Latest News and Comment from Education

Sunday, June 9, 2013

UPDATE: Seattle Schools Community Forum: Ed News from the Times

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Ed News from the Times:


Common Core Discussion in the New York Times

Here are two utterly compelling and important opinion pieces from the NY Times (thanks to Seattle Citizen for pointing them out).

This is important stuff.

The first is by Andrew Hacker and Claudia Dreifus called Who's Minding the Schools.  Both are professors and 

Seattle Schools This Week

Tuesday starts high school graduations.

Best wishes to ALL the grads and their parents/guardians!

Monday, June 10th
C&I Committee Mtg, 4-6 pm, Agenda This agenda is full of interesting items like a Math Adoption Progress report.

Work Session: Board Evaluation, 6:45-8:00 pm
I'd love to go to this one but I doubt I can make it.  Not sure who is evaluating whom.

Tuesday, June 11th
Special Ed Advocacy&Advisory Council Meeting, 6:30-9:00 pm, JSCEE, Room 2700

Wednesday, June 12th
Executive Ctm Meeting, 8:30-10 am.  Agenda not yet available but this is where they will decide who gets to organize/set agendas for the Board retreats.  

Thursday, June 13th
Audit&Finance Ctm. Meeting, 4-6:00 pm, agenda

Community Meeting w/Director Peaslee, 6-7:45 pm, Lake City Public Library (note, this has been CANCELLED - but still appears on the district calendar)

Saturday, June 15th
Community Meetings:

DeBell - 9-11 am - Cafe Appassionato near Fisherman's Terminal
Martin-Morris - 9:30-11:30 am - Diva's Espress at Lake City Way
McLaren - 12:30-2 pm - High Point Branch Library

Ed News from the Times

Two items of interest from the Times.

One is an editorial pushing for the district to fulfill its Special Education obligations to students.  One key paragraph:

The School Board must demand a more informed, inclusive tone around special education.  Board discussions about special education services are frequently framed in terms of costs.  But board members must take care not to make special education a scapegoat for broader budget woes.

Correct on all points but the district needs a clear assessment of the issue before them before they make any changes/corrections.  What is working, what isn't and how do principals/teachers feel?

I introduced myself to the new executive director of special education, Zakiyyah McWilliams, at the Board retreat, and she could not have been warmer.  I think an ability to make people feel welcome to come to her is a big step.

But if the State does not even get close to meeting McCleary AND now OSPI is threatening to bring the hammer down on the district if it doesn't get its Special Ed eggs in a row, something may have to give.  If the district does