Seattle Schools Community Forum

The Board Curriculum and Instruction Policy Committee met yesterday (Monday, April 7). The agenda included an update on Creative Approach Schools, information on the application for a SIG grant by Rainier Beach High School, an update on Special Education program placement, and an update and further discussion on potential changes to the High School Graduation Requirements and High School Grade Marking.

I don't believe this project is going well.  It's interesting because it got roundly defended by Director Carr at last week's Board meeting.  But all the engagement she noted was before it was decided that Pinehurst would be part of the mix.  I almost wonder if the Board feels like the district gave in on that one and so they won't argue about the auditorium.   I also believe that, like the World School at TT Minor, Pinehurst won't be at W-P very long.  (I'm not speaking out of turn or endangering either program - I'm saying what is perfectly obvious given the growth in this district.)  To say that an auditorium would be underused and not worth the space, given you are talking about two schools next to each other, in an area without a community center space and the multiple uses that schools with auditoriums find, I'm not buying the district's arguments against W-P having one. Think about signing this petition because (1) it really is a good...

Ann Dornfeld at KUOW is looking for parents who are considering opting out of testing (or have previously opted out) - looking for insights. 206.221.7082 or adornfeld@kuow.org She'd like to hear from folks by 3 p.m. if possible. Thanks! Also, to note, there is a new website , Opt Out of State Standardized Tests .  They want to provide information for parents in all states and are looking for volunteers to work on the page for their own state.   As well, the ACLU is collecting letters where schools/districts may have violated the rights of parents/students.  (Some of these letters are pretty bad.  Clearly, some principals feel very threatened by this action. One letter I saw when the SPS route ( a la MAP and AL) and told those parents opting out that their students might not have access to advanced classes without test scores.)

Reader N suggested these topics to discuss: At my school we have three shared positions and I have a student whose parent is in a shared-position at another school. She agrees as do the teachers at my school that people in shared positions are giving the District time-and-a-half effort for half-time pay. I have no problem with shared positions but I'm looking ahead at how that affects full-time teachers. Yes, we are working time-and-a-half as well but can we really compete with more rested teachers who often specialize: one teaching mornings (reading...) and one teaching afternoons(science, math)? From a parent's perspective, I guess that would be the best wouldn't it? Two teachers specializing and both working 150%. Also, what do parents think about a longer school day? I've had conversations at the primary and intermediate level with younger teachers who say they would probably work less hard if they had more time to actually teach kids. More cont...

From her blog: For the past decade or more, a bevy of very powerful people have savaged our nation’s public schools while calling themselves “reformers.” It is perfectly clear that they have no desire to “reform” our public schools but to privatize and monetize them. The Bush-Obama era of “measure and punish” has not reformed our public schools but has plunged them into unending disruption, demoralization, and upheaval.  The so-called reformers have honed their PR message well. They couldn’t very well go to the public and say “with the help of some Wall Street billionaires and foundations run by billionaires, we have come to demolish your community’s schools and hand them over to corporations.” That wouldn’t play well. So they sold their goals as “reform,” even as they used the power of the federal government through No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top to close community public schools, to demean the teaching profession, and to make pie-in-the-sky promises abo...

Some of these made me laugh out loud.  You have to love kids and their ability to improvise.

Seattle Public Schools is choosing new K-5 math textbooks for the upcoming 2014-2015 school year, and you have a voice in the decision. The official selection process is being managed by the Math Adoption Committee, their website is here .