SBAC Opt-Outs - No Fun for You at Denny
Update: another Denny parent let me know there was no separate Denny opt-out form. What appears to have happened is that only students who took the SBAC and completed a "Denny Way"form got to go the school carnival. The form was given ONLY to students who took the SBAC.
So for the students who didn't take the SBAC, they were "empowering" students by having them write "appeals" to go to the carnival.
I don't know how many students who opted out got to attend the carnival based on appeal.
end of update
A Denny parent let me know that their opt-out info from Denny had a tiny notation at the bottom about if a student opts out of the SBAC, he/she might not get to do some activities.
That apparently has now taken the form of the principal, Jeff Clark, not allowing students who opted-out to attend a school festival that was held last Friday.
I'm thinking some people would find that punitive and unfair but that's just me.
I'm trying to get a copy of the opt-out form that was used at Denny. Anyone?
So for the students who didn't take the SBAC, they were "empowering" students by having them write "appeals" to go to the carnival.
I don't know how many students who opted out got to attend the carnival based on appeal.
end of update
A Denny parent let me know that their opt-out info from Denny had a tiny notation at the bottom about if a student opts out of the SBAC, he/she might not get to do some activities.
That apparently has now taken the form of the principal, Jeff Clark, not allowing students who opted-out to attend a school festival that was held last Friday.
I'm thinking some people would find that punitive and unfair but that's just me.
I'm trying to get a copy of the opt-out form that was used at Denny. Anyone?
Comments
Parentwhois---ed.
SW parent
Momof2
The current CBA contains lots of references to Parents and guardians as strong participants in student learning, but purposely not equal partners in the process of creating the new CBA.
i.e
"We believe that our success demands that a strong parent/guardian and community engagement process be built into this effort. We must provide the training, time and support for school staff to engage with parents/guardians and communities, to develop the shared responsibility for supporting student learning."
I wish more parents would take the time to read the CBA and see some of the restrictive language that can prevent rapid changes. There is also a noticeable absence of any references to compliance with federal IDEA laws.
Take some time and read APPENDIX N : BEST PRACTICE FOR SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS
Notice only reference to SPED is on the very last line.
The regularly assigned teachers will provide for substitute teachers:
Ask a building colleague to check with the substitute teacher periodically throughout the day and provide assistance for students who have significant behavioral issues or special needs.
Where are you going with that (interesting) information?
The issue at hand is student exclusion in a punitive fashion from an authority figure in a public school due to the student exercising their choice to opt out of a high-stakes standardized test.
WMS
Figures
You will be routed to voice mail, so fill the box up a lil bit. Can't hurt. We're just trying to find out the truth.
OPTOUT
It was OK for Arne Duncan to bully states into compliance through extortion .. so this Denny action fits right in.
So much for local control of anything -- right Arne.
Fall in line you sheep right now or turn into lamb chops or mutton.
--- Dan Dempsey
-wow
North End Parent
u tube
But UTube, tell us what you know.
-hp gal
He's being manipulative and it's really inappropriate.
The parents and students have the right to opt out of standardized tests.
It is NOT - repeat not - okay to punish them in any way for doing so. And it is SO not okay to punish kids themselves for this - send snarky emails to parents, WHATEVER, but to say kids couldn't go to the carnival? What?
While not a perfect analogy in the legal case sense, this incident does seem similar to punishing people for choosing to vote, or telling them that they will be fired for voting for a certain candidate, or firing them if they go to a voting place.
The government -- and school is part of the government - -is absolutely not allowed to punish people for exercising their rights. But the principal seems to have forgotten this - I hope the legal department downtown educates principals about this, b/c it is clear retaliation. But I doubt they have the will to do so, esp. at the end of the year and with what appears to be a lot of lack of leadership in the legal dept. When opt out started rolling through, there should have been a clear legal directive to all admin at all schools saying what they must NOT do, and being very clear that no form of retaliation was acceptable - but obv. not all principals got that message.
Not to mention this action reeks of incredibly poor leadership - way to build morale in your building, earn respect of your parents, team work and respect with your students, just Way.To.Go.Principal.
Signed: Disbelief
That being said, the adults should not punish children for the actions of their parents. Retaliation and intimidation are against SPS policy and code of professional conduct. I would expect any SPS teacher or administrator engaging in Bullying to be suspended pending the outcome of a PSED investigation.
Where is Q13 or KIRO when we need them?
paparazzi
Upset Dolphin
Union solidarity
Many people seem to put the teachers' actions with parents' actions. They are two different things and I don't believe parents were asked/coerced by teachers in our district. Each group made their own decisions.
Walking out was childish and I would like to see the teacher's openly explain to their students why they did it when they have a binding contract. I'm all for workers fighting for better conditions or more wages, but walking out when you have a valid contract, noway. You don't think the walkout has anything to do with SEA and SPS currently in negotiations for the new CBA do ya.
http://www.psesd.org/
Union proud
Given all the concerns over this exam--and that opting out is probably more parent-driven--it does sound like this was handled poorly. If the idea was that the carnival was a reward for hard work, I get that--they had to sit still and work for a long time, writing essays, etc. But if it was intended as a reward, that could have been made clearer, and there should have been equal opportunity for anyone not taking the SBA to engage in a similar level of hard work to also earn participation. That would have been more equitable. I don't think it's unfair to ask kids to write an essay or do some other work to earn attendance at the event, but they should have been given the opportunity to complete that alternative work while others were taking the SBA.
HF
1. It was the adults not the students who orchestrated the opt out. Don't punish the students for obeying their parents.
2. I have no problem with unions, just how SEA behaved over the SBAC. Like I said before, we need more money for teachers (not administrators), more funding for class room supplies. Teachers need more support in the form of TAs, PD or useful technology. Actually I would like to hear from teachers what they want that will improve their careers and student outcomes. God knows we have heard enough from all of us non-teachers.
3. SEA members are free to get involved in the CBA, like the new one being negotiated now. Don't come back in 2 years and walk out over something silly. You don't have it so bad here in Seattle, go ask some of the teachers who work in districts without additional supplemental levees what that's like.
4. It is possible your May 19th protest will result in our local levees being distributed across the state or removed completely. We could see Seattle teacher's wages actually deceased. So in a way you where actually protesting for your wages to be decreased while increasing your WEA bothers wages. It that what you want?"
If schools are going to reward children for hours of hard work that benefits only adults, they need to pay them.
FIVE CRITERIA FOR EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINE
Helps children feel a sense of connection. (Belonging and significance)
Is mutually respectful and encouraging. (Kind and firm at the same time.)
Is effective long - term. (Considers what the child is thinking, feeling, learning, and deciding about himself and his world – and what to do in the future to survive or to thrive.)
Teaches important social and life skills. (Respect, concern for others, problem solving, and cooperation as well as the skills to contribute to the home, school or larger community.)
Invites children to discover how capable they are. (Encourages the constructive use of personal power and autonomy.)
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2014/03/michelle_gunderson_shares_an_a.html
Sorry, I don't have the luxury of walking off the job. If I did walk off, then I might as well keep walking. As a salaried employee, I work as long as it takes to complete my assigned task. It's always 8 hours minimum with no maximum. Sometimes I have to come in at 4AM other times I start at 11PM. These expectations I knew when excepting the job and by the way my rate is fixed for 3 years, again these are the terms I agreed to. Every 3 years I get the chance to negotiate for a raise or better a benefit package.
With that said, my company is reasonable and if things would become difficult or my life style changed requiring more flexibility I believe they would work with me. Regardless, I would not try and extort my employer under any circumstances.
So I say to you, honor your agreement and stop with the childish behavior.
See my update as well as Marty McLaren's reply. If she believes this is truly okay,then my vote will go to Harris.
The GoodFight: I don't always love SSD union decisions -- but I DID love this one. Watching the TV coverage the following week of the various rolling walk outs around the state by other districts made me really proud that the teachers of MY district has participated as well. (And frankly, if teachers were doing nothing other than writing to their legislators -- we would be hearing "and where are the teachers? THEY don't seem to care! They are doing NOTHING while the state ignores McCleary. Why should we do all their hard work for them -- etc., etc." Really, how can they win. They are damned if they do something (the classic, time honored walk out) and damned if they don't.
And the reason you and I would be fired if we walked off our jobs is (wait for it --) we aren't part of a union that has organized a walkout! Maybe that is ok (we have reasonable benefits and job protections without it, etc.) but unions HAVE delivered a lot of good benefits in the past, and SOME sort of organized effort (whether a union or something else) is the ONLY way to get powerful people to play fair in some instances. I don't really want to argue all the pros and cons of unions. But in this instance, I thought the SEA did absolutely the right thing.
Jsn
And Jan -- not Jsn (clearly typing too fast, or something)
Jan
Wow. So true.
The principal reportedly treats teachers with the same lack of respect as the students. Notice the teacher turnover rate at Denny? Some teachers who stood up for these students will get grief with next year's reviews if history is an indicator.
Those who recall the Sealth-Denny merger community meetings may recall the audience rumblings after he spoke... "he didn't answer the question" as each question was answered with a talking point, not genuine interactive debate. The party/district line. If you want a genuine debate with a principal about the pros/cons of testing go somewhere else - the Denny principal will be in no trouble for this and wouldn't care anyhow.
SWer
real world
Lurker
real world