Seattle Schools Community Forum

OSPI announced today the release of new data on student discipline.  According to the press release:

Tuesday,  July 30th Charter Commission Meeting , 10 am - 5 pm in Tacoma.  Tacoma Public Schools, Central Administration Building, 601 South 8th Street, Tacoma. Agenda not yet available but I do know a couple of things: - Public Hearing on proposed rules : Tuesday, July 30 from 10:15am to 11:15am.  Written comments can also be submitted to RaShelle Davis by mail or email before Monday August 19, 2013 to the following addresses: PO Box 43113, Olympia, WA 98504 or rashelle.davis@gov.wa.gov - After both the Public Hearing and Public Comment period (from 11:15 am to 11:30 am), the Commission will go into Executive Sessions from 11:40am on. A bit troubling is that the first Executive Session is about "potential litigation" about the Commission and/or a member.  That seems quick for a group that hasn't existed even a year. Then there are four Executive Sessions to discuss the candidates for Executive Director.  I am not happy to say that one of them is a forme...

From the Times : The candidates who were there had some tough talk for Seattle Public Schools. State Sen. Ed Murray said if he were mayor, he would forge a new partnership with the school district to increase the graduation rate. “The school district has to change,” he said, vowing to make improvements in the graduation rate and how money is targeted — or, he said, “Please yell at me and vote me out of office.”   Usually, the school district blames the state Legislature for district problems, so it was interesting to hear that. Ed Murray is my senator and yes, I am a bit surprised to hear him say this.  He hasn't said a lot about Seattle schools in any pre-mayor bid venue.  His advocacy has been limited (and appreciated) to the Legislature.  Without specifics, this isn't much (and I'm still waiting to interview him so we'll see). Also, note to the Times, the district does not blame the Legislature for all its problems; just the funding ones.  ...

This op-ed by Mary Griffin on disproportionate discipline of Special Ed students appeared in the Seattle Times this weekend (I haven't read it because I don't have a subscription and I maxed out my monthly reading).   Another link related to this piece are here (the Special Ed Advocacy & Advisory Council webpage).

From Ed Week comes this story of a district in Mississippi and the measures they must take for their disciplinary measures for all students. This may end up being what Seattle Schools is told they must do. Among other things outlined in a consent decree signed Thursday between the district and the DOJ: The district cannot use suspension, alternative school settings, or expulsion for minor misbehavior and has to limit these types of consequences all together. School administrators cannot ask school law enforcement officers to respond in cases where administrators can use the school code of conduct to address behavior problems. School police must be trained in bias-free policing, child and adolescent development and age-appropriate responses, mentoring, and working with school administrators. The district's alternative school has to establish clear entry and exit rules and speed up students' transition back to their regular school. All district schools must...

On the heels of the issue of disproportionality of discipline in SPS, c omes this op-ed from SPS teacher, Dan Magill. Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5244, approved by the Senate last week, would reduce the number of days students can be excluded from school due to discipline. Do those in favor of the bill understand how damaging just one incorrigible student can be to a classroom? I’m not arguing against this bill necessarily, only providing an informed perspective lawmakers would be wise not to ignore.  We must be careful about overemphasizing the needs of the few students who have already demonstrated their antipathy toward their own education. The other students have needs, too. No one wants students to be suspended or expelled. No one wants people to go to jail, either. Sometimes, that’s the only option that remains.  This is another instance of the school system being asked to solve a problem that is not ours to solve. Our attempts to solve ...

Regarding the US Department of Educaiton's investigation, the Seattle Student Senate believes in fair treatment for all of Seattle's students.  The Student Senate believes that discipline against students must be taken appropriately and equitably.  As students, we are strongly opposed to any form of discrimination in the public education system that puts any group of students in a situation with a lesser educational opportunity. Regarding the Center School instruction, the Student Senate promotes the substantive exploration of social justice in our classrooms.  However, we believe that this must be done in a way that is comfortable for all students.  In a diverse society, with members coming from a variety of racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, we believe that students must be exposed to diversity through candid conversation.  However, we strongly encourage the district to consider teacher and student input in developing guidelines for social discussion...

Seattle Special Education PTSA General Meeting Tuesday, April 24th from 7-9 pm at JSCEE Auditorium Topic:  Student Discipline/Elections of 2012/2013 PTSA Officers We are pleased to welcome our guest speaker Stacy Gillett , Ombudsman with the Governor's Office of the Education Ombudsman, who will share a presentation on Student Discipline .  Stacy will cover the Procedural Safeguards related to Student Discipline for students receiving Special Education Services. She will also share thoughts on promoting a school climate, policies, and procedures that focus on understanding challenging behavior and teaching positive/expected behavior rather than punishing children. We also have invited Pegi McEvoy , interim Chief Operations Officer, to share a brief Facilities and Capacity Management Advisory Committee (FACMAC) update at the beginning of the meeting. Elections of Executive Committee Officers for the Seattle Special Education...