Friday memo tidbits

Friday memos to the Board are always interesting. Here you will find all sorts of interesting stuff.

From March 4, 2016, Teaching and Learning Update:

"District achievement testing in reading and math (MAP or SBA) is required to determine Advanced Learning eligibility. Candidates are required to participate in district achievement testing. Opting out of testing is a decision to opt out of the Advanced Learning eligibility testing process."

So there we have it: Students who are opted out of SBAC are ineligible for Advanced Learning.

From February 26, 2016, Teaching and Learning Update:

"Question: Within our district, we have schools, services, programs, and curricular foci. Where/how do SPP sites fit into this oversight?

"Answer: Because Seattle Preschool Program classrooms have a component of student assignment (enrollment managed by the City) the classrooms would fit into the program classification as the SPS policy reads now. We recognize that the policy may be revised and refined."

If the School Board takes back control of program placement, then the School Board will have control of the sites for Seattle Preschool Program.

From February 26, 2016, Consolidated Program Review.
A commendation for this:

"Item 11.5: Program Service Evaluation: The district and Advanced Learning Department staff are commended for outreach to students in Title I-served schools through screening instrument. Your Program Evaluation indicates significantly more students were referred and assessed based on screening results. This is established best practice for identifying students who may be overlooked through traditional referral processes."

Folks in Seattle may not think that Seattle Public Schools is doing a good job of providing equitable access to Advanced Learning, but folks in Olympia do. People in Olympia also think that there is a Program Evaluation for Advanced Learning.