Seattle Schools Community Forum

As I previously reported, Chicago Public Schools had not wanted to give the PARCC (Common Core) assessment to all their students, saying they were not ready.  Arne Duncan twisted their arm and they rescinded that announcement. Here's a fairly amazing notice from one elementary PTA in Chicago where they say (as if it were a fundraiser): The Blaine PTA would like to achieve a 100% PARCC opt out so our students can get back 10 hours of vital classroom instruction! FYI, the Mayor unveiled a new 10-year city transportation plan , Move Seattle , yesterday.  I think it will come to us in the form of a levy this fall.   I read it with an eye to how it might help SPS.  The word "school(s)" is mentioned nine times in relation to: - fewer high school students getting a drivers license (from 1996 to 2010, from 85% to 73%) - one 10-year goal is to " Improve safety in school zones" - "make the 27% of the city without sidewalks more walkable - through construc...

This story in the Seattle Times describes $14.8 million worth of pedestrian safety improvements going to streets around schools.

I was mistaken when I previously said there were no district meetings until August. Wednesday Audit and Finance Committee meeting of the Whole from 4-5 pm.  The only agenda item is to debate any last issues on the budget for 2013-2014 and presumably move it forward to the Board meeting. Public Hearing on the 2013-2014 Budget Your opportunity to weigh in on any topic in the budget.  If you have a real concern, it really is important to get it on the record.  You may sign in to speak starting a half-hour before the hearing. You will have three minutes to speak. Special Meeting of the Board from 5:15-6:00 pm Just one action item - voting on the new budget .  They will be taking public testimony so there are speaking opportunities for any topic.   The City Council will be debating and voting this week on whether to create a separate fund for the money from the school speed zone tickets.   So if these are about safety around schools and the City w...

I just got back from the memorial walk for the victims of the Eckstein drunk driving incident.  There were about 75 people (hard to tell with so many babes-in-arms) including Mayor McGinn and mayoral candidate, Peter Steinbrueck.  The memorial site is quite moving with many flowers, two crosses and signs asking drivers to not drink and drive.  The neighbor with the baby goat who had been talking with the family just moments before the accident was also there.  It was nice of her to come and revisit what must have been a horrifying sight. I was chatting with a few neighbors who feel strongly about crossing guards (I told them about the whole money issue at SPS or lack thereof).  One gentleman said that if the district told voters that the money we voted in was specifically going to support traffic safety, the voters would give it to the district.  Several of them also commented that there needs to be a flashing light each way to alert drivers that they a...

Thank you to reader Gail for this portion of the Mayor's State of the City speech yesterday.   I have put in red those items that I wanted to call out. Press Release Today, Mayor Mike McGinn gave his fourth State of the City speech. Education and our schools were a major priority. There is no probably no stronger foundation for opportunity, and long term economic success, than ensuring that our children are educated. Click here to view the speech. Early Learning Early learning is a critical place where we can make an even bigger difference. The achievement gap need not be permanent. Kids shouldn't have to go to their first day of kindergarten starting off two laps behind the other kids. If we focus on early learning, every kid can start on that path together. This fall, the City Office for Education will launch an Early Learning Academy to provide high quality, evidence-based early learning training for preschool providers in Seattle. This initiative wil...

Upcoming events: CoolMom's 'Think Outside the Car' Celebration , Tue Jan 15, 6:30–8:30pm, Fauntleroy Church UCC, 9140 California Ave SW, free. Education Without Borders: Transforming Learning for the 21st Century , Wed Jan 16, 4:30–7:30pm, Seattle Children’s Theatre, 201 Thomas St, free.  This one is brought to you by the World Affairs Council and will have ed experts from different countries discussing education and educational system. Also of interest, this Times article about speed cameras around school zones.   What's interesting is that the projections of the number of tickets that would be issued were much lower than what is actually happening which would lead you to think that maybe people are being really blase about speeding through school zones.   The cameras are at Thurgood Marshall, Broadview-Thompson, Olympic View and Gatewood Elementary. To emphasize that the cameras were installed to increase safety, not swell city revenues, Mayor Mike Mc...