High School Science News
I see that's there's a state science exam,WCAS, coming up for high school. Just to note, your child does NOT have to take this test. Right now, all kids that do take it are doing is piloting it for the State.
Federal law requires science testing but it does not require linkage to graduation. However, Washington State Board of Education has chosen to do so.
Taking and passing the WCAS will be a high school graduation requirement for the class of 2021 and beyond. But that doesn't mean your child has to take it at all for now.
Also, just announced by the district's Science department:
- Seek approval from the district’s Instructional Materials Committee
- Form content-area committees of teachers to seek input regarding types of materials that will align with our State standards
- Send out a Request for Information to vendors regarding potential instructional materials candidates.
- Review adoption materials using the criteria
- Regional public viewing of narrowed list of materials to seek input
- Solicit teachers for field test
-Instructional Materials Committee reviews recommendation and forwards to the Superintendent
- Board Intro
- Board Action
Sincerely,
Mary Margaret Welch
Science Program Manager
Federal law requires science testing but it does not require linkage to graduation. However, Washington State Board of Education has chosen to do so.
Taking and passing the WCAS will be a high school graduation requirement for the class of 2021 and beyond. But that doesn't mean your child has to take it at all for now.
Also, just announced by the district's Science department:
It is our pleasure to announce that Seattle Public Schools K-12 Science has been approved for curriculum adoption. We are long overdue for an adoption (20+ years!) and are looking forward to begin this process with you.
The science adoption cycle will begin immediately for elementary and middle school (Spring 2018). Because of the high level of content expertise at the high school level and the currently available curricula, high school adoption proceedings will begin this coming fall, 2018. We look forward to hearing your input for this upcoming curriculum adoption.A general overview of the process is listed below:
- Fall 2018:
- Seek approval from the district’s Instructional Materials Committee
- Form content-area committees of teachers to seek input regarding types of materials that will align with our State standards
- Send out a Request for Information to vendors regarding potential instructional materials candidates.
- Winter and Spring 2019
- Review adoption materials using the criteria
- Regional public viewing of narrowed list of materials to seek input
- Solicit teachers for field test
- Fall 2019
- Winter 2020
-Instructional Materials Committee reviews recommendation and forwards to the Superintendent
- Spring 2020
- Board Intro
- Board Action
- Fall 2020
Sincerely,
Mary Margaret Welch
Science Program Manager
Comments
I have heard from middle school science teachers that they hate Amplify. I have heard from middle school students that the videos are boring, the assessment questions are repetitive, and that kids that enter middle school liking science now detest it.
I have heard from board members that the admin is telling them nothing but positive things about Amplify. The admin is painting a very rosy picture to the school board. As the school board is ultimately in charge of approving new curriculum, it is vital that they hear from actual students and teacher about their actual feelings about this. Ask your kids about their experiences. Ask your kids' teachers. Then WRITE THE BOARD!
-NW Mom
Phinney mom
open ears
Did anyone ask why it's being used? Was someone in the central office "influenced" by the vendor? Or do they have a shortage of qualified science teachers? If the latter, why might that be? Writing the board might not help if there is some unstated reason why Amplify is being adopted.
Sigh. Garfield.
Yes, there are more and more reasons to leave SPS. Just about any parent can do better than Amplify when homeschooling. Engaging science lab classes WERE a reason to stay with the public schools.
Homely
The deadline to apply to be on the selection committee for the elementary and middle school science curricula is Tuesday, May 29 at 9 am. The first committee meeting is on June 9, so it is important to make our voices heard at the June 6 Board Meeting.
Concerned Scientist
As a middle school science teacher I don't think having students use a computer 75% of the time is the best way to learn science in the middle school or really---ever. I prefer to reverse the numbers, 75% of labs and/or activities and 25% reading and/or notes.
Amplify seems like a way to do away with teachers altogether or at least to do away with science teachers. It also seems like a way for the district to keep track of what and when things are taught because all the data goes back to the company. I would also wonder how my struggling students and my high achieving students would do with this curriculum. From my 20 plus years of teaching science, I would say "Not well".
Equities