tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post5358629258804445879..comments2024-02-28T22:24:07.299-08:00Comments on Community Forum for HCC (APP) in Seattle Schools: HCC Procedure ChangesAndrew Siegelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06830585083467140758noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-12327275502480264042016-06-29T16:19:10.941-07:002016-06-29T16:19:10.941-07:00This is totally wacked and just highlights the dys...<br />This is totally wacked and just highlights the dysfunction of the school district. If the State hadn't legislated in HC being basic education I believe we would have zero program right now... And we are pretty close to zero as it is. <br /><br />-SPS ParentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-44607858637740625722016-06-29T15:58:05.584-07:002016-06-29T15:58:05.584-07:00The district highly capable plan for 2015-16 indic...The district highly capable plan for 2015-16 indicates the following "CEDARS Gifted Value 34 Acceleration Services and Program" for grades 9-12:<br /><br />AP - Grades 9-12<br />Concurrent or dual enrollment - Grades 11-12<br />Honors/Advanced - Grades 6-12<br />IB - Grades 10-12<br />Running Start - Grades 11-12<br /><br />And the less defined instructional practice, "differentiation." What AP classes are available in Grade 9? <br /><br />http://www.seattleschools.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_543/File/District/Departments/School%20Board/15-16agendas/081915agenda/20150819_HighlyCapab_Annual%20Plan.pdfAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-19446862348980769452016-06-29T13:12:56.314-07:002016-06-29T13:12:56.314-07:00Also, I find it confusing why the equity issue nev...Also, I find it confusing why the equity issue never addresses the larger issue (to me), which is the site-based model. Every school has the CC standards as the goal, but how they get there, what's taught and how it's measured (curriculum-based assessments) differ by site. <br /><br />How is this equitable? <br /><br />When "differentiation" is stated as the primary tool (for example, TM Social Studies blended class), my question is different from WHAT? Is there a pre-test at the beginning to determine what is the starting point for each student? Are learning goals developed by student? If not, then differentiation is just different, not appropriate.<br /><br />- NEMAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-67278684262016399492016-06-29T12:57:59.173-07:002016-06-29T12:57:59.173-07:00Further from the Friday memo:
"1. Is there c...Further from the Friday memo:<br /><br />"1. Is there consistency as a district regarding what we offer students identified as Highly<br />Capable or as Advanced Learners?"<br /><br />"Consistency<br />These policies and procedures indicate that delivery mechanisms are to be consistent not<br />in their structure, but in their ability to meet the learning needs of students. Consistency in AL programs does not refer to a scripted curriculum across programs and services, but an expectation of learning achievement and instructional quality appropriate to the needsof the learners."<br /><br />"AL Team Support<br />Given this definition of consistency, designed to reflect site-based decision making, the<br />AL team offers identification and support to any and all schools that request it. For<br />example, the team has worked with more than a dozen individual schools this year, and<br />the team has provided supporting documents for all principals as they develop their<br />Continuous School Improvement Plans. The team, however, does not provide scripted<br />curriculum nor is it able to require compliance."<br /><br />So with site-based management, it seems they're saying AL can not create a standardized HCC specific curriculum. I often read posts that comment on the lack of HCC curriculum, but this memo certainly clears the air about AL's intent and capabilities. Instructional quality, achievement and appropriate are all "expectations", but neither defined nor enforced by AL.<br /><br />This may be obvious to the veterans, but we're new to the district and trying to understand all this is difficult at times.<br /><br />How many of you would prefer standardization to site-based model? <br /><br />- NEM<br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-21079176152129852222016-06-29T09:26:49.857-07:002016-06-29T09:26:49.857-07:00There are several Q&As related to advanced lea...There are several Q&As related to advanced learning in the <a href="http://www.seattleschools.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_543/File/District/Departments/School%20Board/Friday%20Memos/2015-16/June%2024/20160624_FridayMemo_TeachingUpdate.pdf" rel="nofollow">Teaching and Learning</a> update included in this week's Friday Memo. (beginning on page 10)<br /><br />One question addressed the timing of the proposed changes to the Superintendent's Procedure:<br /><br /><i>10. Timeline: What is the latest date that this can be addressed as an action item by the School Board to address testing in fall 2016?<br />Advanced Learning will not have the entire Advanced Learning team on board after June 23. The team would need to make any adjustments to the published policy so that time is allocated for the policy to be circulated in order for action to be taken in August.</i><br /><br />I believe the changes will not be effective for next year's testing. The draft updated procedure has been removed from the Advanced Learning website. This is not surprising as they were brought to the C&I committee on June 13th. <br /><br />I found this non-responsive answer really annoying - and I bet the board member who asked the question did too: <br /><br /><i><br />Is there community engagement in and outside of the HCC community?<br /><br />The Advanced Learning team engages the community in a number of ways, both inside and outside the Highly Capable community.<br /><br /> The Highly Capable Advisory Committee meets monthly.<br /><br /> The West Seattle Highly Capable Pathway Focus Group meets monthly.<br /><br /> An Advanced Learning team member sits on the Equity and Race Advisory<br /><br />Council.<br /><br /> An Advanced Learning team member participates in the Southeast Seattle<br /><br />Education Coalition.<br /><br /> The Advanced Learning team continues to consult with the Thurgood Marshall<br /><br />Equity Committee.<br /><br /> A 2014-15 community task force made wide-ranging recommendations on<br /><br />Advanced Learning programs and Highly Capable services.<br /><br /> The Advanced Learning team has surveyed stakeholders on various issues,<br /><br />including a districtwide survey of administrators and kindergarten teachers on Early Entrance to Kindergarten and a statewide survey of districts regarding appeals processes.<br /><br /> The Advanced Learning team has increased communication with historically underrepresented families, including universally administering the Cognitive Abilities Test screener to second-graders in Title I schools.<br /><br /> The Advanced Learning team has broadened its outreach to the teacher community through professional development offerings, including partnering with English Language Arts for training, offering differentiation PD to all SPS staff monthly, and providing training at school sites on Differentiation, Active Learning, Unit Planning and Formative Practices. </i><br /><br /><br /><br />The question related to the proposed changes in policy not general engagement opportunities. Also, the West Seattle Pathway Focus Group is not meeting monthly - the group held its last meeting in January.<br />Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-72374568482979660472016-06-23T17:14:47.729-07:002016-06-23T17:14:47.729-07:00That really is the issue. With site based decision...That really is the issue. With site based decisions anything goes meaning it is a matter of time before there will be no there, there. Also, to blend these kids in it means some HCC kids must be going to gen ed classrooms right? So what kind of professional development have these teachers received regarding HC students? <br /><br />Any proposed changes should be for increased rigor.<br /><br />-sorry Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-23819103093515584152016-06-23T16:07:36.361-07:002016-06-23T16:07:36.361-07:00Hi, I'm a TM HCC parent. I was skeptical of th...Hi, I'm a TM HCC parent. I was skeptical of this change at first, for many of the same reasons that other posters have mentioned. But I've come around to supporting it after delving in and learning more. Several people have said, "The problem TM is trying to fix is just optics. It should not be called segregation, and this change isn't really about equity." And that is fundamentally true. But the optics have a very real and negative psychological impact on both the GenEd and HCC programs at TM (kids, parents and teachers).<br /><br />I also thought, why don't we address the problem by blending PE, music, and art? The answer is that it is really hard from a scheduling perspective - we have only 3 PCP teachers and the classes that would need to be mixed don't come in convenient batches of 3.<br /><br />That leaves social studies, and I was wary of social studies being blended. I worried about teaching to the lowest common denominator, and about HCC kids losing the "safe space" of the cohort. But the teachers and principal at TM are putting a lot of careful thought into this. They are not just blending the classes, but also re-imagining the way they teach social studies. They are coming up with really exciting ideas about how to incorporate more project-based learning, creative drama techniques, story-telling, civics, etc. The teachers are jazzed about it, and I think it has the potential to be something really special. I trust this teaching corps to do a good job with it.<br /><br />So I've come around to supporting it. (By the way, I was in the minority when I was skeptical. The PTA did a survey and a solid majority of HCC parents are in favor.) I think blending social studies will be good for everyone at TM. But at the same time, it is our own unique solution to our own unique problem, and it should be limited to TM. The key is to get the right words in the policy to make sure it is properly limited. Ideas? Could the policy just say "except for social studies classes at Thurgood Marshall, which may be blended"?<br /><br />TM SupporterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-66623715676944786982016-06-23T13:10:25.804-07:002016-06-23T13:10:25.804-07:00I completely agree with SPS parent post. The focus...I completely agree with SPS parent post. The focus should not be on race but on socio-economic status, ELL etc. diversity where they are underrepresented. I agree with the other points SPS made as well. <br />-Agree Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-74594924153980621552016-06-21T18:25:56.700-07:002016-06-21T18:25:56.700-07:00Yeah Focus, I agree it does distract from class si...Yeah Focus, I agree it does distract from class sizes, rigor and overcrowding. Is is worth it? <br /><br />The HCC program is not segregated it is a tracked program designed not to keep kids out based on color but to include kids based on IQ and achievement. I would kindly ask anyone to reconsider that word as it is quite unfair to those families in the program. <br /><br />And I am sorry if they can mix one class why can't they mix another class like art/PE and music which aren't academic. I have zero hope that the SS course will be that differentiated as that concept has never worked in SPS. That is why the developed IPP then APP now HCC in the first place. <br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-73475567395257252032016-06-21T14:09:18.248-07:002016-06-21T14:09:18.248-07:00Thanks to "SPS Parent" for addressing ma...Thanks to "SPS Parent" for addressing many of the misperceptions of "Anonymous." Middle schools have far more scheduling flexibility than elementaries; Fairmount Park has far more homogenous demographics than Thurgood Marshall. <br /><br />I am a TM HCC parent who has followed the social studies planning closely. It is a choice being driven by school leadership, staff and engaged parents, with a primary purpose of giving kids in different programs a few dozen hours each year to get to know and learn from each other. The same social studies curriculum is used in both programs, anyway, and can be adjusted to challenge kids at whatever level needed. <br /><br /><b>This is *not* an initiative by the District to undo HCC as a self-contained program. </b> <br /><br />I think many TM parents are bewildered and saddened at the way this policy fracas has diverted attention from more-serious issues, such as the fact that TM is far over capacity. In 2016-17, five classrooms (130-150 kids) will be outside the main building in portables and the soon-to-be-former child-care facility. Meanwhile, other Central Region schools (especially Lowell, Madrona K-8 and Stevens) have hundreds of empty seats.<br /><br />- Focus on the Important StuffAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-87579344342662796082016-06-21T11:04:19.565-07:002016-06-21T11:04:19.565-07:00I would also add ELL diversity is a problem for HC...I would also add ELL diversity is a problem for HCC.<br /><br />SPS ParentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-8458051113682529642016-06-21T10:54:51.335-07:002016-06-21T10:54:51.335-07:00JAMS is a middle school and TM is an elementary sc...JAMS is a middle school and TM is an elementary school. IT IS NOT SEGREGATED. You folks must have no understanding of the programs which you speak and the types of worthy improvement that could be made if that is how you view the problems of the HCC. <br /><br />SES diversity is a problem for the HCC cohort. <br /><br />Racial diversity is not. <br /><br />Lack of rigor is a problem for HCC.<br /><br />Lack of mixed classes are not. <br /><br />Lack of teachers who can differentiate for gen ed. and HCC is a problem. <br /><br />Lack of teachers who can teach HCC alone is a problem. <br /><br />-SPS Parent Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-71498665186867354782016-06-21T10:44:14.462-07:002016-06-21T10:44:14.462-07:00Devin,
Thank you for your work on equity issues s...Devin,<br /><br />Thank you for your work on equity issues specific to Thurgood Marshall but can you please explain what those issues are? Are the teachers in gen ed less qualified? Is the admin less concerned about gen ed? Do the students get taught in ways that are less than best standards or with less differentiation? Does the PTA money only go to the programs that the students are in? You name issues what are they please? <br /><br />As for the goal to have the HCC program match the district how is that practical? Any instance of bias should be eliminated but please understand that the AL team is constantly attempting to make improvements on outreach to less representative groups (like SES constrained kids through performing screening test in title 1 schools) which I applaud. But if your goal is to have the racial mix match the district's racial mix. Where is the merit in that?<br /><br />I wonder about the test to get in and wish it was more based on teacher and family recommendations. The number of 2e kids who are being turned away I am sure is staggering. But test are elements of identification that seem inherent to all HC programs. <br /><br />SPS ParentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-58595465512150533152016-06-21T09:35:54.954-07:002016-06-21T09:35:54.954-07:00JAMS is nowhere near as segregated as at TM, the k...JAMS is nowhere near as segregated as at TM, the kids are together in advisory, lunch, music, foreign language, art, pe, MESA, electives, and sports. I would feel VERY uncomfortable if they had no classes together. Even in the demographically similar spectrum and gen ed program we were in a few years ago I appreciated that the kids were divided in half and paired with a partner classroom (a and d to PE and b and C to Art for example). I think TM should look into that as well as the social studies idea.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-86076785343949319192016-06-21T02:29:57.343-07:002016-06-21T02:29:57.343-07:00It's not surprising that parents in your commu...It's not surprising that parents in your community who do not support this for educational reasons wouldn't feel safe discussing it with you when you present it as an equity issue.<br /> <br />TM is not unique. Fairmount Park, Washington Middle School, Hamilton International Middle School and Jane Addams Middle School all have more than one program in the building. Staff in those buildings are able to manage this. How much training has your principal had in meeting the educational needs of gifted children?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-8745526530060253262016-06-21T00:26:54.957-07:002016-06-21T00:26:54.957-07:00I am the parent of a child in HCC at Thurgood Mars...I am the parent of a child in HCC at Thurgood Marshall, and I am really supportive and excited for TM to offer blended social studies. I think blended social studies will enrich the learning of children both in HCC and Gen Ed and will give children opportunities to learn in more diverse environments and build more diverse friendships, which I believe will better prepare them for the future. I trust that the teachers can and will appropriately differentiate (which is their plan), and believe that my child (and all children) will learn more from this blended experience than without. The suggestion came from the Thurgood Marshall community and leadership, and is designed as a small step to address equity issues specific to Thurgood Marshall, given the more segregated nature of the school (due to multiple programs), which I believe has a negative impact on all students. <br /><br />As further context, I am part of a group of parents, teachers and administrators at TM working to improve equity at the school, and am leading a sub-committee that is working specifically to improve equity in HCC. Our group is excited and supportive of this change! While it doesn't begin to address broader HCC equity/diversity issues (which we are concerned about, think are critical to address, and are working towards) it is a small step to address unique issues at TM now. Longer term, our goal is to improve the diversity of students in HCC, such that it reflects the diversity of the district overall. In the meantime, I hope we are able to find a way to make this blended social studies change possible for the TM community! <br /><br />Interestingly, every parent I've talked to (HCC and Gen Ed) at Thurgood Marshall is very supportive of this change. I realize, however, that not all parents are supportive….as a parent expressed on this forum that they don’t support blended social studies. My own sense, however, is that the TM community is overwhelmingly supportive of the change, and believe that it is a great fit for the unique TM community. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09849614322034789753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-46525736198508359762016-06-17T07:15:03.926-07:002016-06-17T07:15:03.926-07:00As a TM parent, I would rather see the district ad...As a TM parent, I would rather see the district address the disproportionality of HCC than stop providing advanced learning for HCC students in academic subjects. I think blending in art, music, and PE is a great idea, but apparently those changes would be harder to implement, so it's not on the table. <br /><br />It's hard not to feel like the district wants to reduce the achievement gap by lowering the high end of academic scores instead of focusing on raising the ones at the low end. It seems they are looking for quick fixes that optimize for optics instead of doing the hard work to help students across the academic spectrum. <br /><br />--TM HCC Parent<br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-55487452126731606312016-06-16T23:44:27.528-07:002016-06-16T23:44:27.528-07:00
not a fan. makes no sense when you have PE / art...<br /><br />not a fan. makes no sense when you have PE / art / music could be combined with zero academic impact. This is just for optics and it is stupid. Oh and should also include Peace Academy as they should also be in these classes. Not going to happen next year. Board is going to shut this down. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-28838659031378979302016-06-16T23:32:14.920-07:002016-06-16T23:32:14.920-07:00Are there HCC parents at Thurgood Marshall here wh...Are there HCC parents at Thurgood Marshall here who can speak to the community's desire to combine students into heterogeneous groups for social studies? If so, do you feel the social benefits outweigh the academic costs of this change and at what point in your child's education do you believe academics become more important?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-47689268116526544432016-06-15T13:04:01.732-07:002016-06-15T13:04:01.732-07:00Yes, it does. New wording: "The curriculum is...Yes, it does. New wording: "The curriculum is presented at an accelerated learning pace and/or advanced level of complexity and depth, requiring students to perform significantly above grade level." Ben posted the link to the revisions at the top of the post (the doc starts on page 295 of the agenda he posted). <br />2HCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-56505055699445048222016-06-15T12:56:39.712-07:002016-06-15T12:56:39.712-07:00Does it also remove the words "provides a rig...Does it also remove the words "provides a rigorous curriculum?"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-13472173282479115752016-06-15T12:26:13.974-07:002016-06-15T12:26:13.974-07:00@2HC, thank you for the clarification!
-Maybe I j...@2HC, thank you for the clarification!<br /><br />-Maybe I just need another cup of coffee Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-71707854719140150092016-06-15T12:20:24.974-07:002016-06-15T12:20:24.974-07:00No, it's not implying that. This document does...No, it's not implying that. This document does say students are eligible to enroll in HCC pathway schools, and the Student Assignment Plan still stands. <br /><br />But there is concern about the wording, which could lead to programmatic change. It's the change from this: "This self-contained, K-8 program provides a rigorous curriculum in language arts, social studies, mathematics, and science."<br /><br />To this:<br />"Highly Capable Cohort (HCC) service model is self-contained in Grades 1-5 in ELA, mathematics, and science, and may also be offered as self-contained in social studies. The HC Cohort service model is also self-contained in most core subjects in Grades 6-8. "<br /><br />The revision eliminates social studies from self-contained in elementary, separates out middle school and is vague about which subjects are self-contained in middle school. <br /><br />2HC<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-14645305213433756462016-06-15T10:54:58.079-07:002016-06-15T10:54:58.079-07:00I am confused what the update by Melissa Westbrook...I am confused what the update by Melissa Westbrook means for the daily running of HCC. Will my kids still be at Thurgood Marshall and Washington, or is this implying a return to neighborhood schools, provided they can create a big enough cohort? I am not trying to be daft, I just want to know whether there is concern about the wording, or is some massive programmatic change afoot? <br /><br />-Maybe I just need another cup of coffee. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649338642905686469.post-74538505246866319172016-06-15T09:22:42.341-07:002016-06-15T09:22:42.341-07:00I added Melissa Westbrook's account of the C&a...I added Melissa Westbrook's account of the C&I Meeting to the top.Benjamin Leishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10974191081762367425noreply@blogger.com