tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post3123460979451321068..comments2024-03-29T02:41:52.718-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Tuesday Open ThreadMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-31023785730265875782019-10-25T12:00:28.690-07:002019-10-25T12:00:28.690-07:00If the district ws providing transportation for th...If the district ws providing transportation for the 98% of the time my child was in an academic program that I thought was worth it, yes, I would do it. Other parents might make a different choice.<br /><br />My comment was constructive - it let people know that transportation is available for HCC students and it costs the district nothing.<br /><br />I do not care for your tone, Good Luck, either to me or others. You might want to think about reformulating your comments. Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-55491590669845857032019-10-25T11:53:17.606-07:002019-10-25T11:53:17.606-07:00@MW Do you have something constructive to add ? Di...@MW Do you have something constructive to add ? Did your kids ride a metro bus across town for school?<br /><br />When your child is 10 plus miles away and it's winter and they have to stay after school, then parents need to drive to pick them up. We also need to pick them up for appointments too. Have ever ridden the buses north and south? Would you really want your 14 year old on one of those routes?<br /><br />We do not have the luxury of a stay at home parent who can drop everything to run the forgotten lunch box over to school.<br /><br />I know it's hard for some people to grasp the importance of neighborhood schools delivering MTSS, but that's were we are heading. Maybe you could skip a couple of vacations a year and then pay for private school, because it seems you think if your children are too smart for us regular folks. <br /><br />It's hard to lose a good thing and I get that. HCC and its supporters wiggled their way into getting their very own new schools, but that is what has brought so much unwanted attention and criticism to HCC, you should have thought that one through.<br /><br />--Good luck Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-65143682435238303652019-10-25T11:45:46.636-07:002019-10-25T11:45:46.636-07:00Remember the plan to change all high schools to a ...Remember the plan to change all high schools to a trimester schedule as a means of meeting the 24 credit requirement? The task force proposed a massive, system wide change which would have effectively reduced the total yearly hours allotted for each core class, eliminated year long electives and severely limited AP and IB course options. Year long classes would have been truncated into 2-trimester chunks that may not even be offered the same year or sequentially. When the "plan" was daylighted, it sank like a rock. Will a similar scenario play out with the plan to eliminate HCC?<br /><br />no planAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-67797482169403999512019-10-25T11:38:59.433-07:002019-10-25T11:38:59.433-07:00Denise Juneau oversees a publicly funded school di...Denise Juneau oversees a publicly funded school district. Taxpayers have invested $1.5B per year into Seattle Public Schools. We deserve an honest superintendent.<br /><br />Juneau would be smart to embrace honesty. Otherwise, things are not going to work out very well. Misleading Statementsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-14710562167434843782019-10-25T11:24:38.223-07:002019-10-25T11:24:38.223-07:00We're still talking about a plan with no plan....We're still talking about a plan with no plan. If HCC is to be transitioned to neighborhood schools, boundaries for many schools must change. If the service model is to change, identification procedures and score cutoffs may change as well. The Board should not approve any changes without a comprehensive, Board approved plan. What will it cost? What might be some unintended consequences? What options are being considered?<br /><br />no planAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-91168381726067232182019-10-25T11:13:16.336-07:002019-10-25T11:13:16.336-07:00I just heard a really great interview on KUOW this...I just heard a really great interview on KUOW this morning with presidential candidate Andrew Yang. I find him excellent on addresses many issues. Among other things, he mentioned educational research data reports that 2/3 of student outcomes are directly related to factors outside of the K-12 educational system. Yet we place 100% of the burden on teachers. Factors like poverty, educational attainment of parents, stress level in the home and others. He mentioned a good understanding of what is needed to address multiple issues in K-12. <br /><br />However Seattle Public Schools, some on the school board, and some candidates for school board in practice are imposing one standard for all, as if all kids are the same. You cannot have one standard for all. If anything you need to be working to help disadvantaged kids obtain a higher standard! Instead of dismantling honors classes for example, why not make at least one AP or IB class mandatory for all kids and provide the supports for all kids to do well? <br /><br />Parents would not likely object about watered down AP/IB coursework as AP and IB are not controlled by the district and have more standardized curriculum. I find it interesting that they are not imposing AP/IB options for all. Instead they want to dismantle true AL options. <br /><br />A Parent Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-29928042679381111622019-10-25T11:08:05.506-07:002019-10-25T11:08:05.506-07:00Want to make a comment about a candidate you suppo...Want to make a comment about a candidate you support? Swell. Want to disagree with someone about their choice? Swell. But take personal swipes at someone for their opinion? Nope. If you do that, you will be deleted.<br /><br />Nice Try, I see you ignore the issue of the AL Taskforce getting their work done. That is a completely valid point. Why ask people to work so hard, for 18 months, only to forge ahead before their full recommendations and assessments. That is wrong.<br /><br />Crystal Clear, just to note, no one pays for transportation to an HC school. In fact, the district doesn’t either; the state does.<br /><br />What amuses me is that it is liberal on liberal arguing. Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-84815786292429741172019-10-25T11:06:22.234-07:002019-10-25T11:06:22.234-07:00Nice Try,
Are you saying it is ok for a highly pa...Nice Try,<br /><br />Are you saying it is ok for a highly paid public employee to create and disseminate misleading public messages? Are you saying it is ok candidates to distribute misleading information? Where does honesty fit into the equation?Misleading Statementsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-67218397469535017062019-10-25T11:00:05.670-07:002019-10-25T11:00:05.670-07:00I think the worst endorsement for HCC came from th...I think the worst endorsement for HCC came from the dad of color at a recent school board meeting, I think he was being sincerer and genuine, but he was really making an argument for making school more meaningful and full filling for all students. The dad did not mention anything about social emotional supports, he mentioned rigor and engaging. Shouldn't all students experience more rigor and be more engaged?<br /><br />I wish HCC proponents would stop with the vial threat , "If you break up HCC then we are coming to your local classrooms!" really what does that even mean. or "If you think teachers have it rough now , just wait!". Just wait for what, little Einstein flu ? <br /><br />When did all this HCC nonsense start in Seattle, I guess I missed it while fighting for schoolbooks for every student.<br /><br />I guess we won't be getting back to learning anytime soon.<br /><br />NRB<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-57076418056385499652019-10-25T10:47:36.887-07:002019-10-25T10:47:36.887-07:00Students do not just get to attend a HC program of...Students do not just get to attend a HC program of their choice across town. They are assigned to an HCC pathway school based on the neighborhood attendance area - but yes. it could be in a different part of town depending on where they live. <br />Transportation is provided to the assigned HCC school via school bus. <br /><br />What do Prius's and heat pumps and vacations have to do with this?<br /><br />Crystal clear, you prove the point that this animus toward HCC is at least partly driven by jealousy.<br /><br />How is dismantling the HCC program going to solve problems related to educational achievement and justice? The families that you disparage for driving new cars, or taking overseas vacations, or installing heat pumps are still going to be attending public schools alongside your kids. What do you propose the school district does about that? <br /><br />What is your point?<br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-59334708447979215052019-10-25T10:35:49.244-07:002019-10-25T10:35:49.244-07:00Yeah, McGilvra & Montlake families aren't ...Yeah, McGilvra & Montlake families aren't going on expensive vacations and buying heat pumps. LOL! Have you been to Queen Anne/Magnolia? Ballard? Capitol Hill? The PTA officers at some of our highest FRL schools take lavish foreign vacations and post about them on social media. This is not an HCC problem. It's a wealthy west coast city problem.Montlake MDsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-63708268728177738952019-10-25T10:24:26.358-07:002019-10-25T10:24:26.358-07:00@SPSuspicious minds
That you for proving my point...@SPSuspicious minds<br /><br />That you for proving my point!<br /><br />Crystal clearAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-21330606584188879322019-10-25T10:22:14.175-07:002019-10-25T10:22:14.175-07:00Seattle Liberals (like Sue Peters) are in a pickle...Seattle Liberals (like Sue Peters) are in a pickle, while their global views align with their groups, get Trump, get Trump and get Trump, their local views do not. Liberal Seattlites like Peters tend to talk the talk until they are directly effected. It's clear that HCC is incompatible with social justice and something has to give.<br /><br />Seattle's twisted view of Global warming solutions is to punish people who are just trying to live their lives by taxing or eliminating their cars and heating sources. <br /><br />A struggling family can't go out and just buy a Prius or just buy an expensive heat pump.<br /><br />They can't supplement transportation across the city to attend the HC program of their choice.<br /><br />They don't get to go on vacations every single school break or visit east coast colleges.<br /><br />Now the elitist are interested in vocational training and what they are really saying is, we HCC elitist will go on to higher learning and the rest of you can learn to serve us.<br /><br />Crystal clear Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-62271054875950927422019-10-25T10:18:33.327-07:002019-10-25T10:18:33.327-07:00Yes @need coffee!
You can give them whatever desi...Yes @need coffee!<br /><br />You can give them whatever designation you like, or none at all, but the kids who are currently known as HC or in the HCC program aren't going to disappear if you get rid of the cohort. They are still going to be mostly getting 4s in the SBAC where ever you put them or what ever you call them. How is this going to help the kids that the district is really concerned about, the ones who are getting 1 and 2s on the SBAC? Putting HC kids in their classrooms is not going to make them suddenly start getting 3s and 4s. <br /><br />The differences in achievement between ethnic groups and socioeconomic groups in Seattle schools are still going to be there. The district will still look like its failing to close the achievement gap when the state testing scores come out. These proposed changes are just window dressing. Doing something that looks like a big bold move but that will really have no meaningful effect at all.<br /><br />It's much harder and more costly to actually provide additional services and staffing than to just take something away. The district has never been able to provide differentiated learning opportunities consistently and equitably throughout its schools so what makes anyone think they can now? Actions speak louder than words - pay attention to what they do not what they say. Spectrum, walk to math, 'advanced learning opportunities', separate honors classes ....... all disappeared, never provided, or disappearing. Money for staff and resources in classrooms (vs JSCEE) - never materializes; school resources are always being cut back. <br /><br />Lets see the stats for the honors for all classes at Garfield for example. What is the breakdown in grades/scores based on race/FRL status? I'd wager that the higher achieving students (who would have previously taken a separate honors class) are still predominantly white and/or better off than the lowest performing ones. I'd love to be proved wrong, so show us how honors for all has improved the performance of those furthest from educational justice. If we never see any data from the district about these classes it suggests that what it shows doesn't fit their narrative. <br /><br />The students who exceed grade level standards currently will continue to do so even if you only teach at grade level, or teach to the lowest common denominator. It will just be easier for them. They'll have time to complete all their homework in class. They'll goof off and distract other kids because they got it the first time and repetition bores the shit out of them. They'll get 'A's. But they will be woefully unprepared to handle a real academic challenge when it eventually comes in college or the workplace - having never had to really work hard or put in extra time to succeed or overcome academic difficulties. And please explain how this helps the students who aren't meeting grade level expectations to do better? It may soothe the SJW's troubled hearts and look good on their resumes but does it really help the students? <br /><br />SPSuspicious minds<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-27159157546148609602019-10-25T10:12:04.512-07:002019-10-25T10:12:04.512-07:00I don't get it. The goal is to create student ...I don't get it. The goal is to create student programs where the parents'/guardians' level of education reflects the diversity of adults in the city? In the neighborhood? Inside the school boundary? Does SPS know what students' parents' level of educational attainment is? <br /><br />I mean, Director Jill G. went to law school. Chandra H. has a B.A from Stanford University and an MBA from the University of Washington. So, do we need to dismantle View Ridge Elementary and Sand Point Elementary? Are you really trying to say that if an MD sends his kids to Montlake Elementary, we need to shut down Montlake? <br /><br />Which school has the parents with the highest level of education? It's not Concord. So, should we close Concorde for accumulating too many parents who don't have a college degree? <br /><br />There's a hole in your argument.Montlake MDsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-52441530229463006812019-10-25T10:10:40.155-07:002019-10-25T10:10:40.155-07:00@need coffee, I don't think any amount of expl...@need coffee, I don't think any amount of explanation is going to sway those who don't "believe" in the cohort. The goal doesn't seem to be one of using limited district resources efficiently, or actually providing some base level of acceleration to academically advanced students.<br /><br />another observer Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-60311061810042276812019-10-25T09:17:13.982-07:002019-10-25T09:17:13.982-07:00Of course kids from middle class/upper income hous...Of course kids from middle class/upper income households with educated parents will be those in the highest walk to math groups, as well as those who opt into AP/IB classes. <br /><br />These same people are against differentiation and opt in honors classes. The recent articles and interviews in the media are criticizing white kids who make up the majority of AP classes which are opt in at Garfield. <br /><br />It is also why schools are now moving away from opt in honors classes. These people have stated they are aware that certain kids opt into honors and want to remedy that situation. <br /><br />The downside is that honors for all classes in our experience are a stark contrast to other subject honors only classes, in which syllabus and stated teacher goals are preparing students for the rigor of AP classes. The teachers of the honors for all subjects at our school do not state this goal. <br /><br />HS Parent<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-53142862270080595192019-10-25T09:02:29.135-07:002019-10-25T09:02:29.135-07:00@ Nice Try,
HC in SPS is a segregated side show, ...@ Nice Try,<br /><br /><i>HC in SPS is a segregated side show, based almost exclusively on parent educational attainment.</i><br />What exactly do you mean?<br /><br />HC refers to a student designation. Students who are tested and meet certain very high cognitive and achievement cut-offs are designated as HC. HC students are also in all/most schools, although some schools have many and some very few.<br /><br />HCC (with the extra "C" for "cohort") serves a similar demographic as those identified as HC, but a smaller subset since not all participate in HCC for various reasons. HCC is intended to provide HC students an education that is somewhat better aligned to their academic and social/emotional needs than the GE program is, since the GE program is designed for typical students (which makes senses, since such students make up the bulk of our population and are the students for whom curricula are written, grade level standards are developed, etc.). Most education is tailored to the GE population (hence the "general"). <br /><br />Now, a lot of people like to complain about HCC-the-cohort, claiming it's "segregated," although in reality it's open to anyone who meets the cut-offs (and district numbers show the students across racial groups have been identified/participated.) Eligibility is not based on race, but rather test scores. However, HC eligibility is not racially proportionate to the overall SPS population, so neither is cohort participation, and thus HC/HCC may look like segregation. <br /><br />But you bring up an important point by mentioning parent educational attainment, although it's important to note that <i>both </i>HC designation <i> and </i>HCC participation are correlated with parent educational attainment. In other words, high-achieving parents are more likely to have high achieving students. I would add that parental income is also correlated with HC/HCC. One has to wonder how much of the supposed racial segregation in HC/HCC would disappear if the analyses controlled for both parental educational attainment and income. <br /><br />Your comment also begs the question: When we're talking about education, isn't current level of students' own educational attainment a KEY factor in determining instruction? How much have you learned so far, and what makes sense to learn next? Indeed, that's exactly what MTSS and the fake promise of differentiation would have us believe--that students will be served based on how they are currently performing, using all sorts of ongoing assessments and monitoring to awesomely track their progress and needs. If student educational attainment is important re: service provision, isn't it only natural that the resulting service provision will likely track somewhat to parental educational attainment as well? <br /><br />If MTSS is fully implemented as it would need to be for HC students, there would still be a differentiation of services--which would likely still be correlated to parental ed attainment and income. After all, it's the same students. HC students will still be HC students--it's just that they'd be served by individually tailored services in the classroom, as opposed to more efficient HCC bulk services. The big difference would be either in (a) the optics, because the race/income/parent ed-based differentiation would be hidden from view and people could pretend it wasn't happening; or (b) the loss of services, because the promised MTSS differentiation wouldn't really happen, so HC students wouldn't get appropriate services. <br /><br />HCC is a tool to deal with the reality that educational attainments differs--and WILL differ--significantly among students of the same age. In the absence of a better, feasible way to deal with the achievement gap--which is observable even before SPS students begin kindergarten, HCC makes sense. If it's a side show, it's a cheap and easy side show. <br /><br />need coffee<br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-65919407329818122722019-10-25T00:37:51.822-07:002019-10-25T00:37:51.822-07:00Juneau and Rankin are stating the obvious: HC in S...Juneau and Rankin are stating the obvious: HC in SPS is a segregated side show, based almost exclusively on parent educational attainment.<br /><br />Blame the messenger at your peril. They are stating the obvious, and history is on their side.<br /><br />Nice Try Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-24805501454453676832019-10-24T23:48:05.269-07:002019-10-24T23:48:05.269-07:00The Curriculum & Instruction Committee held ba...The Curriculum & Instruction Committee held back policy changes because they awaited an ALTF Committee report. In essence, the district simply wanted to force through changes before the ALTF weighed in. <br /><br />Juneau responded by a misleading statement. The statement showed the ALTF met, but she failed to inform community members that the ALTF did not issue a report. <br /><br />Here is Juneau's language:<br /><br />"For 17 months the Advanced Learning Task Force has been meeting to explore solutions to address a lack of diverse representation in the district’s advanced learning programs. Policy changes were introduced to the Curriculum and Instruction Committee on October 8, 2019, that would have dramatically increased advanced learning opportunities for students of color who are furthest away from educational justice. "<br /><br />Rankin, via her twitter account, felt the need to retweet Juneau's misleading statement.<br /><br /><br />"Liza Rankin Retweeted <br /> Seattle Public Schools @SeaPubSchools Oct 10 <br /><br /><br />You can read @SeattleSupt's response to the Curriculum & Instruction Committee decision to not move revised Board Policy 2190, Highly Capable Services and Advanced Learning Programs, to the full board for introduction here: http://ow.ly/4ohE50wHJiX #SPSConnects"Misleading Statementsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-13612558547223805082019-10-24T23:38:51.500-07:002019-10-24T23:38:51.500-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-30988098276394140292019-10-24T13:42:37.866-07:002019-10-24T13:42:37.866-07:00On the topic of the School Board election, I am al...On the topic of the School Board election, I am also voting for <a href="https://www.electmuniz.com/" rel="nofollow"><b>Rebeca Muniz for Seattle School Board in District 3,</b></a> for the following reasons:<br /><br />Rebeca brings a sensibility and insight that will well serve the Seattle School District’s many diverse students. As the first in her family to go to college, and with a Master's degree in Education Policy & Leadership from UW, Rebeca understands firsthand what less-advantaged students need to succeed. Her commitment to authentic community engagement and outreach to Seattle's immigrant and ELL families, as well as her keen empathy, intelligence and fresh perspective will be great assets on the School Board.<br /><br />-- Sue Peterssuep.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17281578510716234624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-65252599949845593442019-10-24T12:23:12.723-07:002019-10-24T12:23:12.723-07:00Grade skipping is not an ideal solution. The goal ...Grade skipping is not an ideal solution. The goal is to provide access to accelerated learning, but not necessarily put students on a fast track to graduation. Sure, allow it as a carefully considered option, but don't make it the default. For a young-for-their-grade student, a grade skip could put several years between them and the oldest students in the class. And the academic boost is sometimes short lived, as the pace of learning hasn't changed, just the grade level. <br /><br />Scores of 4 on SBAC mean they have mastered grade level standards, right? Maybe some are ready for more advanced work, and maybe some aren't. But, yes, what is the actual plan?<br /><br />no planAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-65888196870563094552019-10-24T11:03:15.765-07:002019-10-24T11:03:15.765-07:0040% of Seattle students are getting 4s on their SB...40% of Seattle students are getting 4s on their SBAC tests. That's a LOT of students who are ready to learn more. SPS is dismantling Walk To Math and they already killed Spectrum. So, the question really is, how will SPS educate these kids. <br /><br />Happily section 502, page 49, of HB 1599 should help some of them actually access advanced learning.<br />https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/05/07/1818737/0/en/FIRST-IN-NATION-LAW-TO-REDUCE-BARRIERS-TO-ADVANCED-CLASSES-FOR-ALL-STUDENTS-ADOPTED-IN-WASHINGTON-STATE.html<br /><br />It's a big city, SPS. Better get educating. Otherwise we'll be overrun by our East Side overlords.Lurn Booksnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-48214430203572464342019-10-24T10:35:25.718-07:002019-10-24T10:35:25.718-07:00https://www.seattletimes.com/education-lab/heres-w...https://www.seattletimes.com/education-lab/heres-whats-at-stake-in-2-north-seattle-school-board-races/<br /><br />ST review of the SB candidates north of the ship canal. <br /><br />Silo ShadeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com