Friday Open Thread

On the heels of the horrific shooting at a mosque in New Zealand yesterday, I give one suggestion.

There is video out there of at least part of the shooting (the shooter put a camera on his head).   I would suggest telling your child to NOT watch it.  I know, if you tell them, they might not have known and might want to watch.  However, I urge you to tell them there is never a good reason to watch a live killing of anyone and, in this case, dozens of people.  There's always some smart kid at school who might want to come up and ask your kid, "Wanna see this?"  Tell your child to say no. You cannot unsee that kind of thing.

Superintendent Juneau issued a statement/apology about the issue of the district letter to parents about testing and Ramadan.   She said this:

The Washington state-scheduled testing window overlaps with Ramadan, and we cannot adjust that schedule. However, we can and have provided accommodation recommendations to school leaders.

Just to note, while the schedule may not be adjusted NOW, this issue could have been avoided when they made up the schedule. I would presume it didn't happen because of the contract with SEA and SPS.

I would be interested to know what accommodations are being offered.  Anyone?

I also will note that your child does not have to take the test except in high school and you can opt them out.

Families who opt their children out of participation in assessments, including Smarter Balanced, must submit a request in writing and sign and date the communication. The communication must specify the specific assessments they are opting out of. Parents or guardians must submit an opt out communication annually. For your convenience, families may use this opt out/refusal form opens a pdf file opens a pdf file Opens a New Window. or submit a clear written and signed document. Opt out requests should be submitted to the child's principal prior to the start of testing. Check with your school for information about testing dates.

An article from the Times about Special Education.

Over the weekend, the state Senate unanimously passed two bills that would improve funding, accountability and programs for special-education services that federal law guarantees to 15 percent of Washington’s 1.1 million public-school students. They now await consideration from the House, which is expected to unveil its 2019-21 budget proposal later this month. 

Washington ranks near the bottom on federal special-education reports because of its poor student outcomes and segregated classrooms.

“You would think a state like Washington, which just hosted the Special Olympics, would be doing really well,” said Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, chief Republican budget writer and one of eight lawmakers who drafted Washington’s new education funding model. The numbers are bad, he said, but more funding isn’t going to be enough to improve them.  

Senator Braun, like most GOP legislators, just doesn't want to believe that the money currently being spent on Sped could have anything to do with the outcomes.  Weird.

The most ambitious proposal, crafted by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, would have phased in $300 million over the course of several years, and provided a financial incentive for districts that do a better job integrating their classrooms. 

The approach would have adjusted funding for different degrees of services provided to students and the amount of time they spent in general-education settings. But Democrats and teachers unions dismissed it, saying it was too cumbersome.

There are protests today organized for young people to fight climate change.  Anyone's kid leave school today to participate and give you feedback?  The Swedish girl that I mentioned on International Women's Day, Greta Thunberg, has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.

It's Women's History Month and the district has a good write-up about the buildings in SPS that are named for prominent women.

Lincoln High parents have a Facebook page and boy, those people are busy creating a great new school for their children.  There is also a PTSA page as well.

Community meeting tomorrow with Director Harris at High Point Library from 3-5 pm.

What's on your mind?