Jun 17
Uncategorized
0

Important Vote on Discipline Policy Changes at THIS Wednesday’s Board Meeting

Across the nation, schools report the highest rates of disproportionality in student discipline for elementary age students. Not only are students of color, low-income students, and students with disabilities punished more frequently than their white and wealthier peers, but as a whole, suspensions and expulsions have increased twofold in the last 20 years.

We have an opportunity to make a change in the Seattle School District.

Over the last year, the Positive Climate and Discipline Advisory Committee (PCDAC) has been thoughtfully working on rewriting disciplinary codes in order to keep more students in school.

As current policy stands in Seattle, elementary students can be suspended for rule offenses such as “disruptive conduct” and “disobedience.” Data tells us that vague and subjective policies like these foster disproportionality and contribute to the school to prison pipeline. New policy suggestions would remove suspension as a disciplinary option for such rule infractions, instead opting for parent-teacher conferences and the drafting of alternative behavior plans for students.

THIS Wednesday, the 19th at 4:00 pm, the Seattle School Board will take a vote on whether they will adopt these policy recommendations that limit the types of rule infractions for which elementary school kids can be suspended.

We need you to speak up and let the board know our community wants these changes!

If you can attend let us know, and if you would like to testify–this is the time. If you care about this issue but can’t attend the board meeting next week, send an email to schoolboard@seattleschools.org and let the board know:

Kids can’t learn if they aren’t in school!

Stop exclusionary discipline policies!

We want solutions, not suspensions!

Jun 14
Uncategorized
0

Seattle Mayoral Debate-July 16

Please join the Our Schools Coalition for the Seattle Mayoral Debate this July. 

Presented in association with CityClub, this debate will give you the opportunity to get to know the field of mayoral candidates and their views on issues that impact Seattle including education. You’ll also be able to give real-time feedback during the debate by participating along with candidates in the lightning round—answering yes, no, or waffle at the same time the candidates do.

The debate will be moderated by the Seattle Times’ Joni Balter, and will be followed by a panel discussion and analysis from some of Seattle’s prominent journalists.

You can help shape the debate before the day by submitting questions you want to hear answered.

Let us know you’re coming! Register and include “Our Schools Coalition” in the “Where did you hear about this event?” field.

What: Seattle Mayoral Debate
When: Tuesday, July 16, 5-7 p.m.
Where: Seattle Public Library | 1000 4th Avenue, Seattle

This event is FREE and open to the public. Register today!

Jun 13
News
0

A Message from Superintendent Banda

Dear Seattle Public Schools community:

As the 2012-2013 school year draws to a close, I want to thank you all for welcoming me in my first year as your Superintendent. It has been a pleasure to get to know the schools and community and learn about the ideas and concerns each of you have. My conversations with educators, students, families, staff and community members have provided insight for changes and priorities, both for this year and for the future.

Throughout the year we’ve celebrated successes and addressed challenges. The 2,900 students graduating from high school this year are a visible reminder that our primary purpose continues to be ensuring that students graduate prepared for college, career and life.

We are building for the future

Our enrollment continues to increase, with more Seattle families choosing to send their children to Seattle Public Schools. Thanks to approval by Seattle voters, two key levies will help us address running the District and improving our schools to better meet student needs and our growing enrollment.

We are setting high academic standards for all of our students

Closing the achievement gap continues to be a key focus for Seattle Public Schools. Implementing Common Core State Standards (CCSS) plays a major role in our efforts. CCSS have been adopted by 48 states, including Washington, to provide consistent learning goals in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math. Students learn transferable, 21st century skills, including critical thinking, collaboration and self-assessment, to help them thrive after graduation from high school. CCSS foster equity in education as all students are ensured of comparable learning expectations no matter where they live.

Safety of our students and staff remains a top priority

The safety of our schools was brought into sharp focus in December. After the tragedy in Sandy Hook, Connecticut, we conducted safety audits of all 95 schools. One result has been to increase security patrols of our elementary and K–8 schools. We will continue to use safety protocols and drills and work with the Seattle Police Department to keep safety a focus each and every day.

We have a plan for the next five years

One final item I’d like to mention is our work to update the District’s Strategic Plan. This plan will guide our District for the next five years, and has included participation from families, staff, teachers, students and community members. It is expected to be presented to the School Board for approval this summer.

As part of our work moving forward, it is our goal to continue to develop strong family-school partnerships in every school, in order to help our students achieve. We will also build upon our strong community partnerships. I look forward to meeting families, students and community members to ensure success for all of our students.

I hope you all have a safe and enjoyable summer! And thank you for supporting Seattle Public Schools.

Sincerely,

José Banda

Superintendent

Seattle Public Schools

 

Jun 11
Uncategorized
0

Seattle School Board self-evaluation raises areas for improvement

At yesterday’s Seattle school board meeting, the board heard a consultant’s report that trust remains an issue amongst board members and that the board and staff have difficulties working together.

The report was part of the board’s annual self-evaluation, which included 29 areas of self-reported data.The board reported they “met expectations” in 18 areas and were “below expectations” in the remaining areas.

“This should be a real wake-up call,” board member Michael DeBell said. “Sort of like the Hippocratic oath: First, do no harm.”

Board members discussed possible improvement strategies, although the composition of the board will soon change because Board President Kay Smith-Blum and past President DeBell are not seeking re-election this fall.

Jun 10
Uncategorized
0

Positive School Discipline: Continuing the Momentum

By Andaiye Qaasim

THANK YOU to all of the parents, students, community partners, and education advocates who have participated in our work to transform school discipline. Your involvement and dedication has been incredible! We are also encouraged by the willingness of Seattle Public School leadership to talk and work on this issue with us.

Ultimately, we know that comprehensive policy change has to be rooted in the teacher contract, the student rights and responsibilities handbook, AND implemented in a district-wide policy.

Our kids, Our schools. Close the gap! Listed below are our recommended strategies:

  • Close the gap. Please implement Article II: Partnering to Close the Achievement Gap from the last negotiation cycle of the teacher contract.
  • Use targeted strategies that acknowledge racial bias in academic settings and in behavioral referrals.
  • Train teachers and principals in effective, culturally responsive discipline practices that minimize bias in the classroom.
  • Use comprehensive, uniform data reporting systems so teachers and principals can ensure best practices. We must set goals and benchmarks in order to measure growth.
  • Implement district-wide positive discipline approaches such as restorative justice and Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports

Although we have already made great strides forward, let’s continue to push ahead. There are many opportunities to speak up to policy makers and participate in local advocacy work. For example, several Seattle School Board Directors are still hosting their individual community meetings during the month of June. We strongly encourage community members to attend one of these meetings, bring other activists, and continue to speak-up on the Our Schools Platform. Attending a community meeting is an easy and effective way to plug-in to local advocacy on school discipline.

Here’s a list of upcoming community meetings:

  • Sharon Peaslee; Thursday, June 13; 6-7:45 p.m.; Lake City Library, 12501 28th Ave NE
  • Sherry Carr; Saturday, June 8; 8:30 – 10 p.m.; Bethany Community Church 8023 Green Lake Dr
  • Harium Martin-Morris; Sat. June 15; 9:30-11:30 a.m.; Diva’s Espresso, 8014 Lake City Way NE
  • Michael Debell; Saturday, June 15; 9-11 a.m.; Caffe Appassionato 4001 – 21st Ave. W
  • Marty McLaren; Saturday, June 15, 12:30-2 p.m.; High Point Branch Seattle Public Library, 3411 SW Raymond St.
  • Betty Patu; Saturday, June 29; 10-12 p.m.; Caffe Vita, 5028 Wilson Ave S

Please contact Andaiye Qaasim if you decide to attend a school board community meeting or if you would like to participate in our next action.

 

 

Jun 07
Uncategorized
0

Save the Date

The next meeting of the Our Schools Coalition will take place Thursday, June 20, from 8:30am-10:30am at the League of Education Voters. Stay tuned for more information.

Jun 06
Closing the Gap, News
0

Guest Post: Support students for the whole year

As an avid runner, rower, and soccer player currently recovering from my third knee surgery, I am keenly aware of the process of atrophy, and feel it happening more and more to my body with each passing day that I am unable to exercise as intensely as I would like. The body needs to be worked out regularly and often to maintain aerobic fitness, physical strength and maximum health. I know that my return to running in July following a more than 3 month layoff will be a painful reminder of what has been lost during that time.

The mind is no different than the body, and so it is that summer learning loss is an absolute reality in the cycle we have set up within our educational framework in this country. As sociologist Karl Alexander from Johns Hopkins University has shown so clearly in his data (p. 255-258 in Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers), our calendar system based on the rhythms of the agricultural season no longer makes sense when trying to strive for strong educational outcomes for the wide range of students now in our public schools. While a few fortunate young people may have their minds challenged and nurtured all summer with family trips overseas (who wouldn’t want to see Versailles up close and personally after studying it in a World History class?) and other extended enrichment opportunities at home and abroad, for low income and other underserved students, the reality is that they return from school breaks and summer holidays with lower achievement scores than before (in one particular Hopkins study, while wealthier students make consistent 15 point gains in reading over the course of summer vacation, low income students drop by 4 points). Teachers thus begin a new year often scrambling to get students back up to the place where they left off before even considering the possibilities of advancement, and the only fault of the students was lacking the resources to keep the learning process going all summer long on one’s own. Access to resources is a very different issue than motivation to learn or inherent ability to achieve.

At Rainier Scholars, we are committed to using the summer months for intensive enrichment and cultivation of the mind for our low income students of color, setting a goal that scholars will emerge after two summer sessions in our academic program (plus an extra school year of twice weekly classes) working 1-2 grades above grade level, not having fallen behind their peers who are already in enrichment settings but actually having kept pace and in some cases accelerated right on by. We witness daily the profound impact of a regular diet of mental and intellectual challenge, and though the popular myth is that students only want the summer to “chill out and relax,” we see near-instant results in the self-esteem and confidence students take into their next educational setting.

Just as running, lifting weights and riding a bike keep one’s body sharp and ready for performance, so too does reading classic texts such as Romeo and Juliet and analyzing whether one should marry for love or money, solving equations and mastering Algebra, conducting DNA lab experiments and debating critical human rights issues around the globe keep one’s mind sharp and ready for excellence. Yes, our minds and bodies all need a day or two of rest every now and again to recharge and refresh, but we all know how much atrophy occurs after 3 months; why would the mind be any different?

Sarah Smith is Executive Director of Rainier Scholars and a member of the Our Schools Coalition.

Jun 04
News
0

Beacon Hill Int’l School principal appointed Executive Director of SE Region

In a letter to the Beacon Hill International School community, Superintendent José Banda shared that the school’s principal, Kelly Aramaki, will become the Executive Director of the Southeast region of Seattle Public Schools. Aramaki was named Elementary School Principal of the Year by the Association of Washington School Principals last year. Aramaki recently guided Our Schools Coalition members on a tour of Beacon Hill International School, showcasing the success the school has had under his leadership in increasing student achievement and building community.

Superintendent Banda said in his letter that he is “pleased to be able to move a principal of such high caliber into this role where the entire region can benefit from his enthusiasm and focus on improving student achievement.”

Read the full letter below: [Read more...]

Jun 03
Closing the Gap, News, Parent & Family Communication

Seattle Schools must meet special ed students’ needs or lose funding

The Seattle Times reports that the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has set an ultimatum for Seattle Public Schools: fix persistent issues with special education programs within the next year and a half or lose control of $11 million in funding.

Officials say that this step had to be taken because they keep hearing from parents, students and community members that the same issues have been recurring for special education students across the district for years. In particular, OSPI is concerned with the amount of time it takes students to receive services and the number of unresolved complaints from parents. [Read more...]

May 31
News

School boundary discussion includes program changes

Seattle Public Schools leaders are in discussions right now about what changes they will make in light of the passage of the construction levy earlier this year. These discussions include how school boundaries will shift as new schools are built, as well as how best to house the district’s growing enrollment.

SPS staff presented initial recommendations for possible program changes that might affect school boundary decisions in a work session on Wednesday. [Read more...]

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