Seattle Schools Community Forum

That would be Career and Technical Education , what we used to call vocational education.  Seattle Schools has really kicked this department into gear.  This follows a national reawakening (finally) that not every student is or wants to go to college.  Here's how the district describes it:

Wednesday, October 23 Work Session: Strategic Plan Performance Measures from 4-5:30 p.m.  No agenda available. Work Session:Distribution Services from 5:30-6:30 p.m. (hard stop at 6:30 pm as they have an Executive Session at 6:30 p.m.)  Agenda Thursday, October 24th Road Map to College event from 3-6 pm at Chief Sealth Int'l High School District IV School Board candidate forum at Lawton at 6:45 p.m., featuring Suzanne Dale Estey and Sue Peters. Saturday, October 26th Community Meeting with Director Patu from 10 am to noon at Cafe Vita. iCollege event with Washington State University faculty, staff and alumni, from 10:30 am- 1:30 pm. at Seattle City Hall. No registration needed, free lunch for the first 300 students who show up.  Looks like a great opportunity to learn about WSU and get help with the college application process with multiple workshops.  They are raffling off a free iPad mini as well.  Also to note on your calendar:

Lots happening this week in SPS. Monday, Sep 24th BEX IV levy discussion from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Madison Middle School, 3429 45th Ave SW Tuesday, Sep. 25th Community Meeting with Director McLaren from 1:15-3:15 p.m. at Delridge Library, 5423 Delridge Way SW Wednesday, Sep. 26th T wo- Hour Early Dismissal Work Session on Budget Goals from 4-5:30 p.m. Closed Session on Labor Negotiations (not open to the public but a heads up that the district is now talking with the teachers) Thursday, Sep. 27th BEX IV levy discussion from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at McClure Middle School, 1915 1st Avenue W Friday, Sep. 28th Community Meeting with Director Patu from 6-7 p.m. at Cafe Vita, 5028 Wilson Avenue S. Saturday, Sep. 29th Community Meeting with Director DeBell from 9-11 a.m. at Cafe Appassionato at 4001 21st Ave W. Community Meeting with Director Smith-Blum from 10-11:30 am at the Capitol Hill Library, 425 Harvard Ave. E. See It. Be It. event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m....

This is a long overdue thread but one that deserves two threads.  This first one is about what SPS is doing and their great director, Shep Siegel.  The other one will be about national CTE and new efforts to revive. Vocational ed?  Do we all remember this from high school?  The shop teacher with the missing fingers?  The guys who took auto shop to learn to rev up their cars?  We have come a long way and luckily Dr. Siegel is creating the SPS program to have more current programing AND appeal to a wider number of students. And why? We all know that students should graduate ready for college or career (as well as ready to be citizens of this country).  What is the reality?  A high drop-out rate, kids who either don't want to go to college or may not be able to afford it and fewer job options for students with just a high school diploma. Career and Technical Education gives kids options.  Gives them a reason to stay in school.  Give...