Friday Open Thread
Yesterday was quite interesting for me, going to both the Charter Commission meeting as well as the Executive Committee meeting. It was quite the contrast - the CC being honest, deliberative and having questions answered by staff and the Executive Committee, well, more of the same.
If you have a teen daughter, the film, The Diary of a Teenage Girl (based on a graphic novel of the same name) is out today. I have not read the book but the NPR interview with the author on NPR's Fresh Air was eye-opening. If your daughter wants to see this, a heads up. (Not that I'm saying girls shouldn't see it but it is very adult content and something you might want to be aware of.)
Monday should be another busy ed news day. The Governor is having a meeting with legislators over the Supreme Court's ruling yesterday of the State being fined $100k a day for not meeting McCleary. This is not just Washington State. One legislator, Rep Matt Manweller (R-Ellensburg) tweeted out that the Court should be impeached (and I tweeted that maybe it's the legislators who should be and then I amended that to the correct action which would be recalled). The Court said nothing about 1351 but did talk about "class size reduction." I have been told there will be some kind of media availability - what do you think I should ask?
As well, Superintendent Randy Dorn will finally release the SBAC scores at a press conference in Olympia on Monday. (I will not be attending but I am setting up an interview with Dorn. I will probably get in three questions. Any suggestions?) I note that Superintendent Nyland, at the the Executive Committee meeting yesterday, said Seattle's scores had "dipped a bit" but it wasn't so bad. Naturally, this would mean he either was told about Seattle's SBAC scores or has them. I'll ask.
The Living Computer Museum is having a free admission day tomorrow from 10 am-5 pm with retro gaming, food trucks, 3D printed craft station and live music.
What's on your mind?
If you have a teen daughter, the film, The Diary of a Teenage Girl (based on a graphic novel of the same name) is out today. I have not read the book but the NPR interview with the author on NPR's Fresh Air was eye-opening. If your daughter wants to see this, a heads up. (Not that I'm saying girls shouldn't see it but it is very adult content and something you might want to be aware of.)
Monday should be another busy ed news day. The Governor is having a meeting with legislators over the Supreme Court's ruling yesterday of the State being fined $100k a day for not meeting McCleary. This is not just Washington State. One legislator, Rep Matt Manweller (R-Ellensburg) tweeted out that the Court should be impeached (and I tweeted that maybe it's the legislators who should be and then I amended that to the correct action which would be recalled). The Court said nothing about 1351 but did talk about "class size reduction." I have been told there will be some kind of media availability - what do you think I should ask?
As well, Superintendent Randy Dorn will finally release the SBAC scores at a press conference in Olympia on Monday. (I will not be attending but I am setting up an interview with Dorn. I will probably get in three questions. Any suggestions?) I note that Superintendent Nyland, at the the Executive Committee meeting yesterday, said Seattle's scores had "dipped a bit" but it wasn't so bad. Naturally, this would mean he either was told about Seattle's SBAC scores or has them. I'll ask.
The Living Computer Museum is having a free admission day tomorrow from 10 am-5 pm with retro gaming, food trucks, 3D printed craft station and live music.
What's on your mind?
Comments
Thank you for attending the meetings. I noticed on the Agenda for the Executive meeting that there would be a discussion regarding the Resolution on the Moratorium for suspensions for Elementary students. Would you (or if anyone else attended) please give a report on what was said or decided or debated, or?
Thank you
Carol
Carr announced that it would be pulled due to a request from Director Martin-Morris (the sponsor of that item) and wouldn't come back on until late September. No explanation and Martin-Morris was not at the meeting.
Ask Randy Dorn about the need to replace the one-size fits-all diploma.
The legislature would like all students to achieve "internationally competitive" standards, yet the SBE finds it necessary to lower SBAC cut scores.
Where is the coming likely 24 credit graduation requirement going to take us?
Replace One-Size Fits-All Diploma
A prominent local education foundation is discussing a major expansion of charter schools in Los Angeles aimed at boosting academic achievement for students at the lowest performing campuses.
Details of the project are not yet fully clear. But charter school leaders said they have met with officials from the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation in recent months about the effort. The Keck Foundation, the Walton Family Foundation and other organizations that support the independently run, publicly financed charters also are involved, according to people who attended the meetings. They requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the matter.
The Broad Foundation said the charter plan is in an early, exploratory phase, but declined to provide specific information.
--Plan Ahead
But the father seemed a bit overwhelmed and, of course, was very worried his son had been assigned far away.
80% of those entering community college want at least a bachelors degree
6 years later 15% have that bachelors degree. Claims that lack of guidance may be part of the problem.
-- Dan Dempsey
JR
Unlike most newspaper articles, however, the comments on this one are well worth reading, including one from our friend Diane Ravitch. As usual, you have to deal with the NYT paywall, but in this case I'd burn one of my ten free monthly articles to read it.
Here it is. Check it out.
Melissa wrote:
Superintendent Randy Dorn will finally release the SBAC scores at a press conference in Olympia on Monday.
Where and at what time will this take place?
-- Dan Dempsey
Superintendent Randy Dorn will release the SBAC scores at a press conference at 10 AM
in the Senate building (Cherberg).
-- Dan Dempsey
CT
From Daily Kos:
Christie Suggests Teachers Should Be "Punched In The Face." Teacher Takes Him Up On It.
https://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/06/1409162/-Christie-Suggests-Teachers-Should-Be-Punched-In-The-Face-Teacher-Takes-Him-Up-On-it?detail=emailclassic
(And please no comments about how we can just "trim our expenses" to make it work - we've already cut out all discretionary spending and we are just getting by)
- Waiting to Hear
-Interested to Hear
Also Waiting
The refusal rates skewed results (refusals counted as not passing), but pass rates were also given with the opt outs excluded. Hale made the news for high opt out rates, but opt outs happened at all grade levels. HCC schools seemed to have higher opt out rates compared to neighborhood schools - around 16% at JAMS, 14% at HIMS, and 8% at WMS.
-opted out
-opted out
The school manual says that choir classes can be considered either Fine Arts or Occ Ed. The counselor is now saying only choir classes taken in Junior and Senior Year can count as Occ Ed.
(1) Has anyone else dealt with the issue of counting FA as Occ Ed?
(2) Has anyone had experience with relying on the school's published manual and later being told the published information is wrong?
(3) Does anyone have experience with waiver procedures for FA or Occ Ed, since the published materials make an Occ Ed seem impossible to get.
(4) Finally, there is a running start issue, since she will have to take running start as well as classes at Garfield.