tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post629040451405938462..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Bellevue School DistrictMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-74151464872887813092019-06-22T01:52:25.405-07:002019-06-22T01:52:25.405-07:00I’m excited to uncover this page. I need to to tha...I’m excited to uncover this page. I need to to thank you for ones time for this particularly fantastic read !! I definitely really liked every part of it and i also have you saved to fav to look at new information in your site.<br /><br /><a href="https://healthnewsreporting.com/schemes-and-policies/details-children-education-allowance-exemption/%22" rel="nofollow">children education allowance exemption </a><br />Ujan sharmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10567168164008681679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-69671764279711205502019-04-07T17:04:48.277-07:002019-04-07T17:04:48.277-07:00Bellevue School District has an attitude they can ...Bellevue School District has an attitude they can do no wrong. They actually believe they can't be held accountable for repeatedly breaking the law. Nancy Larson has been harassing, threatening, intimidating, bullying, and retaliating against workers for 42 years. Yes, she's 72 and still getting away with her illegal activities on our taxpayer dime. Her partner is crime is illegal rehire, Jack McLeod, whose wife and kid also milk the BSD 405 payroll. His kid had no experience, but ended up working in Capital Projects for his Daddy. His wife is retired but still getting paid and she's illegally sitting on the Board of Directors for Bellevue Schools Foundation. They believe nobody will catch them, but maybe they will finally meet justice with real investigators?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-57977129084229383072018-03-04T22:55:22.107-08:002018-03-04T22:55:22.107-08:00This is the first time i read your blog and admire...This is the first time i read your blog and admire that you have posted on this...I really found useful.Keep updated. <br />Shanayahttps://www.youniversitytv.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-42290840166409742016-12-28T16:50:15.120-08:002016-12-28T16:50:15.120-08:00Related to PSAT, NM cutoff scores in WA are among ...Related to PSAT, NM cutoff scores in WA are among the highest in the nation. WA ranks up there with NY, TX, CA, VA, MA, MD, NJ, and DC, who have selection index cutoffs of 219+. <br /><br />Map of PSAT cutoffs:<br /><br />https://www.applerouth.com/blog/2016/09/08/psat-redesign-brings-changes-to-national-merit-scores/<br /><br />Historical NM cutoffs for WA:<br />2017 - 220<br />2016 - 219<br />2015 - 219<br />2014 - 220<br />2013 - 216<br />2012 - 220<br />2011 - 218<br /><br />just fyi Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-67735980025299982602016-12-27T14:02:29.007-08:002016-12-27T14:02:29.007-08:00I think some here are conflating "private sch...I think some here are conflating "private school" with "gifted education" and that's not true for most privates. They embed rigor and the expectation is that the student - with smaller classes and support - will do the work. Most privates do test students in.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-72046991737500956902016-12-27T13:55:15.378-08:002016-12-27T13:55:15.378-08:00Not-even-close, what private school or schools ar...Not-even-close, what private school or schools are you talking about? From what I'm reading here they don't have high performing students in private schools, even if they do better on the PSAT and probably the SAT. Oh the irony! The gifted students are in HCC. And we all know that behavior problems are never, ever get kicked out of public schools. They wreak havoc in the school, disrupting HCC students who actually want to learn. Private schools are for rich people. Maybe in a voucher system, HCC could just be a voucher for whatever private school not-even-close is talking about. And truth be told, our students would probably get better sports in the private school because there are more spots on the team.<br /><br />HCC numbersAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-29035054034241100522016-12-27T12:27:08.604-08:002016-12-27T12:27:08.604-08:00Having attended a private, college prep high schoo...Having attended a private, college prep high school, I would challenge the idea that SPS provides a private high school experience. There was a coherent sequence of classes with a planned curriculum. Texts were up to date, or at least were texts that stood the test of time. Science labs were well equipped. Writing skills were explicitly taught. Teachers were exited if they did not demonstrate mastery of the subject matter or didn't perform up to standard. Parents generally did not have to supplement at home to make up for poor classroom instruction. Classes were smaller. High performing students were valued and recruited, rather than disparaged. Struggling students were given supports. Students who didn't follow rules could be asked to leave. College planning was provided. I could go on...<br /><br />What our small school could not provide, however, was the same variety of classes, clubs, multiple levels of band and orchestra, etc., offered at larger schools. Did it matter? Not much. There was still a good selection of honors, non-honors, and AP classes. <br /><br />-not even closeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-4006607369458055422016-12-27T11:39:24.903-08:002016-12-27T11:39:24.903-08:00You clearly have no idea of the benefits most priv...You clearly have no idea of the benefits most private high schools provide. They're mostly behavioral. Every school has to provide college prep classes. Private schools can and do kick out students whose behavior interferes with the opportunity for other students to learn. The other thing private schools provide is security. Private schools won't split off a portion of a school to another part of town with no notice or parent input. Private schools don't make major changes to the curriculum and advanced opportunities over the summer. <br /><br />Learning EnvironmentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-71119616552080844462016-12-27T11:24:48.411-08:002016-12-27T11:24:48.411-08:00Which gets us back the point HF. If we have a cri...Which gets us back the point HF. If we have a critical mass of students getting a benefit, all in one place, then we WILL get the private school type services for at least our kids, which is what we want. If we just lump everyone together, then the advanced classes don't happen. So, better to get some advanced classes than none. What's so terrible about a gap? We're always going to have that, why should everyone suffer though, when we could advance a few?<br /><br />HCC numbersAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-82067366766705789532016-12-26T23:58:15.475-08:002016-12-26T23:58:15.475-08:00@NP, my point is not that Garfield doesn't pro...@NP, my point is not that Garfield doesn't provide a lot of opportunities, rather that it's inaccurate to frame these as special opportunities for HCC students. It seems like it's all part of the narrative to paint HCC as this elitist program that provides incredible and unfair benefits, when really it doesn't provide all the much. <br /><br />Yes, students coming out of HCC in middle school are often 2-3 years ahead in math. So are many students NOT coming out of HCC in middle school. And so are many students who didn't go to HCC elementary school, which is the only level during which HCC includes math placement. This is why we find many of the very same math offerings at NON-HCC pathway high schools as well. If there weren't non-HCC students ALSO taking those same prerequisite courses, why would neighborhood high schools need to offer advanced math? Highly capable students, and many other high achieving students, are often several years ahead of average in whatever the subject--regardless of HCC. HCC might give some of them an opportunity to take a class at their level in those early grades, but it isn't what sets them up for advanced classes in high school. A student doesn't need to have attended HCC middle school in order to take calculus in high school. A student also does not need to attend Garfield to take the very advanced, 2nd year AP Calculus, since it's available at some neighborhood schools, too--even though few HCC students have traditionally opted for those non-HCC pathway schools. Does the fact that Roosevelt and Ballard also offer such high level math mean that we should start saying they are like private school, too? What about middle schools? Is any middle school that allows access to Algebra 1 before 8th grade also like a private school education, since that would make them 2-3 years ahead, too? <br /><br />HCC students all take a set science sequence in middle school, and since we're talking about Garfield, specifically, my understanding is HCC students are only ONE year ahead. They don't have to repeat the Bio class they've already taken, but the physical science class they took in middle school is meaningless. So HCC students enter with one science prerequisite under their belts, and yes, that means they can start taking AP classes a year sooner. But access to UW's intro to computer science at GHS is not dependent on past HCC status, and non-HCC students at non-HCC high schools can also take courses for college credit. With the exception of maybe starting AP science in 9th grade instead of 10th, HCC students don't special access to AP courses.<br /><br />Now maybe your real complaint is that Garfield--along with a few of the neighborhood high schools--offers good college prep programs that aren't available at some other SPS high schools? That's a valid complaint--we don't have equal offerings at all high schools. It would be great to get to a point where we DO have strong and equal demand and readiness for rigorous, high level courses in every high school, but until we are there, we'll see disparate offerings.<br /><br />Since what you're claiming about Garfield HCC isn't really uniquie to Garfield or HCC, it seems that wha you're really suggesting is that any school that offers advanced classes is "like private school at a fraction of the cost," which for some reason is painted as a negative, unfair thing when really that should be the goal for all our schools. Garfield, the HCC pathway high school, does offer a lot of great options, but so do several other non-HCC high schools. There are inequities, but they aren't HCC-dependent. Rather, they are likely reflective of the larger opportunity gap and how parent income, education, language, environment, exposures, etc. impact child development and education. <br /><br />HFAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-55921649007480008522016-12-26T20:25:37.400-08:002016-12-26T20:25:37.400-08:00I am not sure why so many people seem compelled to...I am not sure why so many people seem compelled to insist that GHS doesn't provide many opportunities comparable to a private school at a fraction of the cost - especially since that has been the experience of a number of families. Many parents have experience with both private and public schools - either because their kids moved back and forth or because they have a couple kids at different schools. <br /><br />Students coming out of HCC in middle school are often 2-3 years ahead in math and 1-2 years ahead in science, leading to earlier academic opportunities such as Oceanography, Physics, Environmental Science, and various advanced math and computer science courses. For example, it is possible to take UW's intro to computer science classes at GHS and place out of those classes at UW. AP World History in 9th grade has been eliminated although it existed before. Taking all those other AP options earlier in your academic career looks great on your college transcript and you can't take those classes early on unless you are ahead to begin with. Often students do have trouble getting the classes they want and are advised to be pushy and tenacious to get the classes they want/need. -NPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-77157039822902757662016-12-26T18:23:06.814-08:002016-12-26T18:23:06.814-08:00@na, math may be 2-3 yrs ahead in HCC elementary, ...@na, math may be 2-3 yrs ahead in HCC elementary, but math is not part of HCC starting with middle school. Lots of kids join HCC in middle school and they aren't automatically stuck being 2-3 yrs behind, nor are non-HCC kids. Math placement is by ability/test scores. Kids who do not participate in HCC elementary can still jump ahead to higher level math in middle school if ready. In other words, the idea that HCC gets you prerequisites for higher level math classes at Garfield that non-HCC students can't get is inaccurate. That's why other high schools can offer the same high level math classes, too--because it's not only HCC students who get the foundation to qualify for them.<br /><br />For science, while HCC is theoretically two years ahead in middle school, the practical impact is one year. In other words, if you go to Garfield (the HCC pathway school), you get to skip Bio. That's it. And since there are a lot of different science options and pathways, HCC students aren't really "ahead" since it's not linear. They may be able to take an AP corse sooner and thus get in one extra one over the course of their 4 years, although from what I understand there can be challenges getting the classes you want regardless.<br /><br />For the most part, any acceleration that HCC students are provided in the early grades is systematically eliminated by the time you start high school. Maybe it's all part of their plan to reduce the achievement gap, but SPS seems to do a great job of taking gifted students and making them more average. The idea that Garfield provides a private school type experience for HCC kids doesn't make sense.<br /><br />HFAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-5454000700150391042016-12-26T17:40:38.320-08:002016-12-26T17:40:38.320-08:00@Cap Hill: Did you know that the articulation of ...@Cap Hill: Did you know that the articulation of Bellevues goals are precisely the smart goal format that Seattle requires of every single teacher? The only missing piece is the time frame. How funny! We teachers have to comply but these very overpaid administrators get away with an ambiguous and general mission statement. Parents should hold administrators as accountable as administrators are holding teachers.<br /><br />@Kudos: It is a lack of curriculum and also lack of expectations for what each level is supposed to reach. At my walk-to-math school all levels are using the same curriculum. The high group just works at a faster pace supposedly and the lower group at a slower one. But the high group does not teach a higher curriculum. The math is such a mess in this district. A help would be to eliminate the math coaches, buy good curriculum, and let teachers who are supposed to be trained to teach already teach it. Having said that, we desperately need teachers with better math skills in elementary. But the math coaches are not out there training unskilled teachers. They are down in administration rewriting our purchased curriculum and workings with a few small groups of teachers. <br /><br />@NoSupport: Exactly. Same with the new teachers I know. It is too much. Simply put, too much. <br /><br />checking in<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-18235417380807041882016-12-26T17:03:32.334-08:002016-12-26T17:03:32.334-08:00@Watching
The parent moved her kid for academic re...@Watching<br />The parent moved her kid for academic reasons. It worked. Just an anecdote but a truthful one. You can think what you wish but it doesn't change one mom's experience. By the way, this was an Indian(East) family. <br /><br />checking inAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-16828172652068441972016-12-24T16:38:33.660-08:002016-12-24T16:38:33.660-08:00math is two years or even three depending on your ...math is two years or even three depending on your abilities. science is two as well i believe. in the years before the michael tolley i might have agreed with app being worth paying for (like private)` as though it had all the elements of public school especially large class sizes. but it had a developed curriculum based on the great work from the robinson center specific with hc kids. but year after year that has all been lost. now it has no developed curriculum (which tolley promised), teaching primary kids in dilapidated an overcrowded hs and advisorial principles with full autonomy to destroy al as they see fit. so not worth private school money, in fact i am wondering if i can have my ptsa money back.<br />-na<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-72233197913180669132016-12-24T15:49:59.012-08:002016-12-24T15:49:59.012-08:00@NP, well if some people are saying it, it must be...@NP, well if some people are saying it, it must be true. I'm curious, though, how they know it's like a private school experience if their kids are there, in public school. I suppose they might have had high schoolers in both, but if they did, I have a hard time believing they'd feel a lot of similarities. But maybe in "some ways", I suppose. Although probably the same ways that could be said about non-HCC high schools, too. As for those prerequisites you get by being in HCC, can you please clarify? As far as I know, science is the only area in which HCC students enter ahead, and that's only one year ahead. HCC middle school isn't the gatekeeper into that supposed private school experience, even if some people say.<br /><br />HF<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-45363045718322965852016-12-23T23:36:55.110-08:002016-12-23T23:36:55.110-08:00used to be that you could get into mercer island h...used to be that you could get into mercer island hs even if you were a seattle resident. but i haven't heard of anyone doing that for at least a few years.<br /><br />naAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-43239866265666682892016-12-23T20:33:07.989-08:002016-12-23T20:33:07.989-08:00What have we heard from people who move to Bellevu...What have we heard from people who move to Bellevue for the schools. Is it worth it? I'm too new in town to know anyone who has done this. <br /><br />NE MomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-62722445256735789572016-12-23T18:39:57.917-08:002016-12-23T18:39:57.917-08:00This is complete malpractice, if that is such a th...This is complete malpractice, if that is such a thing in education. Middle and HS math curriculum stinks. Maybe they need two, one for kids to just hit the basics, and one for kids who may want to go into STEM fields. Because two years advanced in this sucky curriculum is way underserving a lot of kids who could go much farther in math, and may need to in order to get into the fields they dream of. And no textbooks in most classes. How are they supposed to study? And teachers are expected to invent it themselves? SPS. It's all mediocre, maybe until you get to honors or AP, I don't know. We finally gave up and went private.<br /><br />bleahAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-34644742986862155812016-12-23T18:29:45.485-08:002016-12-23T18:29:45.485-08:00I am simply stating what people have said to me ab...I am simply stating what people have said to me about Garfield and how it is like a private school in some respects. Feel free to disagree, but that has been their experience. And yes, UW in the High Schools is at many schools throughout WA. As for classes being "open to all "- not exactly. Unless you have the pre-reqs (which you get from being in HCC) you often can't get into those programs. So advantages accrue, and others get left behind. -NPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-8472961280290508522016-12-23T15:19:36.891-08:002016-12-23T15:19:36.891-08:00When I was a T.A. at UW we had no curriculum or le...When I was a T.A. at UW we had no curriculum or lesson planning support. They just handed us a book and said, "teach this." Ultimately we banded together and shared our work. For the greater good. We created files that all the T.A.s could access of the quizzes and homework assignments we wrote. We kept the soft copies on the computer. I don't know if it's still going, but we felt good about what we'd started. It's crazy to have everyone reinventing the wheel. This problem should be easier to solve. Right? Surely in a school district of this size there are other teachers teaching the same material at the same level? Why not share efforts?MLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-37922286493672531012016-12-23T13:53:09.233-08:002016-12-23T13:53:09.233-08:00Before you get too eager for Curriculum and Instru...Before you get too eager for Curriculum and Instruction to get involved in creating lesson plans, I'd look back and see the mess they made of trying to rework Algebra I to match the standards a couple years ago. It was apparently a nightmare, and the following year they abandoned their reworked scope and sequence and let teachers go back to teaching things in order. <br /><br />At least, that's my recollection of how it all went down. I'm sure others will clarify if I've got it wrong.<br /><br />DisAPPointedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-79864218971339440592016-12-23T12:05:54.979-08:002016-12-23T12:05:54.979-08:00Thank you HCC middle school teacher. This is a pro...Thank you HCC middle school teacher. This is a problem for every teacher in SPS and it's shocking to me that our board hasn't put the smack down on Curriculum and Instruction. Time and money would be saved for some up front investment in proper supports to create some structure and guidance for all teachers across all schools and programs, and I believe the results would pay off. Why?!!! Why?!!! Why don't the C&I people do the work they are supposed to be doing instead of spinning their wheels for YEARS analyzing why HCC is disproportionately white. We know the answer, move on now and start giving the teachers and schools so tools so they can do something--anything--to make MTSS work for students.<br /><br />Fix ALAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-77707080197381126172016-12-23T11:54:15.088-08:002016-12-23T11:54:15.088-08:00Also @NP, those are not unique to Garfield. Other ...Also @NP, those are not unique to Garfield. Other SPS high schools also have special programs and provide the opportunity to do advanced work in many areas. UW in the high school isn't a special Garfield thing, either--over 100 schools in the state participate. <br /><br />This is NOT an "HCC is like private school" issue at all. It's not even a "some SPS high schools are like private schools" issue. These schools simply offer many things that high quality public schools SHOULD offer. It's not a private school experience--it's just a good public school experience (mixed in with some of the bad aspects of public school, too, like not being able to get the classes you want/need).<br /><br />HFAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-72309892847612689932016-12-23T11:53:16.121-08:002016-12-23T11:53:16.121-08:00I am a first year middle school HCC teacher. It ha...I am a first year middle school HCC teacher. It has been shocking to me how little curriculum support there is. Every day I am trying to figure out what to teach and how to teach it. I spend huge amounts of time researching units of study so that I can teach every day. Often I end up using other districts/teachers units of study because Seattle provides absolutely nothing except for a textbook that took about a month for me to actually get my hands on. What do the curriculum and instruction people do? Why are they not in direct contact with all new teachers providing them with teaching ideas, lesson plans, units of study, support? Why are we paying them when they are doing nothing to support the people they should be supporting the most: new teachers!<br />My friends in other districts have so much more curriculum support than I do. Vast curricular resources to make their job so much easier. I am not sure I will last more than this year in this district. <br />-No SupportAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com