Seattle Schools Community Forum

From Shauna Heath: We have had several questions regarding the AL Task Force. I have included information about members and member selection below and provided more detail about the entire task force in the attached draft charter. The draft charter will be brought before the Task Force to finalize at the meeting on Oct. 23, 2013. Our Taskforce Members Baker Harvey, Bruce; Bennett, Erinn P; Bower, Stephanie; Boy, Ronald D; Campbell, Carri J; Clemons, Noelle; Daniels, Roger; Geoghagan, Rina; Heath, Shauna L; Herman, Gail; Hertzog, Nancy; Hochwalt, Nisha; Horrigan, Meg; Horwich, Lisa; Huff, Sumiko ; Libros, Tracy; Martin, Stephen B; Ruiz, Bernardo; Schweickhart, Vicky; Simon, Brenda; Skjei, Terri; Triandofilou, Katherine; Vasquez, Kathleen; Watters, Cindy J; Whitworth, Kim; Williams, Sharmila Naidu Member Selection Because this is a task force and not an advisory committee we invited members. The invites went to all members of the Advanced Learning Advisory Committee, parents of hig...

This went out from Superintendent Banda to Board members on Friday, August 23rd: Following for your information, is a copy of the invitation sent out this week to potential task force members. I would like to invite you to participate in the Horace Mann-African American Community Partnerships Task Force. This group will provide me with immediate and short-term recommendations on how Seattle Public Schools can partner with the groups and programs currently using the Mann building, ways to align community work and the SPS strategic plan to promote equity and support innovative African-American youth education partnerships, and how this can be achieved while still adhering to the Building Excellence IV schedule related to the Mann building. At the August 21 Board meeting, I asked the School Board to remove an item from the Board agenda that, if approved, would authorize construction to begin on the Mann building.  This action will be brought back to the School Board on September...

From SPS Communications: Seattle Public Schools would like to thank those organizations and businesses that sponsored the District’s 2013-14 wall calendar and family guide, which will be mailed soon to Seattle Public Schools students, families and staff. Sponsors include : Boy Scouts of America, Comcast, Defensive Driving School, Delta Dental, Foster Pepper, PCC Natural Markets, The Northwest Network, Safeway, Seattle City Light, The Seattle Public Library, Sound Mental Health, and Stevens Pass.  “We appreciate the support of our sponsors who ensure we can continue providing the calendar to our families,” said SPS Chief Communications Officer Lesley Rogers. “Without these businesses and organizations, the district would eventually have to stop producing this important publication, which provides families and staff with important news and information throughout the year.” The calendar, which features photos of students and staff, is scheduled to be mailed...

The superintendent has issued new procedures for advisory committees . This new procedure distinguishes between "Advisory and Oversight Committees", "Task Forces and Focus Groups", and "Working Groups, Teams, and Planning Committees". The new procedure offers significantly less transparency than the previous procedure.

 A story from KPLU about the Rainier Beach High School's new IB program .  It's a good one. From SPS: Seattle Public Schools is seeking applicants for a newly formed Native American Advisory Committee. The committee will advise Superintendent José Banda on implementing Native American Education in Seattle Public Schools. It will be composed of Native families, Native community representatives, Native SPS staff, Native higher education representatives and Native students who represent the diverse Native American population of Seattle Public Schools. The initial committee term is April 2013 to June 2015.  Nomination forms are available here . Nominations can be mailed to: P.O. Box 34164 Mailstop 32156 Seattle, WA, 98124 Nominations can also be emailed to naeac@seattleschools.org . The deadline for submission is Monday, April 15, 2013. Those selected will be notified by Monday, April 22, and the first meeting will be held Monday, April 29 at a lo...

 Update:  the Superintendent's latest message on MAP .   From his letter: I n the meantime, our spring assessments will be held from April 22 to June 7 . Beginning this spring, the District recommends that students enrolled in an Algebra 1 course take the NWEA Algebra End-of-Course (EOC) exam instead of Math 6+ test. Based on a preliminary review of MAP by staff, we’ve made the following adjustment to our testing policy: For 9th grade, only students below standard based on the state reading assessment will be required to take the MAP reading test. It will be optional for 9th-graders who are at or above standard in reading. Reader Joan Sias attended Thursday's Assessment Taskforce meeting.  Here are her notes on the meeting. The new MAP policy for 9th grade was handed out at the meeting. Not a single member of the TF asked what the process was for this policy decision. I am not a TF member, so I could not ask this question. A handout was ...

Is this any way to figure the future of this district?  I like that the Superintendent and Board realize how unwieldy the last Strategic Plan was but a taskforce of 6-80 people?  It'll be like herding kittens (or be largely pro-forma facilitation from the consultant group).  (Sorry for the varying typefaces; I couldn't get it worked out of the press release from the district.) From district Communications: Seattle Public Schools is starting the process of revising the current Strategic Plan, Excellence for All. The updated plan will guide academic and operational priorities for the next three to five years and include ongoing benchmarking to measure the District’s performance. In 2008, the Seattle School Board unanimously approved Excellence for All, aimed at ensuring all students graduate from high school ready for college, careers and life. The plan is based on best practices nationally and input from more than 3,000 staff and community members. The plan incl...