Seattle Schools Community Forum

Each year the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction prepares a report on Special Education in every district. The report was released on November 1 and the Seattle Times wrote a vague sort of editorial about it, although they did not write a news story about it nor did they provide a link to the report. Here are some facts about the report from the OSPI :

We had an e-mail from a reader who stated that while he enjoyed the blog, he didn't read as often because people don't sign their names. We've had some discussion around this before but I thought it worth revisiting. Now for those who don't know it, we allow monikers because many of our readers are SPS employees who might otherwise face issues if they signed their names.  (Also, we allow NO purely anonymous names because it becomes difficult to follow with multiple anonymous posts and well, if you are unable to think up a blog name, you probably are not in the right place.) However, I do find sometimes when people make grand claims, I long for a name.  Who is willing to make big statements/opinions - usually backed by no data - and not sign their name?  That is the frustration of the internet; that ability to say anything you want without having to take credit/blame for it. To the credit of our readers, we rarely get trolls.  We carry on a fairly civil disco...

It would appear that some people - especially wealthy people - believe this is so (and are willing to spend huge sums to prove it).  We have our own examples here in Washington State.  Consider our initiative process. In this last cycle, we see nearly every single initiative pushed by a handful of wealthy people.  The liquor initiative (I love Costco but this was wrong), the gay marriage referundum, the charter school initiative - it's a sad thing.  And, they are not only willing to pay for a campaign but pay to get it on the ballot.  The idea that in Washington State our initiative process is a way for grassroots efforts from citizens to make their voices heard is becoming a joke.  So what's next?  Well, just as we have seen the huge money in our presidential election (both sides) and on down, the next thing will be...School Board elections.  Here's a great story out of New Jersey at the Jersey Jazzman blog where they are seeing this pla...

Monday, Nov. 5th Curriculum&Instruction Policy Committee Mtg.   (Agenda reviewed by Charlie in an earlier thread).  Wednesday, Nov. 7th Road Map to College: College Application Completion Event Roosevelt High School from 3 pm to 7 pm For more info and to register, visit www.roadmaptocollege.org School Board Meeting , starting at 4:15 pm. Call starting at 8 am on Monday, Nov. 5th to register for the Speakers list.  252-0040 or Thursday, Nov. 8th Audit&Finance Committee Mtg. from 4-6 p.m.  Agenda . Financial updates along with one notation "Change to PTA room rental" - not sure what that might mean.  Availability? Cost? Also, the 2013-2014 budget development.  Superintendent Banda said at the State of the District event that the district was going to be experiencing a budget shortfall (he gave a number but it seemed so high that I want to check it before I print it).  Friday, Nov. 9th BEX Oversight Committee mtg from 8:30-10:30 ...

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 Times, in its never-ending push for charter schools has one last salvo to throw out there and boy, it's big.  Actually it's two. The first one is that this is a civil rights issue.  Lynne Varner, who sadly writes about education for the editorial board and yet seems to never do her homework, says it is.  She writes, constantly, about Rep. Eric Pettigrew (of the 37th) and how he believes his district has been underserved.  What's interesting to me about that is the Pettigrew and Varner complain about the exact same things and never offer any real ideas of their own.  She also cites writer Pedro Noguera who writes for Ed Week and links a his blog post about a recent visit to Seattle.  She says this: Noguera does not see charters as public education's salvation or its downfall making his words all the more compelling. He wrote: "I find it ironic and hypocritical that the opponents of charter schools don't voice much objection to the loss of af...

Here is the agenda for the upcoming School Board meeting. Lots of good stuff here: High school grade and credit marking policy (with the promise of new policy to follow) Annual approval of schools (with the usual problems with incomplete CSIPs) Superintendent Evaluation Instrument BEX IV Plan A rule to clarify the consequences when a lot of board members abstain