More Disappointing actions at Washington Middle School

There is apparently another round of  unannounced scheduling chaos and a protest planned around it.

Choosing a High School

Open enrollment starting to get closer. So its time for the annual High school choice thread.
Ask all your questions here.

Last Day to Contact Legislators about HCC Bill SB-5354

We are glad to share the tremendous news that in addition to the Seattle Public Schools Highly Capable Services Advisory Committee we now have a new advocacy group - HiCap Seattle. Please read about this group and about the pending legislation requiring your action by tomorrow, Friday - January 24th. 

Robert Njegovan

HiCap Seattle is a parent group forming in Seattle to build city-wide community among HC/2e families, perform outreach to underserved communities, create safe spaces to share information about HC/2e parenting and education (whether in public, private, or homeschool), and advocate for best practices in equitable identification and service delivery in SPS. We’ll have information about HiCap Seattle and other topics available if interested. We are always looking for volunteers, so contact or join us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hicapseattle/

Dear HiCap Seattle Community,

Hicap equity bill update:

Please contact your state senator BY FRIDAY asking them to support the bipartisan senate bill SB 5354-2019/2020. A companion house bill is forthcoming, and we will send out an update on it when it drops. (Si usted necesita la ayuda en traducciones, por favor póngase en contacto con Erik, y haremos arreglos para ayudarle.)

This senate bill includes provisions that will address certain key equity-related issues in all of the state's hicap programs, not just in Seattle, but it needs to get a hearing to advance in the legislature. This bill does not address all equity-related reforms, but it is our starting point this session, and it is crucial for the bill to advance. Please spread the word. We've included some talking points in the attached document -- but also write about the specific issues that are important to you. Sincere discussion of your family's experiences can be highly effective, but try to keep the length on the short side (under about 500 words).

Current full text of bill: http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2019-20/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5354.pdf

Find your state senator: https://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/

West Seattle HS AL Meeting

Advanced Learning Parent Information Night-WSHS

West Seattle High School(WSHS) will be hosting a meeting on February 12th, 7pm-8pm, in the WSHS Library to share and discuss the upcoming transition of the Seattle Public School’s Highly Capable Cohort(HCC) into West Seattle High School. This will include the overall District and WSHS vision for High School HCC/Advanced Learning programming and changes associated with providing equitable access to advanced coursework while preparing all students for future success. The agenda will include a presentation and time for questions and answers. In order to provide as much information as possible and to focus on what is relevant to you, please use the following form to ask questions you would like answered at the meeting.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=WNEx1HRgMkiHg1Hqb23SJ3Ioxu0LAOBBm8TMulg55xxUNTFPQjI3VzZVVkNHVU4wWEVQVjNST0xWRy4u&fbclid=IwAR0CHda8aEUvoj6eOBN6TiA-zraYhVLQt09KO749N2khy-jqHZXdOwPqXkA

2019-2020 Budget Woes

In the midst of the HS discussions I was chatting privately with a teacher about science pathways and he mentioned everything is in flux due to the pending budget cuts/reduction in staff for next year.   This comes on top of news that the district is proposing cutting back librarians at all the middle and high schools to 1/2 time.   On top of that, because of my participation in the JAMS BLT I'm also seeing the cutbacks effects directly at the school.

The point of these separate observations is that advanced learning rise and falls with the district as a whole and we're really at a crisis point.  This is the time to get activity lobbying at the district and state level to fix the funding situation. If something does not change, the quality of education is not going to be the same next year and going forward.

January '19 Open Thread

Happy New Year Everyone.  What's on your minds?

January 25th Gifted Education Day

Message from David Berg, NWGCA Board Member:

January 25th is Gifted Education Day in Washington state. Each year, students, teachers, administrators, parents, and advocates join together at our state capital to celebrate and support highly capable programming. It is an opportunity for students to tour the capitol and see our government at work, and for advocates to remind our legislators of the importance of the programs that serve these kids and kids like them. We invite you to join us in the Columbia Room in the capitol building at 9:30 AM on the 25th for a brief program. 

Afterwards, we encourage you to visit the offices of your legislators to tell them why gifted education matters and what they can do to improve the services available to our students.  Please call your legislators today to make appointments to meet with each of them on January 25. Legislator appointments are short, usually 15-30 minutes, and it's fine to bring a group. They love meeting and hearing from kids directly! If you RSVP, the coalition will email you advocacy materials that you can discuss with your legislators during your meeting. Appointments after 11 AM will allow you to hear the whole morning program in the Columbia Room, though it's fine to step out if that's the only appointment you can get. There is a cafe on the capitol campus where you can buy lunch, or bring a brown bag lunch to eat in the Columbia Room. 

To find your legislator, please text your zip code to (520) 200-2223 and you'll get a return text with your legislators' names and phone numbers.

Please RSVP to wagifted@earthlink.net

 9:30 Welcome and Introductions David Berg, President 

 9:45 Recognition of Edmonds Challenge Program as a Blue Ribbon School 

         Chris Reykdal, SPI, and David Berg 

10:00 Award of Certificates of Appreciation 

10:15 OSPI update on the Highly Capable Program 

10:30 Questions and Discussion 

11:00 Meetings with Legislators