Friday Open Thread
City Council Member Tim Burgess is taking a (non-scientific) survey about your thoughts on an income tax for wealthy Seattle families. I put this up because, in the end, if passed, that tax may play a part in funding for the district.
FYI if you have a child in Special Education:
As previously mentioned, I will post all available opportunities to hear/meet the candidates for Seattle School Board. This came from Alec Cooper, candidate for District V. He will be at Broadcast Coffee, 1918 E Yesler, on Saturday from 10 am-noon.
There are no director community meetings this Saturday because of all the graduations they are attending.
What's on your mind?
FYI if you have a child in Special Education:
As previously mentioned, I will post all available opportunities to hear/meet the candidates for Seattle School Board. This came from Alec Cooper, candidate for District V. He will be at Broadcast Coffee, 1918 E Yesler, on Saturday from 10 am-noon.
There are no director community meetings this Saturday because of all the graduations they are attending.
What's on your mind?
Comments
When you say, "FYI if you have a child in Special Education," that probably should say something more like "if you care about living in a state that values all children, even those in Special Education" or something like that. Funding for kids in SpEd isn't just an issue that affects their parents. It's about what kind of society we want to live in.
Does anyone have the Minutes of the SPS Work Session that was held yesterday?
Thank you
Carol
Stevr
http://www.seattleschools.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_543/File/District/Departments/Internal%20Audit/16-17%20Audits/Rainier%20Beach%20High%20School%20Audit%20Report%20-%20Final.pdf
The reason for the audit is stated right in the Executive Summary.
Additionally:
...The School did not...maintain all required volunteer documentation, and we cannot verify that all of the volunteers were properly screened.
...The School did not follow District policies and procedures related to field trips.
...The School did not follow District policies and procedures related to building rentals...outside groups did not provide proof of liability insurance and did not pay the required rental fees...In lieu of paying the established rental fees to the District’s Building Rentals Department, the outside groups made donations to the School’s girls’ basketball team.
-StepJ
what the
http://www.joannejacobs.com/2017/06/why-i-changed-my-mind-about-vouchers/
a reader
I heard from IB/IBX staff and IBX parents that there have been multiple issues with IBX
1. Senior year internship has not worked out as planned.
2. Many kids have not yet developed the organizational and other skills needed to do well, it is a very demanding & stressful program.
3. Colleges prefer students with 4 years of demanding coursework. IBX is a disadvantage.
4. They developed honors courses for 9th and 10th that work well as prep for IB.
The principal said IBX it is still an option for next year. Our child enters year after next so might not be an option at that time.
We personally have no issue with IB instead of IBX. It is the same program. We know two sets of parents who had a child do IBX and they prefer their younger one to do IB.
-HCC parent
--Disappointed
"1. Senior year internship has not worked out as planned."
- Was there ever a plan?
"2. Many kids have not yet developed the organizational and other skills needed to do well, it is a very demanding & stressful program."
- The program requires "organizational and other skills" from teachers as well. It's especially stressful for students if teachers do not adequately cover the IB standards, or if pre-IB classes are not preparing them for IB. Some classes prepare students well for IB requirements, while other classes do not. There is a steep learning curve and an added time commitment for teachers taking on IB classes. Yes, IB is demanding, for both teachers and students.
"3. Colleges prefer students with 4 years of demanding coursework. IBX is a disadvantage."
IBX was sold to students under the premise that "demanding coursework" would be available senior year. Advanced LA and SS classes were supposedly planned, and students could take additional IB electives. SPS has dropped the ball on that one.
4. They developed honors courses for 9th and 10th that work well as prep for IB.
- There are no options for advanced science. IB courses are not available until 11th grade, unless a student opts for IBX.
- 10th grade SS is only 1 semester. They will end junior year having only 2 1/2 years of social science.
It's one thing to offer two pathways - IBX for those wanting more acceleration, and honors/IB for those wanting the traditional IB pathway - but it's another thing to actively work against one of the few options available for HC students.
also parent
1. So do better. Intensify the efforts to support students in finding those internships, or in finding alternate plans if more appropriate.
2. Many kids HAVE already developed those skills, and can thrive in IBX. Why deny them that chance? I guarantee that there students in HCC who are more than capable of taking on a challenging program a year ahead of what's typical.
3. Why can't you get 4 yrs of demanding coursework with IBX? You can. Take college courses that 4th year and you'll have 4 yrs of coursework even more demanding than what colleges typically see.
4. That's fine. It sounds like kids who aren't ready for or interested in IBX have some options, although as "also parent" pointed out, the options still aren't great.
It sounds to me like they are, to some extent, trying to blame the kids for the fact that the school or district doesn't have its act together in terms or providing the appropriate support (e.g., internships, support for teachers); counseling (e.g., screening out kids not ready, facilitating challenging 4th yr courseloads); and providing strong academic foundations (e.g., weak HCC middle school programs).
The KIDS are capable of doing this. Is the DISTRICT?
DisAPPointed
Nice try
A link to minutes from June 1st High School Task Force meeting posted on the discussapp blog state that there was a "suggestion" of eliminating HCC after 8th grade. Also....possibly eliminating AP classes?? It sounds like coming from..... members (staff?) of High School Capacity Task Force?
http://discussapp.blogspot.com/2017/06/june-17-open-thread.html?showComment=1498067831769#c8433260374405754283
-B
There has been no discussion of ending AP classes at high schools. I can't recall that specific comment off the top of my head but I can be clear that ending AP was not a discussion point.
If such discussions are in fact happening--and this wasn't just a random, unwarranted comment by one person--they seem to be happening under the radar and elsewhere...
Asked Jon