Seattle Schools Community Forum

From SPS Communications: Kyle Kinoshita, Ed.D has been selected Chief of Curriculum and Instruction for Seattle Public Schools (SPS). Kinoshita comes to the position after serving as the Executive Director of Learning and Teaching for the Marysville School District for the past nine years. The SPS Chief of Curriculum and Instruction position is critical to students’ success. The position provides the district expertise and innovative leadership for all phases of department services, including professional development, standards, and assessments, as well as development of a curriculum and instructional delivery service model for schools to ensure direct and system-wide services to students. Kyle was selected from a field of 21 applicants through a rigorous interview process that included principals, union partners and central office leaders. One of the most important reasons Kyle applied for the position is that he is a product of Seattle School District’s centr...

The Curriculum and Instruction Policy Committee has a lot on their plate last month. Among the items for discussion: Changes in the Program Evaluation policy 2090 Changes in the Supports and Interventions policy 2163 Changes in the Superintendent's Procedures for Highly Capable Services & Advanced Learning Programs Nearly all of these changes are deeply flawed.

Today is the C&I meeting which I reported on in Seattle Schools This Week.  Somehow I missed that it's two meetings. The first one, starting at 4:30 pm is the regular C&I meeting and the other, starting at 6 pm, is a Committee Meeting of the Whole.  Why is the Committee Meeting of the Whole happening?  Because they are going to discuss Policy A01.00, Instructional Philosophy, which is a huge policy for teaching and learning for the district.

Well, that was uncomfortable. More to come but Directors Peters and Patu's resolution to ask that the SBAC not be used for AYP or graduation this year (as well as an "and/or" portion to suspend) failed to even get a second from the committee made up of Blanford, McLaren and Peters. Peters was in disbelief that she couldn't even get a second to get a vote on the motion.  So there was not even a vote to move the motion forward to a discussion to the full Board. Some of the discussion, especially from McLaren,was disturbing in its ignorance and simplistic thinking.

Editor's note: I have mostly stopped doing this as the district's calendar is available at their website.  I'm going to concentrate on those meetings/events likely to have the greatest impact. Also, another thought.   I have been going to district meetings - of all kinds - for more than 15 years.  The audience, especially for Work Sessions and Committee meetings, is almost always the usual suspects.  Before the filing deadline for the School Board races happens in early May, I just want to point out that AFTER that filing, suddenly there are all these concerned citizens with concerned faces. They have never previously been seen at Board meetings or any other type of meeting but suddenly, now that they are running, they are very interested in what's going on.  A couple of Board meetings is not going to bring any one up-to-speed.  

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

The agenda for the 8/11 Curriculum and Instruction Policy Committee meeting has already been posted. There's a lot there for folks interested in Special Education along with a couple of tasty items for those interested in high school graduation requirements, creative approach schools, Native American education, and discipline.

I want to fill in some details about the Curriculum and Instruction Policy Committee meeting on Monday. Three members of the Special Education staff, including the chief of that department, Ms McWilliams, presented the Board with the program placements for Special Ed for 2014-2015. At that time they described the status of the implementation of the new Special Education system. Their presentation and conversation was almost impossible to follow. It was filled with meaningless jargon and self contradictions. For example, they would say that there are no more Special Education programs anymore, and then, in the same breath, talk about Special Education programs. Then, in the next breath, they would say how important it is to use the right words for things. In fact, for all of their talk about creating systemic change in Special Education, the only examples of change that they gave were changes to the names of the programs, because words are so important, and there are no programs any mor...

The Board Curriculum and Instruction Policy Committee met yesterday (Monday, April 7). The agenda included an update on Creative Approach Schools, information on the application for a SIG grant by Rainier Beach High School, an update on Special Education program placement, and an update and further discussion on potential changes to the High School Graduation Requirements and High School Grade Marking.

Seattle Public Schools has re-defined the word "curriculum" no fewer than six times in the past four years. It seems to change with each new Chief Academic Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, or Executive Director of Curriculum. It also changes anytime the District needs to weasel or make other people (the Board or members of the public) appear ignorant.

The C & I meeting on Monday began with a change to the agenda. An update on Advanced Learning was added as an eighth discussion item.

Oh Boy! The Curriculum and Instruction Policy Committee meeting this afternoon is going to be good! I'm going to be there for sure. Just check out this list of discussion items from the agenda : Committee Discussion Items a. BAR for Yearbook Contract (Shauna/Kathleen/Misa) b. Policy 3130, Student Assignment (Shauna/Ronald/Janet B.) c. Policy 2415, High School Graduation Requirement (Michael/Janet B.) d. Career and Technical Education Annual Report (Mary) e. BAR for RTTT Project 4 (Clover, Eric C., Anna) f. Equitable Access Annual Report (Michael/Misa) g. Math Adoption Progress Report (Shauna/Eric/Adam/Shawn) h. Policy 2090, Program Evaluation and Assessment (Marty/Shauna) Nevermind the yearbook contract (how is that even a C&I issue), nearly everything else is a hot topic - or could be.

Very busy week. Monday, December 10th Curriculum & Instruction Policy Committee Meeting from 4-6 p.m.  Agenda Some interesting issues but there is not enough detail to know what they are specifically going to cover.  Work Session on Weighted Staffing Standards from 6-7:30 p.m.  Agenda Tuesday, December 11th  Work Session on Creative Approach Schools from 5-6:30 p.m.  Agenda Special Ed Advocacy & Advisory Council Meeting from 6:30-9:00 p.m., Room 2700 (2nd floor), JSCEE Community Meeting on Capacity and BEX IV from 7-8:30 p.m. pm at JSCEE. Wednesday, December 12th Executive Committee Meeting from 8-10 am.  No agenda available. School Board meeting at 4:30 p.m.  Agenda Of note: - Native American Education update - election of new President, Vice-President and Member-at-Large for the Board (nominations to be posted on Monday).  I suspect the president will either be Smith-Blum, Martin-Morris, Carr or Patu as they h...

The Board Curriculum and Instruction Policy Committee will meet on Monday from 4:00 to 6:00. The most interesting feature of the agenda may be how little is on it:

The Board Curriculum and Instruction Policy Committee will meet on Monday, September 10, at 4:00pm. Their agenda has been posted to the District web site. It's pretty brief: 1. Call to Order (Marty McLaren) 4:00pm a. Agenda Approval b. Approval of Minutes: August 13, 2012 2. Committee Discussion Items a. University Tutors Contract (Kevin) b. Policy 2420, Definition of a High School Credit (Michael) c. Policy 2025 and 2025SP, Copyright Compliance (Eric C) 3. Adjourn 6:00pm

In the category of "fix this and soon", comes news of who is heading T&L until a new person is hired.  Marni Campbell might be okay but I have never had much faith in Mr. Tolley (a MGJ holdover).  They need to get someone good and qualified and stat. From SPS: Dear Seattle Public Schools staff, I am pleased to announce an interim leadership plan while we conduct a national search for an Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning and Executive Director of Curriculum and Instructional Support. Executive Directors of Schools Michael Tolley and Marni Campbell will serve as co-Interim Assistant Superintendents for Teaching and Learning.  Michael and Marni will provide leadership in all areas of teaching and learning for the next several months. We do intend to fill the position of Executive Director of Curriculum and Instructional Support, and hope to announce an interim plan soon. I want to thank Kimberly Kinzer and Paul Robb for filling in for the last several...

As summer is slowly winding down (but not temperature-wise - yay!), the number of District meetings is slowly ramping up. Monday, August 13th Curriculum&Instruction Meeting from 4-6 p.m.  This is quite the folksy agenda as practically everyone is IDed by their first name.  I'm thinking this isn't a final agenda as there are number of scratch-outs.   There are a number of policies to be discussed including  Ensuring Educational Equity, Advanced Learning, Definition of a High School Credit, Copyright Compliance, and Equitable Access Status Review. They were to discuss the Creative Approach Schools Board oversight process but sadly, that is scratched out.  I'll have to ask why as I think this is a big deal to those who were hoping the process would move forward quickly.  It isn't even in the "parking lot" list.  Wednesday, August 15th Board Meeting at 4:15 p.m.  Agenda (it's a huge one).

Director McLaren chairs the Curriculum and Instruction Policy Committee. This Committee will discuss the revised Policy 2200, Equitable Access to Programs and Services, at their next meeting , scheduled for Monday, June 25, from 4:00pm to 6:00pm in the Board Conference Room at the JSCEE. Director McLaren has a number of specific goals for the revised policy: It states an unequivocal value of equity in decision making regarding the siting of programs and services. It states an unequivocal value of transparency in decision making regarding the siting of programs and services. It sets out clear expectations of evidence to be provided by the Superintendent that the above criteria have been met. It states an unequivocal value for clear, efficient parameters for community input. It has had the benefit of community vetting via email or conversation with Board members. I, myself share these goals and I have my own areas that I would like the Board to consider:

The Curriculum and Instruction Policy Committee has posted their agenda for their June 25 meeting. The meeting is expected to run from 4:00pm to 6:00pm on June 25. The Committee meets in the Board Conference Room. The agenda includes some interesting bits, such as: a. Policy 2180, Nutrition Education (Wendy W) This will include the new federal requirements. b. Policy 0003, Ensuring Educational Equity Policy (Bernardo) I don't know what this is, but it is sure to be interesting. c. Policy 4210, Dangerous Weapons on School Property (Pegi/Ruth) I think they are against them. d. Policy 3200, Written Student Discipline Rules (Holly/Ruth) Hmmm. Written rules. What a novel concept. It's so crazy, it just might work. e. Policy 2190, Advanced Learning (Bob) This item may be of some interest to a few folks out there. f. Annual Highly Capable Application to OSPI (Bob) This is never as interesting as you think it is going to be. g. Partnership Agreement for Families ...

The Board's Curriculum and Instruction Policy Committee met on Monday, May 21. The meeting started just after the scheduled start time of 4:00. All three committee members, Marty McLaren (chair), Sharon Peaslee, and Harium Martin-Morris, were present. No other board members were in attendance. They quickly approved the agenda without amendments and then approved the minutes from the previous meeting, also without amendments.