Seattle Schools Community Forum

April 9, 2015 Garfield High School Seattle, WA WE THE STUDENTS OF GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL, are leading a movement in protest of the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC.) Here are several reasons why we oppose the SBAC and its consequences.  The SBAC is unnecessary and not required for graduation if a student has passed the High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE.) Data from initial SBAC testing indicate that only 30 to 35 percent of students are expected to pass. This is setting up 70 percent of our students for failure and will lead to increased student anxiety and a decrease in student morale. Students who choose not to opt-out of taking the SBAC will miss two full days of valuable class time to take the reading and math portions of the SBAC. This interferes with preparation for final exams and Advanced Placement exams.  All of our computers will be unavailable to students and teachers during the week of SBAC testing because the assessment is administered on compu...

Dear Garfield families, The Seattle School District has announced its intention to withdraw one full-time teacher from Garfield, effective Monday, October 25, 2014 - leaving 150 students without a class for the rest of the semester, unless Garfield produces $92,000 by Friday, October 24 . This cut will occur despite the fact that SPS holds $8.5 million in reserves that could be used to cover this expense. Garfield High School is already the lowest funded High School in Seattle .  At $5,951 per student, we are a full 15% below the average of $7,004 per student per the 2014/2015   district funding report (page 44). High Schools   Proj Enrol lment FTE  Grant Budget  Non-Grant Budget Total Budget Budget per Student Ballard 1572 106.1 $71,500 $9,472,548 $9,544,048 $6,071 Center 271 20.3 $12,500 $1,866,756 $1,879,256 $6,935 Chief Sealth 1170 97.2 $186,500 $8,673,628 $8,860,128 $...

  I first heard from Issa George, who is the VP of the Garfield High Black Student Union.   He says: On Wednesday October 22nd, 2014 we are hosting a march from Garfield High School to the East Precinct of the Seattle Police Department on 12th and Pine.  We plan on beginning our march at Garfield High School at 3:30pm , then we plan to walk up 23rd until we reach Union st. where we will make a left and march up Union until we hit 12th, then we will proceed to the police department. We are using this march to call attention to the mass amounts of police brutality that happen in our country every day. We have prepared a statement to address the Seattle Police Department. Our march is completely student run, and adult supported. We are advertising this as a place for young people of color to express their feelings about the police. Attached is our statement. We are only affiliated with Garfield High School, and this is a Black Student Union lead march....

The agenda for the October 13 Curriculum and Instruction Policy Committee has been posted and it's a lulu. It includes: A motion to amend Policy 3201, Disciplinary Appeal Council The motion for the annual approval of schools A motion in support of the City's pre-K initiative A draft Policy for advanced learning The annual approval of the Alternative Learning Experience Plan as well as a review of the Alternative Learning Experience policy An update on the Special Education revised C-CAP An update on MTSS An item labeled "Garfield High School Post" An assessment update Something to do with the attendance policy The quarterly report on Equitable Access And something to do with the policy on Research Activity and Test Administration

I will be taking a short break for a few days as my family will be happily attending the graduation of my youngest son from his university.  We are very proud that he was accepted to the Evans School of Public Affairs at UW to work on his Master's. I am disappointed to report that teacher Jesse Hagopian narrowly lost to Jonathan Knapp for president of the SEA .  The vote difference was 45 votes out of 1,342 cast.  About 54% of the SEA members voted which was apparently nearly twice what they have had in past elections.  There is to be a runoff for the treasurer's spot between Jennifer Matter (Knapp slate) and Dan Troccoli (Hagopian slate).   According to OSPI, Rainier Beach High School will continue to receive a federal grant to help improve academic outcomes. Ballard High School students won two awards for short films at the National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY).  Song for Anna by Lucy Harstrick, Isaiah Hoban-Halvorsen, Josh Vredevoogd...

Several items of interest from two SPS high schools.  One item is an update about the dress code coming from Ballard's principal which seems to be a thoughtful letter.  The other is about several issues at Garfield High School. Ballard's Mr. Wynkoop let the students know that administrators had thought about this issue as the weather was getting warmer and let the students know - in advance - what the dress code policy at Ballard is. But, Recently we have become aware of an effort to organize a protest of some kind later this week that would include girls wearing overly revealing clothes. To attempt to head this off and/or make our position clear, I spoke with the Student Senate today, took input and answered questions related to this issue. I also wanted to make it clear to our entire community about our justifications, our expectations and the steps we will continue to take when issues arise. This is precisely the right course of action. Here's our policy, here...