tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post8079437854096948671..comments2024-03-29T02:41:52.718-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Times editorial on innovation - in a bad wayMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-18885629786266098282011-02-11T06:51:08.719-08:002011-02-11T06:51:08.719-08:00I was mentioning Trish's opinion as data, not ...I was mentioning Trish's opinion as data, not endorsing it -- she's an influential person (as she has won the right to be) and her take on it matters.<br /><br />Helen Schinskehschinskehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10316478950862562594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-69493796164575623722011-02-10T22:25:16.438-08:002011-02-10T22:25:16.438-08:00Helen,
Please read The Governor’s Education Restr...Helen,<br /><br />Please read <a href="http://seattleducation2010.wordpress.com/2011/02/02/the-governor%E2%80%99s-education-restructuring-bill-bad-idea-2/" rel="nofollow">The Governor’s Education Restructuring Bill: Bad Idea</a>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-67777288751266699632011-02-10T16:17:18.087-08:002011-02-10T16:17:18.087-08:00The third bill, not named by the Seattle Times, is...<i>The third bill, not named by the Seattle Times, is HB 1546.<br /><br />This one is a real stinker. It is, essentially, a charter school bill.</i><br /><br />Trish Millines Dziko's reaction, from "Notes from Trish's Desk":<br /><br />"Two recent developments give me hope. I urge you to pay attention to two moves at the state level that might actually get the job done:<br /><br /><br />1. Governor Gregoire's decision to consolidate education policy into a single cabinet-level<br />Department of Education [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=w5yfxubab&et=1104461185636&s=11387&e=001YU1QL4dg1m9nfBicWx8sRfrSr3YcE_rmdgX6UqrVdoNO9oQXvPrnIne8ii_kf1f882AnJGUIeSEI1ua87U6q82ruWpyYDEiHcLbNALWd_z1zynM8sbh91r0fgflxaBffjFEhssRcizZ96iWzYRxsKsRQrbyelSW1UNwEvmT2dr-9kw2xhjOL72t34SHAscBd].<br /> The current education system is too fragmented. There is no clear line of accountability.<br /> As Lisa MacFarlane of the League of Education Voters [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=w5yfxubab&et=1104461185636&s=11387&e=001YU1QL4dg1m-ZL45zoEaNfGBzxZRE51zu-ysO6o2UJ-Tg7-BDOi-jVJzzfBLMhpxjy72lpo7xrffgwEc0XYuzud8pY35vckCNzvsp0JExRANipQQ1Eo40jXY1YuP7zNiR]<br />says, "Washington has the strongest constitutional language in the country regarding<br />education; the person running the state should have authority over his or her paramount<br />duty."<br /><br />2. House Bill 1546 [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=w5yfxubab&et=1104461185636&s=11387&e=001YU1QL4dg1m_7pJ59KHncQFyhIi7GJ7-Wp1tXMYXzgp2EsBOOpqXLg0Nw1R-HkyN7ugSpC9dmIYoh2wH4HZD1vtyLjgWZ90o4f6DLD9oOOSEFHKw2MEgvALAfyOFIQJoeaisiyRgxWw9vHL40QeO6z7YRKwZBn5FlyQTdXVuskMLMZRYT13wZNw==].<br />Just this week, I attended a hearing to get more details and offer my input, but I think this is the strongest move yet to inject real innovation into the public school system."<br /><br />Helen Schinskehschinskehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10316478950862562594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-67871983391343222112011-02-10T15:57:35.534-08:002011-02-10T15:57:35.534-08:00Google It, thanks for this info. I could go for 1...Google It, thanks for this info. I could go for 1521. Let's help districts recognize that innovation can happen and here are good examples. It could be just "good job" but it could be more for districts who just don't know where to start. <br /><br />HB 1447, though, sounds like "charter-lite" and a foot in the door without a vote. I saw that "co-mingling" and my radar went up. <br /><br />1556 is charters without calling it that. I think someone thought he/she was being very clever.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-86679525735046183842011-02-10T15:43:35.203-08:002011-02-10T15:43:35.203-08:00From the House Bill Analysis:
Current laws that a...From the House Bill Analysis:<br /><br /><i>Current laws that authorize the SBE or the SPI to grant waivers from laws and rules pertaining to basic Education requirements, student-to-teacher ratios, and length of the school year are amended to include schools under the Program. Currently 83 school districts have a waiver of the 180-day school year under this law.</i><br /><br />So the above is already allowed under current law. What's new about HB 1447 (different from what can be done under existing laws) is this:<br /><br /><i>In addition, Program schools may apply for waivers of laws pertaining to limits on salaries for certificated instructional staff, comingling of state funds for categorical programs, and flexibility in calculating course credits for high school classes.</i><br /><br />Google itAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-88806061237428280132011-02-10T12:33:06.538-08:002011-02-10T12:33:06.538-08:00The third bill, not named by the Seattle Times, is...The third bill, not named by the Seattle Times, is HB 1546.<br /><br />This one is a real stinker. It is, essentially, a charter school bill.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-64471749220731156862011-02-10T12:21:06.149-08:002011-02-10T12:21:06.149-08:00HB 1521 is just a dumb "attaboy" for inn...HB 1521 is just a dumb "attaboy" for innovative schools. It appears to be something of a waste of paper and print.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-50242177345514435132011-02-10T12:16:25.052-08:002011-02-10T12:16:25.052-08:00Consider the law on Alternative Learning Environme...Consider the law on Alternative Learning Environments. HB 1447 doesn't allow anything that the ALE law doesn't allow - except for the teacher salary thing.<br /><br />Without the teacher salary thing there would be no need for HB 1447 at all. People who wanted to innovate could just form an ALE.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-45876982617572311102011-02-10T12:14:32.687-08:002011-02-10T12:14:32.687-08:00HB 1447 specifically says that "innovation&qu...HB 1447 specifically says that "innovation" schools can apply for waivers from:<br /><br />"<i>Current laws that authorize the SBE or the SPI to grant waivers from laws and rules pertaining to Basic Education requirements, student-to-teacher ratios, and length of the school year are amended to include schools under the Program. In addition, Program schools may apply for waivers of laws pertaining to limits on salaries for certificated instructional staff, comingling of state funds for categorical programs, and flexibility in calculating course credits for high school courses.</i>"<br /><br />So schools will be allowed to exceed the student:teacher ratios set in the Basic Education law. How is it innovative to put 40 students in a classroom?<br /><br />Schools will be allowed to teach a shorter school year or be exempt from the 150 hours of instruction rule for high school credit. How is that any different from what already happens? What's so innovative about having less school?<br /><br />Innovative schools will be allowed to comingle state funds for categorical programs. Ah! So the money specifically earmarked for ELL students, SpEd students, Highly Capable students or low-income students can be spent on anybody and everybody. Doesn't that already happen?<br /><br />Finally, and this is the real focus of the bill: the law would allow changes to salaries for certificated instructional staff. Ah! Once again we see that Ed Reformers believe they can do all of their work through the teachers' contract.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-53517109022325472882011-02-10T11:14:53.639-08:002011-02-10T11:14:53.639-08:00Let's see, sounds like:
year-round school (pr...Let's see, sounds like:<br /><br />year-round school (probably just for the poor)<br /><br />increased class size<br /><br />disregard IDEA and all that federal civil rights crap<br /><br />use MAP to set teacher salaries<br /><br />That's not innovation, that's Eli Broad's wet dream.<br /><br />grumpyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-34474810001139225472011-02-10T10:11:28.844-08:002011-02-10T10:11:28.844-08:00We should be very clear that Seattle's alterna...We should be very clear that Seattle's alternative schools have been innovative, and successfully innovative, without waivers from union contracts.Chris S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17016898261120819596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-13298124477141904492011-02-10T10:00:37.844-08:002011-02-10T10:00:37.844-08:00What's interesting is that 25 Representatives ...What's interesting is that 25 Representatives are sponsoring <b>HB 1521 Recognizing Washington innovation schools</b> (Thornton Creek elementary and Aviation High get mentioned), but only 5 of those are sponsoring <b>HB 1447</b> (it has a total of 9 sponsors).<br /><br />Google itAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-35225855801186407492011-02-10T09:45:14.663-08:002011-02-10T09:45:14.663-08:00HB 1447 School Innovation Program
It’s appears to...<b>HB 1447 School Innovation Program</b><br /><br />It’s appears to be a RTTT on the State level. Up to 10 schools will get grants to pilot “innovative” projects in schools. Would this allow charter-like schools, without charter schools? Here are some highlights:<br /><br />-Schools may be granted waivers of certain state statutes and rules (including length of the school year, student-teacher ratios, and calculations of course credits for high school)<br /><br />-At the request of the school district, may even petition for waiver of federal regulations<br /><br />-Allows comingling of funds for the programs (including highly capable and transitional bilingual) <br /><br />-Allows performance-based system of staff compensation<br /><br />-Does not expire until June 30, 2020<br /><br />Google itAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com