.

I have a good friend who lives in Norman, OK - she sent me this today:
http://www.norman.k12.ok.us/index.php?news-press-releases&action=view&post_id=164

So not everyone in OK agrees with the legislature (thank goodness).
Anonymous said…
I am trying to figure out what exactly America is exceptional for anymore other than the enormous size of our prison population and military spending. Don't get me wrong, there is much to love about America but there is lots and lots of room for improvement.
My kid's history classes at Hale covered the good and bad about America. Coming up will be the Harlem Renaissance projects the Juniors do every year. This is a great celebration of an area of American culture.

HP
Umm No said…
And the true position of some of these people comes out: "There Really Shouldn't Be Public Schools"

Fox Co-Hosts Advocate Abolishing Public Schools And Department Of Education
http://mediamatters.org/video/2015/02/19/foxs-kennedy-there-really-shouldnt-be-public-sc/202571
Anonymous said…
For Fox News, that's actually relatively fair coverage of the issue. I don't think they were truly advocating for the elimination of public schools. The need for balance is discussed, as in teaching "the good, the bad, and the ugly." The Republican lawmaker is criticized for his agenda, then they go on to discuss, "Are they even learning history any more?"

Education is not mentioned in the Constitution, and according to the Tenth Amendment: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." Talk about abolishing the Department of Education is related to State vs Federal authority over public education. It's the reason many are up in arms about the CCSS - federal standards are being considered an usurpation of state powers.

-need balance
Anonymous said…
Where to begin: First, I wonder how many people debating this subject (for example, in the Fox video) have actually taken AP US History. I found it to be a very objective course. As for exceptionalism, you start out with the concept of the City on the Hill, so I don't quite know what they're even talking about when they say it's not taught. The concept is taught. Perhaps they're upset that it's not approached as propaganda.

They also seem to frequently conflate Common Core and AP classes. "The government" is not exactly in charge of the AP curriculum, to the best of my knowledge. And the course is a rigorous overview of the entire history of the country, if you want to pass the test at the end. At least when I took it, there was more of a focus on facts and primary sources. Perhaps they're upset that, for example, the 19th Amendment is not simply "And then we gave women the right to vote! Yay!" and instead students are expected to be knowledgeable about the women's suffrage movement.

Finally, the video complains that the approach of universities, which she finds "full of liberal crap," has now trickled down to the high school level. I'm not sure she realizes that the course is meant to stand in for a college US History course. You may have varied opinions on the merit of university education today, but the AP class ought to parallel what that is.

Now, the fact that higher education in general is being discouraged... well, that's another kettle of fish.

-Facepalm
Umm No said…
I know I shouldn't engage with trolls, but I can't resist.

"Need balance", you're spouting libertarian nonsense. If you're trying to assert that it's a reasonable position that education spending by the federal government is not constitutional, you've got quite the uphill battle, as the Supreme Court clearly disagrees, and they define what is and is not constitutional.
Anonymous said…
Whoa, not saying that's my stance, but it's a common argument for those opposing the Dept. of Ed. and the CCSS. Back to Oklahoma:

Supporters of the repeal argue that the Common Core standards for math and English instruction amount to federal overreach.

http://legalclips.nsba.org/2014/07/16/oklahoma-supreme-court-upholds-state-legislatures-repeal-of-common-core-standard/

-need balance
Lynn said…
Facepalm,

This is not your APUSH. College Board is revising it's courses and this is the first year the new APUSH is offered.
Anonymous said…
What was disclosed
The District hired a data expert to review and extract all data contained in the PDFs released to
the guardian. Approximately 150 spreadsheets were embedded within the PDFs. The most
significant data breach included a variety of data on all Special Education. Lesser amounts of
data were also included for all bilingual or ELL-eligible students as well as
discipline/scholarship data only for all Roosevelt students.
The types of data released includes student name, district identification number, date of birth,
phone number, mailing address, WA state identification number, race, gender, grade level,
school name, discipline data, transportation information, disability, special education
information, ELL eligibility, test scores, classroom data, scholarship information, and 504
indicator. A condensed Individualized Education Plan (IEP) was released for 20 students.
No social security numbers or Free/Reduced Lunch (FRL) data were released.
The actual data disclosed for a given student varies widely. In some cases, it was just one data
point, in other cases it was numerous data points across multiple documents. We identified 20
different types of information which were disclosed and have developed files which enable us to
tell parents the types of information disclosed for each specific student.

From theHorse
Anonymous said…
YIKES!!!

CCA
Anonymous said…
Is this horendous breach only on Roosevelt students? Or is it all Sped students? Current students with IEPs or does it include kids who had IEPs previously but no longer in Sped?

CCA

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