tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post8249442041695524854..comments2024-03-27T20:01:11.889-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: School Board Retreat reportMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-9280764147058823942013-09-10T13:24:13.816-07:002013-09-10T13:24:13.816-07:00If I could put a gold star on Monday Musings' ...If I could put a gold star on Monday Musings' comment, I would.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-39008559470434183422013-09-10T07:26:18.371-07:002013-09-10T07:26:18.371-07:00MM - ROFL! Best post ever.
-skeptical-MM - ROFL! Best post ever. <br /><br />-skeptical-Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-59615946785401937362013-09-09T23:54:15.972-07:002013-09-09T23:54:15.972-07:00Thank you MM. Two sick kids in the house, you rai...Thank you MM. Two sick kids in the house, you raised the tier to :-D.<br /><br />-StepJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-68728147449820338412013-09-09T20:35:55.236-07:002013-09-09T20:35:55.236-07:00MM, that post is a classic :)
--TCMM, that post is a classic :)<br /><br />--TCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-88878703929590121492013-09-09T17:35:13.141-07:002013-09-09T17:35:13.141-07:00@ MTSS Wondering. Great questions. As a teacher wi...@ MTSS Wondering. Great questions. As a teacher with my boots on the ground, I am not hopeful for great answers anytime soon. <br />@Monday Musing. Thanks, but I can't decide if I wasn't to laugh or cry.<br /><br />Teaching despite the district.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-38743145355452298122013-09-09T15:46:07.918-07:002013-09-09T15:46:07.918-07:00Thanks for the giggle MM
Ann D.Thanks for the giggle MM<br /><br />Ann D.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-68992740709604464402013-09-09T14:58:57.836-07:002013-09-09T14:58:57.836-07:00If Smarter Balanced Assessments force the district...If Smarter Balanced Assessments force the district to follow some standards (standards that go behind the limited RRW material), then that is a good thing in my book. My worry, though, is that they will focus on the skills without giving equal importance to the content. It's quality content that will make the skills meaningful. A related and thoughtful discussion about the testing of Common Core, from E.D. Hirsch:<br /><br /><a href="http://blog.coreknowledge.org/2013/09/06/the-test-of-the-common-core/" rel="nofollow">The Test of the Common Core</a><br /><br />jsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-15695298485907808952013-09-09T14:37:05.148-07:002013-09-09T14:37:05.148-07:00Next steps on MTSS: Another board + staff retreat!...Next steps on MTSS: Another board + staff retreat! Cue wavy blurred lines and tech music...<br /><br />Does MTSS have to be envisioned as a triangle? It isn't innovative. It isn't how Boeing Best Practices does it. It isn't how Apple, er Microsoft would approach it. Could another level be added and make it a square? A rhombus? A quadrilateral? Now that's innovation! Maybe we can even find a free app! But wait - what if the the Alliance doesn't embrace squares? Are squares culturally sensitive? What if SEA claims squares to be outside its hard-fought contract? The quadrilateral might work, but would it be too repetitive with the KIPP story? No need to get too cozy to charter visioning. Would we have anyone in-house to explain the rhombus, or do we need to bring in an expert? Who will fund the expert? Is the rhombus fundable at the national level? Damn state legislature hasn't given us money for the rhombus. Is Gates supporting the rhombus? Is the rhombus actually a city issue and not a school district issue? What if we can't scale the rhombus? We could go back to the triangle but given the questions raised, let's aim for something achievable! A straight line! No one can argue with a straight line, can they? What does the UW say about straight lines? Will straight lines work in the NE? Are there straight line scaffolding curriculum and manipulatives available if we do a multi-year rollout? Are straight lines compatible with STEM? Will special education parents scream? Will APP parents scream? Will principals support the straight line? What is Highline doing around straight lines? What is Renton doing? What is Bellevue doing? OK then, how about a dot. Let's envision MTSS as a dot. <br /><br />Cue wavy blurred lines and tech music.<br /><br />"Monday Musing"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-46698093005037996942013-09-09T14:17:53.344-07:002013-09-09T14:17:53.344-07:00Let's all unwad our undies. What does the boa...Let's all unwad our undies. What does the board do anyway? ??? They rubberstamp decisions. It really matters not one whit what they list as their priority at a retreat. They don't decide anything! As to "legal" threats working or not. Yes they do, if they're credible, even a little bit credible. It's not credible that OSPI would hold up $11 mil. And, $11 mil ain't that big either. So, that threat is empty. Why would they worry about it? They don't worry about it, and neither has anyone else, certainly no district staff have worried about it. If parents want to cry to OSPI, they will end up pretty disappointed, because OSPI always sticks up for it's children - the districts.<br /><br />-Another another parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-79432839736726302442013-09-09T14:07:18.514-07:002013-09-09T14:07:18.514-07:00MTSS? What's the big deal? It's a triang...MTSS? What's the big deal? It's a triangle on a powerpoint. What could be easier? Just slap that triangle up everywhere and call it good. Sure. You can collaborate if you want to. Or not. You can give tests and assessments to move students in your mind to various regions in the triangle. Or, you can just put up the triangle on your wall. Or not. That's the beauty of it!<br /><br />-ReaderAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-63842844096451297472013-09-09T14:02:01.811-07:002013-09-09T14:02:01.811-07:00@ Mirmac and Mary Griffin, your passion is admirab...@ Mirmac and Mary Griffin, your passion is admirable but your tactics, having read this blog for a time, seem ineffective. Your comments have not shamed the district into doing the right thing for all students. It appears to me that staff has taken to doing what it has long done with a few of the more vocal APP parents I know. Tuned you out. They have valid points too. Does not matter. <br /><br />Can't suggest a better solution for making the right thing happen, because legal threats don't work either, from what I read on this blog.<br /><br />I don't sense any board member is a booster of APP, my particular interest, or special ed. I expect both to get shorted in the budget and planning process. At least you have a director of special ed. APP doesn't even have that. <br /><br />Another ParentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-33356034571540074872013-09-09T13:39:20.025-07:002013-09-09T13:39:20.025-07:00@ parent, you will have to look at the Collective ...@ parent, you will have to look at the Collective Bargaining Agreement to get your official answer. This matters to us in elementary school too. We are hunting for the official wording of the contract approved last week. <br /><br />Another ParentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-65063531840470497552013-09-09T12:56:58.388-07:002013-09-09T12:56:58.388-07:00Common Core as a board priority is a nightmare out...Common Core as a board priority is a nightmare out of the gate. What is the reasoning staff gives for elevating it to Priority No. 1? In their own words from the staff document: <br /><br />"In this first full year of implementation of CCSS, staff and <b>students must be prepared for the implementation of the Smarter Balance Assessments</b> in 14-15. <b>Not doing so could results</b> (sic) <b>in lower test scores and the need for more funding</b> to support students who are falling behind."<br /><br />Got that Seattle? <b> <i>Common Core to District HQ is not about deeper, richer learning. It is about test scores and about spending less or the same, but certainly not more, money on struggling students. </i></b><br /><br />An Ed Reform and Finance bottom line. Business interests must be thrilled.<br /><br />District WatcherAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-50109815320885836482013-09-09T12:17:09.507-07:002013-09-09T12:17:09.507-07:00No, the Exec Dir of SpEd was not at the retreat. ...No, the Exec Dir of SpEd was not at the retreat. It was the board, supt, the many asst supts and two staff involved with the Strat plan, Clover Codd and Erinn Bennett.<br /><br />Yeah, I asked where Ms McWilliams was, but looks like Tolley was expected to carry the water. Not good.mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-44168386206009094952013-09-09T11:53:00.708-07:002013-09-09T11:53:00.708-07:00Thanks, MV and Eric B. for asking about MTSS &...Thanks, MV and Eric B. for asking about MTSS & PG&E. Charlie, would you please post important acronyms in the definitions space on the right sidebar?<br /><br />CTEAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-82947447672688347302013-09-09T11:52:31.000-07:002013-09-09T11:52:31.000-07:00How is the definition of "struggling" or...How is the definition of "struggling" or "below level" defined in MTSS? What standards are used deciding when a child moves from Tier I to Tier II and gets that extra help? What tests, assessments? What teacher input, observaations? What parent input? How often each year? Without any additional resources (aids, tutors, etc) for this, how can we expect things to be any different than they are now? Is MTSS just window dressing?<br /><br />-MTSS wonderingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-90692443882510523802013-09-09T11:21:50.210-07:002013-09-09T11:21:50.210-07:00To add on to Wondering's comment, MTSS also re...To add on to Wondering's comment, MTSS also relies on more collaborative time between staff, to comprehensively assess each student's strengths/weaknesses and to make cross-staff plans to support each student.<br /><br />SPS won't be getting additional staff. No money. In short, MTSS requires a radical change of running buildings and classroom teaching in most SPS schools.<br /><br />This is nothing new. MTSS is an update of RTI, which was lip service but not actionable throughout the district under Goodloe-Johnson. <br /><br />I strongly support the idea of MTSS. I have grave concerns about the ability of the district to carry it off. Primarily because the district has so many competing issues to address. But naysaying won't move the idea forward, so I hope the district provides concrete explanations of how staff will accomplish this, and provides the public ways for parents and the community to support this heavy lift.<br /><br />EdVoterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-91140201974344807942013-09-09T11:12:06.948-07:002013-09-09T11:12:06.948-07:00PG&E is, I believe, Professional Growth and Ev...PG&E is, I believe, Professional Growth and Evaluation.<br /><br />MTSS requires more staff, or at least, additional training for tutors (Do all schools have tutors?) that includes all types of interventions. Before this model was described as a 3-tier system, it had the same issues now that it will have when it is called MTSS unless changes are made.<br /><br />A three-tier system requires the second tier to be planned and effective, otherwise, special education will continue to be viewed as "the only way to get extra help", which has led to many unnecessary referrals. There will also need to be high-quality alternatives to special ed at tier 3.<br /><br />Was the new special ed director at the board meeting? She's senior staff, right? Did she say anything?<br /><br />- WonderingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-35007669076702530742013-09-09T10:59:58.754-07:002013-09-09T10:59:58.754-07:00An open thread question - what are class size limi...An open thread question - what are class size limits under the new teacher contract? My child is reporting some middle school class sizes of 36. Is it the total load that is limited (i.e, 150 students), or is there also a per class limit?<br /><br />parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-2835858471980460272013-09-09T10:30:39.830-07:002013-09-09T10:30:39.830-07:00I was skeptical of Common Core at first, but if sc...I was skeptical of Common Core at first, but if schools actually implemented Common Core Language Arts standards, and held teachers accountable for covering the standards, it would be a vast improvement over the way language arts has been covered. The standards include writing, grammmar, spelling, punctuation, vocabulary, etc.<br /><br />http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy<br /><br />Of course, Common Core standards are skills based on content that the districts must provide - SPS needs to define the grade by grade content and materials. <br /><br />jsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-19087944960709678612013-09-09T10:20:56.180-07:002013-09-09T10:20:56.180-07:00I feel like I should know all the acronyms, but I&...I feel like I should know all the acronyms, but I'm stumped. What's PG&E?Eric Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-58438740297420417442013-09-09T09:50:16.093-07:002013-09-09T09:50:16.093-07:00Common Core? Groan. The newest cliché downtown. No...Common Core? Groan. The newest cliché downtown. No doubt every little thing in the coming two years will be justified under Common Core. Ah well, at least we have moved on from the 'accountability' cliché. It had worn out its welcome and has not exactly come to fruition.<br /><br />Which leads to ---- how will Budgeting be a priority without veteran Duggan Harmon? District, meet creek with no paddle. This is one extremely serious problem. <br /><br />District Watcher<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-58861368273969445452013-09-09T08:32:02.009-07:002013-09-09T08:32:02.009-07:00Here are the staff-recommended initiatives. It wo...<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/166725913/13-14-Staff-Recommended-Initiatives" rel="nofollow">Here are the staff-recommended initiatives.</a> It would appear that MTSS is the new Special Education, at least among the benighted downtown. The district claims they are "taking this to scale". Do we know of one building where this is to scale?<br /><br />The statement "MTSS is the support that will provide access for all students to meet CCSS assessments" gives me pause. It looks like the goal is for students to meet assessments - not master skills, enjoy learning, or be great writer; all those things i want for my child. And we know that more than half our students won't "meet assessments" because otherwise would mean the assessments are too darn easy, right?<br /><br />Finally, I'm not sure how the district intends to pay for MTSS. It won't be with funding for a student's special education services. We have seen how the district has tried to use these restricted use funds for disallowable costs. Somehow I don't believe they will handle this thing any better.mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-70474112664379332952013-09-09T08:29:56.618-07:002013-09-09T08:29:56.618-07:00An observation: The board has said in the past tha...An observation: The board has said in the past that "programs" are not macro enough to be a top focus for board planning focus. I hypothesize that they would consider special education, and advanced learning, and language immersion and STEM and etc. to fall across the other goals of budgeting, equitable access, common core and so on.<br /><br />EdVoterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-31161703367864151132013-09-09T07:46:17.726-07:002013-09-09T07:46:17.726-07:00Charlie, Tier 3 is not a referral to special educa...Charlie, Tier 3 is not a referral to special education, although some kids in tier three could be getting sped supports. <br />studying mtssAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com