tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post4299319909515800750..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Board Agenda November 17, 2010Melissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-3690208285316683012010-11-14T11:21:37.386-08:002010-11-14T11:21:37.386-08:00Joanna, the certification program they go through ...Joanna, the certification program they go through is WHILE they are teaching. They are new teachers with 5 weeks training AND working on certification at night in schools with large numbers of low-income students.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-72433287290408878152010-11-14T09:03:15.933-08:002010-11-14T09:03:15.933-08:00My thoughts on the Actions that need to be taken t...My thoughts on the Actions that need to be taken these days and the reasons why are contained in my article:<br /><br /><a href="http://mathunderground.blogspot.com/2010/11/shakedown-current-conspiracy-against.html" rel="nofollow"> Shakedown: The Current Conspiracy against the American Public School Parent, Student, and Teacher. </a><br /><br />Since there are apparently no forces with vast resources advocating for the American Public School Parent, Student, and Teacher, the only solution is self-defense.<br /><br />Immediate steps to take:<br />(1) Oppose the TfA contract proposal at the Seattle School Board meeting on Wednesday November 17 at the JSCEE at 3rd and Lander at 6:00 PM.<br />You can express your opposition by writing to the school board at<br />schoolboard@seattleschools.org<br /><br />(2) If we are successful in the "Sufficiency Hearing" for the Recall of four school directors on November 18th, please join in the effort to gather at least 32,000 valid signatures of Seattle registered voters on the recall petition. Here is the current form of the recall synopsis.<br /><br />If you would prefer a Republic where the citizens interests are protected by laws, it appears your action is needed to oppose the current ruling oligarchy. So get moving or don't.<br /><br />For Public Education is in need of your help.<br /><br />The Bureaucracy explosion needs to end. Resources are needed for the classroom but that is not where our supposed education leaders are directing them.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-16790210146509073672010-11-13T21:12:57.308-08:002010-11-13T21:12:57.308-08:00TFAs are CONDITIONALLY certified - they do not hav...TFAs are CONDITIONALLY certified - they do not have a full cert. But some would argue (including the district at the Nov 3 meeting, when Legal said the California HQ ruling wouldn't apply here) that since they're conditionally certified they're certified. It's this magic morph: They both have the word "certified," so they are the same.<br /><br />It just ain't so.<br /><br />A conditional cert is not a cert, it's a conditional cert...an almost-cert.seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-66903136922296161332010-11-13T19:27:45.035-08:002010-11-13T19:27:45.035-08:00Joanna, that is not my understanding at all. I am...Joanna, that is not my understanding at all. I am under the impression that TFA recruits come in with a BA/BS and 5 weeks of TFA training. If they complete their two year stint plus some higher ed classes during that time, THEN they are certified. <br /><br />Correct me if I'm wrong. If they are in fact certified, I don't see what all the fuss is about.Chris S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17016898261120819596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-69755274749907630632010-11-13T17:52:15.843-08:002010-11-13T17:52:15.843-08:00I would agree with Parentofthree that the Hamilton...I would agree with Parentofthree that the Hamilton principal, and district, are being disingenuous by making statements that they are so proud that Hamiltons test scores improved this year. Well, of course they did, but not because of anything the school did. The school swapped a large group of their south end students for a large group of APP students, who are among the highest performing students in the district. Of course the test scores are going to go up.<br /><br />But, Parent of three, at least the report does break out advanced learning test scores, as well as low income, ELL, and different ethnic groups.<br /><br />Also found this on the school report that was impressive.<br /><br />"We offer math improvement classes, an after‐school Math Academy, and test‐taking camps during school breaks for students who need extra help. We use a program called “I Can Learn” to help strengthen basic math skills. We hold math content nights to help engage students and families in our math program<br />and to share strategies to help students succeed."seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01231800476411684686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-67139107792953985992010-11-13T17:11:39.575-08:002010-11-13T17:11:39.575-08:00Also, looked again at HIMS school report and no me...Also, looked again at HIMS school report and no mention of APP in the school, yet there is this:<br /><br />"We are proud of the increases we made in our 2009‐2010 State test scores."<br /><br />Isn't this jump due to APP moving into the school? Bit disingenuous. Yet as an outsider looking in you would think wow, this school is doing something amazing, look at those scores!<br /><br />Personally, I question the intgrity of the principal for taking credit for something his leadership was not responsible for.<br /><br />Wonder how many more things like this are embedded in the school reports and the CSIPs plans.ParentofThreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15853045587227159562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-11413354338473866392010-11-13T16:21:45.914-08:002010-11-13T16:21:45.914-08:00I agree, Charlie, the Director Maier is doing the ...I agree, Charlie, the Director Maier is doing the right thing by asking for accountability. I just wonder about the named elements of accountability. The amendment starts by saying that there will be "a report on the outcome of the contract's implementation." This is good: It will require the district to analyze all aspects of the implementation, who it went, the various data and performance of the TFA plan and personel...But then it suddenly narrows, to some rather odd pieces, a couple of which are impossible: How does the district, in three years (at contract review time) know the subsequent placement of TFA alum, where they go to work next?<br /><br />Hmm, actually, the Senior Policy analyst at LEV was only in TFA for a couple of years, then got out of teaching and started policy work...so I suppose that some of the TFA people will have left their positions and be elsewhere when contract renewal time rolls around...<br /><br />But yes, there will be a "report on the implementation of the contract" in two years, nine months (so we can read it over before the contract expires in three years.) That is good: We'll see how it went.<br /><br />I'd recomment putting that on your calendar and asking the district in two years six months how the report is going and when it might be expected. (Oh, and how much does THAT work cost, compiling a report on TFA? Add that to the unfunded mandate....education is all about unfunded mandates, isn't it?)seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-9475033649663616672010-11-13T16:08:31.665-08:002010-11-13T16:08:31.665-08:00Why does Director Maier think that the Teach for A...Why does Director Maier think that the Teach for America contract will be renewed at all? Why does he presume that it will be approved in the first place?<br /><br />That said, he is, in fact, doing the right thing by investing each motion with some sort of accountability measures. Every single thing the Board approves should have a feedback loop like this so we can judge the efficacy of the initiative. He should not have named the specific data points, but simply said "data that measures the efficacy of the effort and truth of the claims" and let the staff choose the data points.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-50070363120417753062010-11-13T16:06:05.334-08:002010-11-13T16:06:05.334-08:00While I wonder if TFA is great fit for Seattle, I ...While I wonder if TFA is great fit for Seattle, I want to clarify that all are certified teachers before they enter the classroom under an alternative certification process. <br /> <br />TFA candidates attend something called Institute, five-week intensive training program designed by the corps, take the required teacher test and then go through certification with a local four-year Institution of Higher Education. I think in our case it is UW (not sure).joannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02017196722611730669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-19459544074463527962010-11-13T13:01:13.911-08:002010-11-13T13:01:13.911-08:00Maier's amendment is very confusing (though no...Maier's amendment is very confusing (though note that it requires the superintendent to make a full report on every aspect of TFA hires and program ("contract") implementation before contract is renewed. That will be an interesting power point.):<br /><br />"...contract may not be renewed or extended without the Superintendent first providing to the School Board a report on the outcome of the contract's implementation. To the extent that such data is held by the District, the report shall include data and other information about the TFA teachers hired by the District under the TFA contract, such as demographics, educational background, positions filled, longevity of employment, subsequent positions in education, and the results of teacher evaluations (provided that the data and information does not compromise the privacy of any individual teacher)."<br /><br />Let's see...can't renew/extend w/0 supt's report on outcomes. Outcomes will be many, if TFA is hired, but Maier is only interested in the "data" of the TFA hires. AFTER the hires are hired (before contract renewal) he want's to know the educational background of TFA hires?<br /><br />Then he wants to know the "positions filled, longevity of employment, subsequent positions in education" of TFA hires? Umm, isn't the TFA's big rah-rah point that they recruit from college seniors about to graduate? Aren't they ony working one position during their short contract before TFA renews with SPS? And how on earth would anyone know what their "subsequent positions in education" will be while they are still employees of SPS, probably, when the TFA contract expirse in a couple of years? I'll save the supt, her wok on this one: When the contract comes up for renewal, the TFA hires will not have had any subsequent positions.<br /><br />But really I'm more interested in the TFA Report the supt will have to make soon at renewal time.seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-46141767572977368822010-11-13T12:46:47.756-08:002010-11-13T12:46:47.756-08:00That the Board continues to allow staff to run ove...That the Board continues to allow staff to run over policies and governance, well, I have seen them walk erect so I know they have spines but it's hard to tell when they are seated.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-86707802162213345672010-11-13T12:39:00.046-08:002010-11-13T12:39:00.046-08:00"almost none of the schools with advanced lea..."almost none of the schools with advanced learning programs make any reference whatsoever to the program - or even a plan for serving advanced learners - anywhere in their CSIP"<br /><br />I noticed that also in school reports, which I believe pulled their info from the CSIPs. If you were an outsider looking at SPS you would not know about any of the advanced learning programs.<br /><br />Do any of the CSIPs make mention of SPEC Ed programs?ParentofThreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15853045587227159562noreply@blogger.com