Tuesday Open Thread
Spring is here!
What are you up to?
What are you looking forward to?
What are you dreading?
What are you up to?
What are you looking forward to?
What are you dreading?
Tuesday Open Thread
The speaker list is up for the Board meeting tomorrow; not as packed as I thought with just four people on the waitlist. The majority of the speakers are speaking on high school boundaries (with several wanting to talk about Ballard High). There are only three of us speaking about the Green Dot resolution asking the City to not grant the zoning departures that Green Dot has requested. It's me, long-time watchdog, Chris Jackins, and the head of the Washington State Charter Schools Association, Patrick D'Amelio. (I knew Mr. D'Amelio when he headed the Alliance for Education and Big Brothers and Big Sisters; he's a stand-up guy.)
Comments
http://www.nwnews.com/index.php/local/news/12851-school-district-to-launch-independent-investigation-regarding-facebook-screenshots
And another on Aviation HS now using lottery for admissions. Both of which have an appalling amount of racial and wingnut comments to them. Oh well...
APP Dad
On the one hand, states are pushing back so hard on SBAC/PARCC common core tests that fewer than 1/2 the states are now administering them.
On the other hand, the profiteers at SAT/ACT aggressively are stepping into the void.
On the other other hand, if mandatory testing is fulfilled with ACT/SAT, at least students can take one test and satisfy two requirements (state testing and college applications).
EdVoter
Yes, the testing profiteering frenzy is distasteful. I'm opting my child from 10th grade SBAC ELA. Got push back that has *%&$$#@ pissed me off! We'll have IB and perhaps SAT so Who TF cares about high-stakes SBAC testing? Not me.
How are you going to satisfy your students state reading requirement? You can't use alternative assessments until they make one attempt at the test. If you do nothing, their HS transcript sent to colleges will state Reading = Not Met.
As distasteful as it is, I think it's better to have them take the 10th grade ELA SBAC and just get it done. Otherwise, you're going to be in the same boat next year, with other tests and college tours and whatnot on your plate.
-parent
HP
I've heard that the well-regarded principal resigned after getting this news. It's a big deal to those for whom this is important.
Momof2
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/why-digital-education-could-be-a-double-edged-sword/
"Portfolio School Reform is a theory and a project—“the brainchild of the Center for Reinventing Public Education (CRPE), and it has caught fire.” “The operational theory behind portfolio districts is based on a stock market metaphor—the stock portfolio under the control of a portfolio manager. If a stock is low-performing, the manager sells it. As a practical matter, this means either closing the school or turning it over to a charter school or other management organization. When reopened, the building is generally reconstituted, in terms of teachers, curriculum and administration. In theory, this process of closing, re-bidding, and reconstituting continues until the school and the entire portfolio is high-performing. These approaches have been described (positively) as ‘creative destruction’ or (negatively) as ‘churn.'” Such school restructuring takes place primarily in school districts under state or mayoral control with local school boards “typically shunted aside."
https://janresseger.wordpress.com/2016/04/05/national-education-policy-center-releases-profound-analysis-of-portfolio-school-reform/
CT
http://www.kcrw.com/news-culture/shows/to-the-point/narrowing-the-divide-between-college-and-trade-schools
--ShopClass
Momof2
2boysclub
Kind of funny that they'll be opening these new schools, two blocks from my house, JUST as my daughter exits SPS. Ha?
SavvyVoter
As to an interim building, that's a good question. John Marshall is eventually going to be something else and the district has run out of interim buildings. It is likely that the district will have to be like other districts and build on site but more slowly (a la Hale.)
This seems odd to me, as I would expect high school graduation-required classes to be taught in high school, not middle school. However, when I look at the actual requirements, WA history is listed as a "non-credit requirement", along with the "High school and beyond plan." So, is the teacher correct, and covering WA state history in middle school will meet that graduation requirement? How else would one meet a non-credit academic requirement - an online course or something? Extra homework over & above the 6 required classes? Is the school district going to be tracking this so we won't have to start pulling out middle school report cards when she is older to prove that she had the class? If anyone understands this better, I'd appreciate an explanation.
High school requirements are given here: http://sbe.wa.gov/GradRequirements/ClassOf2019.php
Mom of 4
Yes the middle school class does count for that graduation requirement. It does go on the high school transcript as a completed requirement, no grade. There are other middle school things that may end up on the high school transcript like EOC testing. Students who fail the class or move into the state will have opportunities to makeup the credit in high school. They do not offer the class in high schools that I know, but opportunities to work outside of class time with an instructor.
-HS Parent
But I'm not involved with that school, so I don't know what people think. Am I off-base here? Will rooftop greenhouses suffice? Will there even BE rooftop greenhouses? I just worry about the extent to which the K-5 component will have reasonable recess facilities.
Now, we'll see when we actually move in how the green space feels, but I think everyone is cautiously optimistic.
Jason Mercier of WPC suggests:
"As a former constitutional law professor, maybe we could have Obama come fight the WEA and argue for charter schools in WA."
"Beth T. Sigall perfect timing! I'm sure we can come up with the money for the fee for admission! http://www.wsba.org/Licensing-and.../Admissions/Pro-Hac-Vice"
"Beth T. Sigall Or Bill Clinton if Obama is busy - he was leader in charter school movement during his time as Governor of Arkansas..."