Seattle Schools Community Forum

Monday, June 13th Curriculum&Instruction meeting , JSCEE from 4:30-6:30 pm.  Agenda Once again, a jam-packed agenda which would seem to mean little discussion. Tuesday, June 14th OSPI is have a series of forums on the new Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) which replaces NCLB.  There will not be a forum in Seattle but one of the closest ones - in Everett - will be on Tuesday at the Everett Community Resource Center, 3900 Broadway. The next one in our region will be July 19 at the Highline Performing Arts Center in Burien.  There will be a webinar on August 1st.   Wednesday, June 15th School Board meeting , JSCEE starting at 4:15 pm.  Agenda 

Is this where we're at now?  We use data to stretch the truth, manhandle it, or, as KUOW puts it, "exaggerate?"  Apparently so because former Renton superintendent, Mary Alice Heuschel, has been telling a really stretched bit of data.  Heuschel is now the Governor's Chief of Staff. She claims Renton had a 94% graduation rate. Except they didn't.  From the KUOW report: It's also extremely inaccurate: Renton’s actual five-year graduation rate that year was 79 percent. Only 78 percent of Renton students graduated on time, within four years. The 94 percent rate Renton claimed was merely the district’s estimated five-year graduation rate. "Estimated five-year rate? "  What's up with that?

You'd think after all the years that I've complained about parents being not included in district initiatives that I might have welcomed the planning for the new Strategic Plan. Nope. My first inkling of "Danger, Will Robinson" was this what? 50,60,70-person Strategic Plan Taskforce.  I knew I wouldn't be applying for that one because I can only imagine a meeting with that many people. Second, isn't this the Board and the Superintendent's job?  I mean, draw up a plan, get input/feedback and roll it out.  Third, I attend the first community meeting for the planning at Eckstein last week.  I've been to many of these dog-and-pony shows and frankly, I wasn't impressed.  There were maybe 50 people including Directors Peaslee, Carr and Martin-Morris and Superintendent Banda.  So I'll say upfront - I'd skip these meetings and take the survey .   The survey closes on Monday, April 15th.  Or send an e-mail to the Board with your suggest...

Here is a link to a story on the LEV blog with the headline " Washington among the worst when it comes to Black male graduation rates ". The story - written by the League of Education Voters - says: "The Schott Foundation has released individual report cards revealing the graduation rates of Black male students, and Washington is among the worst performers." Later in the story, however, the LEV admits: "The national graduation average for Black male students in the 2007-2008 school year is 47 percent, which technically means that Washington is slightly above average." Waitaminnut. Does LEV know what the word "worst" means? If Washington State is, in fact, above average, how can LEV claim that it is "among the worst"? Washington isn't even among the worse, let alone the worst. If this article is reflective of the LEV's ability to interpret data, then they stink at it. Now, I'm not proud of the state's 48% gradu...

From the Stranger Slog comes news that UW has moved its in-state waitlist by 210 freshman students.  About 120 remain on the list while all other students currently on the list will be notified there isn't room for them in the 2011 autumn quarter.