On Washington Middle School; Why That School?
I did not attend last night's Board meeting but it sounded lively. (I had a ticket to hear Anita Hill speak and to the entire audience's great pleasure, Christine Blasey Ford introduced her. Powerful stuff to hear from both of them.)
I heard from tweets that the discussion around Washington Middle School, HCC and STEMbyTAF was over an hour long. And Geary's amendment to somehow bypass the SAP to put in that program went down.
And it is very hard on TAF because they do have a good model and yet the district hasn't had a meeting for them with Gen Ed parents? What?
The question for me is, why Washington? They had a terrible year last year - across the spectrum of students ending with the principal begin found to have verbally abused a black Sped student. It seems a bit of piling on to then flip their school in a totally different direction.
There are other choices like:
1) Aki Kurose - TAF had their after-school program there years back and Aki has more minority students than WMS.
2) Rainier Beach High School - I think that RBHS is ready to embrace this program and the two could share a wonderful new building. And again, the minority students that TAF seeks to help.
3) Madrona - That building WAS built for K-8 and it is woefully underenrolled as a K-5 at 251 students. It's 39% African-American, 36% White, 16% biracial with 49% F/RL.
And do you know what all three have in common? No HCC program in their school.
Why continue on with WMS when there has been no/little outreach to Gen Ed parents, the teachers voted no and the district seems okay with a terrible tension between HCC and TAF.
Why have this happen when you could put this great program in three other schools?
Unless, of course, you wanted to crush the HCC cohort model and be able to say, "See we can have rigor in a blended classroom."
Another thing that you may not know - but I do because of various Facebook pages - is that some parents of color in HCC at WMS are furious that the north end would keep the cohort for HCC but not the only middle school with HCC in the south end.
One student at last night's Board meeting called this point out. That north v south thing has been going on for decades and doesn't serve anyone well for the district to make moves that look like they are allowing the north end to keep something but not the south end.
I know the district is moving towards a blended model for HC. Meaning, all HCC kids go back to their neighborhood schools where they will be served. Very much the TAF model.
Except that I bet that TAF knows the structure to achieve teaching across a spectrum of students.
And I bet TAF has given their teachers PD on teaching across a spectrum of students.
And I bet TAF has allocated resources to support that work.
SPS thinks they can wave a magic wand and do this. Where's the plan and where's the budgeted dollars? SPS thinks they can basically give some guidelines and let the schools go at it.
The district also seems to forget that if you take these 5,000 kids and send them back to their home schools, there may be a crowding issue in some of them.
As well, there definitely are schools that don't even want to deal with with those students.
It's destined to fail because of lack of planning. I do believe in the cohort model but I would absolutely fine with blended if I thought SPS had done the planning needed and would supply the funds. (And, actually you need smaller class sizes but that's a pipe dream.)
So why does it have to be Washington Middle School for STEMbyTAF?
I heard from tweets that the discussion around Washington Middle School, HCC and STEMbyTAF was over an hour long. And Geary's amendment to somehow bypass the SAP to put in that program went down.
And it is very hard on TAF because they do have a good model and yet the district hasn't had a meeting for them with Gen Ed parents? What?
The question for me is, why Washington? They had a terrible year last year - across the spectrum of students ending with the principal begin found to have verbally abused a black Sped student. It seems a bit of piling on to then flip their school in a totally different direction.
There are other choices like:
1) Aki Kurose - TAF had their after-school program there years back and Aki has more minority students than WMS.
2) Rainier Beach High School - I think that RBHS is ready to embrace this program and the two could share a wonderful new building. And again, the minority students that TAF seeks to help.
3) Madrona - That building WAS built for K-8 and it is woefully underenrolled as a K-5 at 251 students. It's 39% African-American, 36% White, 16% biracial with 49% F/RL.
And do you know what all three have in common? No HCC program in their school.
Why continue on with WMS when there has been no/little outreach to Gen Ed parents, the teachers voted no and the district seems okay with a terrible tension between HCC and TAF.
Why have this happen when you could put this great program in three other schools?
Unless, of course, you wanted to crush the HCC cohort model and be able to say, "See we can have rigor in a blended classroom."
Another thing that you may not know - but I do because of various Facebook pages - is that some parents of color in HCC at WMS are furious that the north end would keep the cohort for HCC but not the only middle school with HCC in the south end.
One student at last night's Board meeting called this point out. That north v south thing has been going on for decades and doesn't serve anyone well for the district to make moves that look like they are allowing the north end to keep something but not the south end.
I know the district is moving towards a blended model for HC. Meaning, all HCC kids go back to their neighborhood schools where they will be served. Very much the TAF model.
Except that I bet that TAF knows the structure to achieve teaching across a spectrum of students.
And I bet TAF has given their teachers PD on teaching across a spectrum of students.
And I bet TAF has allocated resources to support that work.
SPS thinks they can wave a magic wand and do this. Where's the plan and where's the budgeted dollars? SPS thinks they can basically give some guidelines and let the schools go at it.
The district also seems to forget that if you take these 5,000 kids and send them back to their home schools, there may be a crowding issue in some of them.
As well, there definitely are schools that don't even want to deal with with those students.
It's destined to fail because of lack of planning. I do believe in the cohort model but I would absolutely fine with blended if I thought SPS had done the planning needed and would supply the funds. (And, actually you need smaller class sizes but that's a pipe dream.)
So why does it have to be Washington Middle School for STEMbyTAF?
Comments
[You] bet that TAF knows the structure to achieve teaching across a spectrum of students.
[You] bet TAF has given their teachers PD on teaching across a spectrum of students.
And [you] bet TAF has allocated resources to support that work.
Are you close enough to Trish to ask her to share some of that information on your blog? We've seen in the past that she said TAF is not compatible with HCC, and we can see from the performance data on their website that scores are very low, especially compared to HC students. There are legitimate concerns, and touting high graduation rates isn't going to allay them.
If you have an "in," maybe it's worth a story?
I'd also be curious to know how TAF works for SpEd students, students with learning disabilities, etc.
all types
I will ask her about some of your thoughts. Thanks for asking.
I can save Melissa the trouble of asking me to provide proof that STEMbyTAF is a solid model. If you listened to my testimony, you know I'm only focusing on moving forward with the District, board, WMS staff and WMS feeder families. Yes, everything will be public, and I'm sure Melissa will post things on this blog herself.
I've watch the posts regarding WMS/HCC/STEMbyTAF and I've watched all the misinformation and dragging of TAF and our STEMbyTAF model by people who have zero clue what they're talking about and have the nerve to post anonymously.
There is no reason for me to engage on this blog with people I don't even know and I have no need to prove TAF to you.
BLUE SKY
-come together
First, Melissa asks a legit question: why this particular school, and why not another school (southend or elsewhere) that serves larger percentages of low-income families of color? CD has been rapidly gentrifying for decades now. The percentage of black families in CD dropped from around 75% during the 1970s to below 25% now.
Second, again, regardless of how people feel about HCC, it has to be a part of this conversation because WMS is an HCC pathway school. It's not just white privileged parents making noise about it. WMS serves Highly Capable-identified students from southeast Seattle, many students of color. Moreover, the conversation to place TAF at WMS is taking place at the same time as debates about the future of HC/AL services in Seattle schools. Right now, no formal recommendations have been made, about service delivery model, about identification, about anything. Yet decisions that clearly affect and/or intersect with HC/AL services--such as TAF at WMS--are being debated separately. Why is this?
Director Geary's proposal that went down at last night's board meeting directly sought to interfere with and supersede with both the AL task force's work and potentially violate existing Advanced Learning policy (2190) which guarantees self-contained option for HC-identified students (unless they chose to stay in their neighborhood schools). These potential changes at WMS are not happening in some vacuum.
I asked those questions in good faith--and even suggested Melissa get information from you to potentially boost support for this possible partnership--so I have to say I was shocked at the level of disdain shown in your post.
I'm sorry you feel there is "misinformation and dragging of TAF and our STEMbyTAF model by people who have zero clue what they're talking about," but if a lack of knowledge about TAF is the problem, wouldn't answering some questions make sense? The reason people have "zero clue" about the model is because the district is sharing little, the information on your website is not providing the information people seek, and along those same lines, you appear to be averse to sharing information here. It's puzzling why you would not want to help clear up the misinformation you think is being posted here. It's actually surprising to here there's a lot of "misinformation" here, as there seems to be very little information of any sort.
Insulting parents for having "the nerve to post anonymously"? Speaking out on any education-related issue puts you at risk of your child being treated differently, unfavorably. Many parents have experienced that. Heck, many kids have experienced that--they learn to not speak up, that it's easier to just lie low and get by. Maybe you're not familiar with that aspect of SPS for whatever reason.
There is no reason for me to engage on this blog with people I don't even know and I have no need to prove TAF to you.
If you listened to my testimony, you know I'm only focusing on moving forward with the District, board, WMS staff and WMS feeder families.
Are you suggesting that parents should not "dare" to ask you about your model so they can decide whether or not it's a good fit for their child? That's how it came across.
If you listened to my testimony, you know I'm only focusing on moving forward with the District, board, WMS staff and WMS feeder families.
Are you also suggesting that you only need to answer questions about TAF from parents who have kids at WMS feeder schools? WMS is currently the HCC pathway middle school for the south end, so at this point any HC-eligible student in the area could opt into WMS for HC services. Families of students who anticipate testing into HCC may also be interested. As the district has not indicated an alternate plan for south-end HCC students, and has suggested they would be served via TAF, parents of HC students have a very legitimate interest in knowing how TAF would work for them. I would assume you would happy to answer those questions. Is there perhaps a different forum via which you prefer to share that information, or are you trying to keep information limited until you have an agreement with the district--and parents can just wait until they are "told" how things will be? That doesn't seem like a great starting point for many.
I'm stunned and disappointed by your response. I have heard great things about TAF and hoped to learn more, but there seems to be a curious desire not to be transparent.
all types
Look at the TAF test scores, their results are awful. No child, let alone WMS students, should be subjected to this.
What kind of incompetent district supervisor and board director would want Seattle kids to be forced into this failing program?
Data matters. Evidence-based decision-making matters.
Policy driven by agendas, not actual results, fails our kids, our families, and depletes whatever little public confidence there might be. Juneau installing them against the community’s will (teachers voted against this) will follow her just like Goodloe-Johnson’s massive flops made her fairly unemployable. The failure that will follow should Juneau/ Geary/Hampson get their way will likely precipitate such hostility, not just test scores will plummet, but enrollment will plummet too, resulting in smaller budgets and RIFS. But this kind of failure in a town like Seattle will definitively follow Juneau. No matter how great a CV looks, it can’t withstand this kind of flop, where you take a functioning school that survived the intensely destructive principal she installed only to push a program with failing maths on them.
Ask yourself, do you want TAF at your middle school? If not, then don’t foist it on WMS!!!!
TAF@Saghalie Middle School in Federal Way
2017 test scores
6th Grade
TAF - Federal Way Ave - WA State Ave
ELA 20% 40%
Math 20% 29%
SBAC Math 21% 33% 45%
SBAC reading 30% 44% 54%
7th Grade
TAF - Federal Way Ave - WA State Ave
ELA 33% 49%
Math 23% 33%
SBAC Math 15% 35% 48%
SBAC reading 35% 49% 57%
8th Grade
TAF - Federal Way Ave - WA State Ave
ELA 31% 50%
Math 15% 31%
SBAC Math 24% 33% 46%
SBAC reading 44% 50% 57%
Sci 43% 52% 61%
I call that epic failure. No thanks. Don’t rationalize, don’t justify, don’t explain. It just isn’t cutting it. Bottom line.
Vote NO
Now let's get back to reality: In a few weeks we will have:
Director Ranking
Director Rivera Smith
Director Hampson
Director Mack
Director DeWolf
Director Hersey
Director Harris
So no JVA, no Blumhagen, no Leis.
There is a new sheriff in town.
Fed Up
But yes, it seems the district would want a much deeper understanding of TAF outcomes prior to making an evidence-based decision. The information publicly available does not look good on its face. Hopefully there is more to it.
All types
My comment was something like this:
This blog has been on a campaign against TAF at Washington from the start, insidiously abetted by Melissa, which won't surprise Trish.
It's a result of the me, myself, and mine HC parents, who have not asked how TAF may benefit other students through new opportunities and learning experiences.
Of course, some would be surprised by Trish's response. People who are used to talking in double speak aren't used to truthful, plain, and direct words. No, it's not "disdain." It's an actual advocate for all kids who doesn't have time for b.s.
The leftists won because the public is tired of privileged parents in this district, lead and abetted by this blog.
Actual questions about TAF are welcome. Playing lawyer in order to keep HC at Washington at all costs..?...
Party's Over
reader
Changing Tide
This thread has a troll going by multiple names who is seeking to disrupt thoughtful dialogue and concerns. I vote to delete the very irrational posts of the person who only has an agenda to pick fights.
No troll
The TAF program is designed to benefit and focus upon a target demographic of minority students. It should be in a school that would MOST benefit and desperately wants the program. I am hearing that WMS does not want this program and that's also coming from the staff. Think about the kids.
The HC cohort IS being mainstreamed anyway at multiple middle schools all over including WMS. They have been mixing students in every subject at all HCC middle schools but science.
PJ
Cloudless, Mom, and All Types, enough with the pearl-clutching, spurious bluster. Trish made herself very clear in her School Board testimony. Go watch it on YouTube. Do your homework before you speak up in class.
If you look at her testimony, you'll see why she's not answering you here.
Trish, though, I have to post anonymously. I have been with you on the front lines and hope to be with you in the trenches again, but the haters in my building would retaliate if I posted under my name, so this is how it will have to be.
And I wish you would make the case in response to Melissa's questions above.
But in my perspective, in answer to Melissa's questions: Where else would Black Excellence go in this region besides WMS/GHS?
SP
Party's Over, just not true. I have supported this from the beginning, told Trish that and the Board knows that.
"Actual questions about TAF are welcome."
No, Trish said she would not answering questions here. I will strive to listen to her testimony and put it up. Or, Party's Over, you could do that for us.
Well, if you read my post, SP, I answered that question. I would venture that Franklin, Cleveland and RBHS would take issue with your last statement.
TAF does not want to be in the middle of a fight. TAF does not want to waste staff time fighting. I don't blame them.
Trish made some points that really resonated with me. The school seeks to bring every student up to 8th grade level so that they are successful in high school. This is a reality. Many middle school students are years behind. If they don't catch-up, they will not be successful in high school. This is a crying shame.
Attempts have been made to engage General Education families. General education families are not showing-up to meetings.
The mistake was made when Juneau decided to pit communities against each other. POC are showing up to board meetings They want to retain the cohort. They fear that, if their child returns to their neighborhood schools, they will be subjected to disproportionate discipline and given medical diagnoses. This is a serious issue. I wish the district would address this issue- at all schools. It would be a terrible life to be condemned to a medical diagnosis because a child has advanced capabilities.
Juneau's goal is to break HCC. Juneau tried to sell TAF by stating the board would agree to a one year plan. That is not true. Juneau has a SIX year plan that would destroy options (HCC) all over the city.
Hersey admitted that his students have a reading range from K-4th grade. He teaches second grade level. That is what happens. Teachers teach to the middle. Families know that general education really does not provide advanced learning.
TAF should be an Option School. Give families choice. Stop pitting families against each other.
I don't get what this means.
Try again, reader, without saying demeaning things about children. Not going to have it.
SPSuspicious minds
SPSuspicious minds
We don't sneer at children as you previously did. There are Facebook pages for that so go there.
You know that was a rhetorical question, and yeah, I hope CHS, FHS, and, RBHS would assert their school is the best, but how would you answer?
Where is the epicenter of Black Excellence in SPS? Where better for TAF to bring its gifts to our African American youth?
SP
HP
Trish's testimony starts around the 45 minute mark of School Board Meeting November 6, 2019 Part 3, and continues well into Part 4.
I haven't been able to watch it all yet, but I like her. She comes across as very knowledgable, devoted, and yes, tired of the SPS BS. Makes sense. I still don't have a good sense of how the model would work for HC students, but hopefully the rest of the testimony will clarify that. Interestingly, she DID mention that TAF and SPS have been working from 2 documents: one the joint operating agreement/MOU thing, and the other a proposal of some sort that shares more details of how this would all work. It would be great if SPS or TAF would share elements of that proposal if addresses the many questions. It sounds like even board members may not be in the loop on that one? Hmm.
From what I've watched thus far, one of my big questions is this:
For whom does the TAF model work best? Is the TAF model a better fit for HC students, typical neighborhood students, or is it the one program that's able to serve all kids well (in which case all schools, across the whole country, should adopt it)?
If TAF is a better fit for neighborhood students, what's the justification for sending SE region HCC students away from their neighborhood schools to TAF instead, taking slots from WMS neighborhood students?
Or even if TAF is as great as everyone says (and I'm not saying it isn't) and if TAF can work well for ALL types of students regardless of ability level (and I'm not saying it can't), again what is the rationale for HCC students to get their own special pathway to TAF at WMS,? Is the district suggesting neighborhood schools can't provide good HC services so a TAF pathway is needed, because TAF can? If that's the case, what does that say about the feasibility of a plan to eliminate HCC pathways?
The Juneau comment about it being a "one-year pilot" was deceptive, and I'm glad Dir. Harris called her on it and pointed out that this is a 10-year agreement they're talking about. I would say, however, that if the district really was considering it a 1-year pilot and was committed to looking at results for all types of students and was willing to leave other options open for students if it wasn't working, that might not have been such a hard sell--for HCC and GE students/families alike. If you knew your HCC 5th grader could try TAF in 6th grade and see if it really did provide sufficient challenge, with the option to either stay in TAF or move to an HCC cohort in 7th, people would probably be excited. But simply declaring that TAF is an HC service, without any explanation or outcomes to justify that claim, is problematic.
all types
The TAF presentations are disorganized and lacking information. They are controlled - starting with SPS telling parents that we are "on board" before even knowing anything about the program and ending by telling parents to "check the SPS website for answers to any questions". You had 2 hours of parents’ time and most came away confused. I am still not sure who your target audience is. I am not sure why your OSPI numbers are low. I am not sure what numbers you plan to achieve. Kids already spend a lot of time on their phones, why would parents want them to spend more time with technology in the classroom? I don't know if Melissa still stands by her statement "if students are engaged, then parents are engaged".
TAF leaders/SPS administrators are trying to get parents to buy in. Shunning/controlling/not answering questions and bringing your supporters on to this blog to attack potential consumers doesn't seem like a good strategy.
Actually, reader, no it's not. TAF plans to use the same curriculum as SPS, including Amplify. And Discovering math. So there's no escaping Amplify. Wonder how crappy SPS science & math curriculum will impact TAFs success.
Reject Amplify
Meanwhile TAF has several public engagement sessions for general ads students that are poorly attended. It turns out the indifference to the program is because white privilege has closed the door on them. The only HCC meeting that was scheduled was traumatizing to TAF staff. Imagine how all those families feel to realize that they are not going to receive best practices -- and instead of receiving high school level coursework in middle school they are going to be locked into a program which it's stated goal is to get kids ready for high school by 9th grade.
The two programs are diametrically opposed. And the three political amigos are just using this wedge issue to further their goal to lower the ceiling for everyone. Bingo no more equity gap.
Sun poisoning
Juneau does not want a win-win. She wants to destroy. The district's Honors For All report indicates the district does not have the capacity to assure Honor designated classes are truly honor level classes.
Juneau does not break down Asian and multiracial populations. She also claims that highly capable represents the top 2 percent, but SPS has 9% of the population in HCC. This is because 9% of Seattle's students are in the top 2 percent.
Your comment that Melissa interpreted as sneering seemed to suggest that HCC students are "average to slightly more accomplished white kids," disregarding the fact that they, and 2e students as well, had to score WAY above average, in both cognitive ability and achievement, to be identified as HC in the first place.
When you say students "coulda been gifted except for performance," you suggest that performance is the key marker of giftedness. One measure of performance is meeting HC cut-off scores. HC and 2e students have met those performance markers. Another marker of performance would be scoring above grade level on state tests. Most HC students do that as well.
Yours is reminiscent of the typical argument that HC students really aren't so smart or gifted anyway. Are you suggesting that they need to cure cancer or something in order to prove they are indeed HC? Or are you suggesting all students have similar academic abilities?
It often seems that the bar changes depending on who is being discussed. White students are not really HC because their test scores are somehow illegitimate, but students of color should be identified as gifted regardless of how they perform on those same tests, because the tests are biased against them. So are the eligibility tests important at all, for anyone? If not, what are the criteria that should be used instead?
all types
Juneau has made herself crystal clear. Read the editorial. Upfront and straightforward as can be.
She said Seattle says it's all progressive but, in practice, fights tooth and nail to maintain segregation.
Tru Dat
"Where is the epicenter of Black Excellence in SPS? Where better for TAF to bring its gifts to our African American youth?"
Well, your question seems to lean to "put TAF in the school most geared for black students and make sure it's a good one." You suggested Washington and Garfield.
It's an interesting question - what schools do the best serving black students? Is it South Shore K-8 with their extra $1M a year? Is it Garfield (notwithstanding Juneau's belief that black students there call it "a slave ship")?
My impression is that Franklin is doing a good job.
Circling back, I would put TAF 1) where it would serve the most black and brown kids, 2)where the community understands the program and is excited for it and 3) where the district will do its fair share to support the program today and in years to come.
Trish said she only wants WMS. I find that not very accommodating. Why don't you just start a charter school. Oh because you really need the staff. And how did that staff vote go? I heard it was like 4% of staff said yes.
The the deal was really dead on arrival Geary gave it some life enough to offer a wedge issue by her amendment. Juneau knew that was completely against procedure and illegal.... But hey they got Hersey to take the vote and make a stand... For an illegal process. Hopefully going forward he will understand his role better. Definitely understand why he would fight for it but it has to be organically possible. TAF and HCC are dimetrically opposed. One is to teach high school classes the other is to get you prepared for high school.
Sun poisoning
trying to understand
Simple factors you can't have it both ways. Simple factors you can't teach high school level courses at the same time that you're teaching kids to get prepared for high school.
Sun poisoning
MW: "Circling back, I would put TAF 1) where it would serve the most black and brown kids..."
so, it sounds like you support TAF at Washington except when you don't.
Party's Over
BLACK ASIAN WHITE BI-RACIAL NA PACIFIC ISL HISPANIC
AKI KUROSE 34% 32% 8% .5% 17%
RBHS 45% 26% 2% 9% 2% 14%
MADRONA 38% 3% 35.9% 15% 7%
WMS 22% 17% 38% 10% 9.6%
Let's add those numbers for black/brown kids (leaving out for now Asians and bi-racial children.
WMS and Madrona tie at 31.6%. Aki Kurose has 51%. RBHS has 59%.
And who has the largest number of white students? WMS
Yeah, that's why I think these other buildings would be a better choice for STEMbyTAF.
"So, we are trying a new approach. For 17 months, an Advanced Learning Taskforce has been meeting to explore possible solutions to increase diverse representation. Three weeks ago, initial policy recommendations were presented to the School Board. Since then, there’s been confusion about the implications and misinformation about the recommended changes."
https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/seattle-schools-can-undo-legacies-of-racism-by-boosting-all-advanced-learners/?fbclid=IwAR1jrF4wTGkwpFDY2FYh-kIJ4V71BAYIvmjHzkKNQtzNjkCokE9xeVwsa6c
Thanks to the person that testified regarding this issue.
My quote from this morning: "This blog has been on a campaign against TAF at Washington from the start, insidiously abetted by Melissa..."
Your direct response to my comment:
"Party's Over, just not true. I have supported this from the beginning, told Trish that and the Board knows that."
Why all the concern on this blog to have TAF at a school with more "black and brown" students?
Just because it was set up in high FRL schools prior does not mean the model is only intended for students living in poverty.
That is ludicrous! It's quote obvious that the concern is about protecting the service model for HCC at Washington. This faux concern to "give" TAF to a school with more students of color is a transparent guise to keep HCC at Washington as is.
Just be honest. No one is fooled, people.
Party's Over
Party's Over
You can believe whatever you want but if the district wants to help the most kids - the kids who furthest from accessing high-quality STEM instruction - they wouldn't be putting it at WMS.
And who said anything about F/RL? Not me.
As for HCC, it will be gone soon. If you watched the last couple of Board meetings with public testimony, several kids/parents of color asked why the only HCC middle school program in the central/southeast was going to have its model changed, not the schools in the north end?
It's a good question.
Whether HCC should end or not, TAF seems like a great program and a wonderful opportunity for any middle school in Seattle. I could see it being a great basis for future IB students at one of our IB High Schools.
Staff could have asked TAF to start at a different middle school, or they could have waited until decisions about HCC have been made, or they could start TAF as an option school like they did Cleveland.
PBL is a good way to engage different kinds of learners in one classroom. And no Amplify science or discovery math. Yay.
One thing I found disturbing was the continued talk about HCC must end because it is segregation. I don't see them upset about any other segregation in the district only that one. Also board members & Juneau assuring parents that differentiation is a good solution to meet the needs of all students then also saying that no principals want HCC students in their schools and that SPS should only offer a basic floor of education. Staff knows, or should know, the history of differentiation in SPS classrooms from schools pushing HCC students out, to administrators patrolling the hallways to make sure that every student was doing the exact same math page with EDM.
I am curious if TAF doesn't have to use Amplify, they why do other schools have to use it?
-HS Parent1
Your plan to put TAF with a school with high numbers of Black & Brown students WILL also have a high FRL population.
So that is inherent in the discussion.
Party's Over
Trish Dziko said in her board meeting testimony that TAF would use the district's curriculum.
all types
If so, why in the world would she be actively working with the district to put TAF at Washington?
Party's Over
Again, the same voices who are so fast to criticize TAF are the posters who repeatedly try to keep the ineffective HC model in place at all costs.
Dull Moment
Only in the SPS world are questions about things like models and outcomes seen as "playing lawyer." Those aren't trick questions designed to trip people up, nor are they unreasonable or irrelevant.
Are critical thinking skills now considered un-PC?
data seeker
No kidding, right?
You're wrong about the curriculum; TAF has to use district curriculum. But maybe they will apply for and get a waiver.
Also to note, TAF will not be a charter school. They are not making money on this, in fact, if you read the BAR, they are putting in something like $350,000. That's real investment. And, the teachers are in SEA, etc.
Yes, Juneau and Geary seeming to want to lower the floor to some baseline education standard is weird.
Talking about lawsuits, which have come up in this discussion, is playing lawyer.
Happy to clarify that for you.
Party's Over
She is trying to give a fair playing field to the students for whom she's responsible.
You might disagree with her. However, it's not okay to trash her.
Enough
First of all, you will never unsegregate the district (if by that you mean the make-up of each school).
And she should give a fair playing field to all students but especially those who need more support.
"basic floor of educational opportunity"
That is what Geary said should be offered to students by SPS.
Those words are very familiar to special ed parents. They are used all the time to deny services to our students. It refers to a supreme court case decided in 1982 where a family sued a school district for refusing to provide sign-language services to their deaf first grader because her standardized test scores were 70th percentile. The court stated that IDEA only guaranteed 'some' educational benefit which she was getting without the interpreter. Later the 10th district court further defined this as "merely more than de minimus", 'a trivial amount', or a 'basic floor of educational opportunity'.
In 2017 the Supreme Court unanimously rejected that standard.They said that "a student offered an educational program providing ‘merely more than de minimis’ progress from year to year can hardly be said to have been offered an education at all". The new standard is to have a goal of one grade level of growth per year" or if that is unreasonable given the child's cirmcustances, at least the growth must be appropriately ambitious and offering the chance to meet challenging objectives. Which is significantly more demanding than 'a basic floor' or 'merely de minimis'
Geary absolutely knows this. Juneau knows this. This is a deliberate method of denying services and claiming legal justification for doing so. Even though that legal standard was overturned 2 years ago, which they also know.
Whenever you hear 'basic floor of opportunity' you can just remember 6-year-old Amy Rowley sitting through class with no sign language interpreter. That is how it is used on special ed families. And considering that gen ed doesn't have IDEA to protect them, those words would strike fear in me.
And remember that the new standard is 'must be appropriately ambitious and offering the chance to meet challenging objectives' otherwise it's not even an education at all according to the supreme court.
-sped parent