Feb '20 Open Thread

Hey its open enrollment week and the entire programs future is under attack.

What's on your minds?

December Open Thread

What's on your minds?

September '19 Open Thread

Schools back in session. I suspect its going to be a tumultuous year. What's on your minds?

Summer '19 Open Thread

I'm super busy campaigning (Don't forget to vote this primary) so here's an open thread for the summer.

What's on your minds?

May '19 Open Thread

I'm thinking about electability ....  What's on your minds?

April '19 Open Thread

"From WCGE: We Need Your Help - Stat

The deadline for bills to be passed out of the Appropriations Committee in the House is April 9th. So far SSB 5354 has ***not*** been scheduled for a public hearing. The committee plans sessions on April 5, 6 and 8. There is still time!

Please contact committee chairman Rep. Timm Ormsby, even if you have already done so, and urge him to schedule a public hearing and executive session on SSB 5354 before the April 9th deadline. Add a few words about why this bill is important as an equity measure [talking points below].

timm.ormsby@leg.wa.gov

Please also send an email to your own House Representatives and ask them to urge Rep. Ormsby to schedule this bill. If you don’t know who they are: https://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/

[Have friends and family across Washington do this as well.]

If this bill does not get out of Appropriations, it is ***dead*** for this session and we have to start all over again next year.

Suggested talking points (use your own words, but keep your message short):
* This is an important bill to improve equity in state highly capable programs
* The bill asks for important data disaggregation for better evidence-based decision-making about highly capable programs
* It calls on OSPI to provide equity-promoting guidelines when diversity goals aren't met
* It calls for highly capable professional development for principals, counselors, and student teachers – OSPI already has free professional development materials available online
* OSPI needs more than its current one half-time employee to serve the ENTIRE state with technical support and guidance and to provide data so that legislators and school districts can make evidence-based decisions
* It requires districts to acknowledge highly capable status from other districts for families that move a lot (military, migrant, etc.).
* It provides for transportation to highly capable schools, which is an issue especially in rural districts"
What's on your minds?

March '19 Open Thread

Teaser: I have some news which I'm not quite ready to share. What's on your minds? 

Feb '19 Open Thread

Open enrollment has started: https://www.seattleschools.org/admissions/registration/school_choice


Note for those commenting on the online learning policy changes: 
"FYI, BAR Policies Nos. 2024 and 2420 have been pulled tomorrow’s Leg. Mtg. By Supt. Juneau and myself to be referred to the C and I Committee for more discussion, community engagement and potential unintended consequences.

Thank you for your input and conversations - stay tuned.

Leslie Harris
Director, District 6, President
leslie.harris@seattleschools.org"

Registration for UW Robinson Center summer programs opens today:

https://robinsoncenter.uw.edu/programs/summer/


Ingraham IB Information night has been rescheduled to Tue 2/12 at 7PM in the auditorium.

Senate Bill 5354-2019, a multi-issue hicap education bill, needs your help to advance. Please forward this message to friends and family in other Washington districts.

Among other things, SB 5354 requires ALL counselors and principals to get at least 2 hours of in-service professional development and student teachers to get pre-service training. The bill is getting a hearing tomorrow (Wednesday, February 6), but the Senate Education Committee needs to get a LOT more e-mail asking them “to bring the bill to executive session and to vote a Do Pass recommendation.” Please contact them today. Committee e-mails are below—click on a link for a predrafted message:

More details here: https://blog.hicapseattle.org/2019/02/05/e-mail-needed-to-support-sb-5354-2019

What's on your minds?

January '19 Open Thread

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

'18 December Open Thread

Since open enrollment is gettng closer I'll be setting up some threads to discuss choosing high schools and perhaps a general one on choosing a school very soon.
What's on your minds?

November '18 Open Thread

I'm copying this announcement over for this month:

"Due to increasing enrollment and growth in the northwest region, the Robert Eagle Staff Middle School and Licton Springs K-8 campus is unable to accommodate the number of students assigned in future years. Two classroom portables were already added for the 2018-19 school year, and student enrollment is expected to increase. 

In addition to serving neighborhood students, Robert Eagle Staff is a Highly Capable Cohort (HCC) pathway school, serving students who live in the Robert Eagle Staff and Whitman middle school service areas. This cohort of students is also growing.
Student enrollment growth in the region and growth of the HCC population has resulted in building capacity constraints that need to be addressed. District staff have been exploring options to address these capacity challenges. 

Potential options will be shared with families at two upcoming community meetings. No decisions have been made. Staff will share scenarios being considered, answer questions, and listen to your feedback. 

Potential options:
*Create an additional Highly Capable pathway at Whitman Middle School and assign students receiving Highly Capable (HC) services to Robert Eagle Staff Middle School and Whitman Middle School based on where students live. HC eligible students living in the Whitman attendance area would receive HC services at Whitman, and students living in the Robert Eagle Staff attendance area would continue to receive HC services at Robert Eagle Staff. 

*Move Licton Springs K-8 school to the Webster School building in Fall 2020. As a result of this move, both Licton Springs and Robert Eagle Staff would have their own buildings rather than be co-located. 

*Make Licton Springs a K-5 school given the lower enrollment at grades 6-8. 

*Adjust Olympic View Elementary feeder pattern so that all Olympic View students would be assigned to Jane Addams Middle School rather than the current split of Olympic View between Robert Eagle Staff and Jane Addams Middle School. 

The same information will be presented at both meetings. 

Wed., Nov. 7, 2018
6:30–7:30 p.m.
Robert Eagle Staff Middle School Commons
1330 N. 90th Street, Seattle 

Tues., Nov. 13 2018
6:30–7:30 p.m.
Whitman Middle School Library
9201 15th Avenue NW, Seattle 

Any changes will take effect in school year 2019-20 if approved by the Seattle School Board. If you have any questions, please email enrollmentplanning@seattleschools.org."

What's on your minds?

October '18 Open Thread

What's on your minds?

September '18 Open Thread

What's on your minds?

July '18 Open Thread

Its the first summer thread for the year. Depending on activity we may or may not have an August one.

• As noted in the prev. open thread the Advanced Learning Task Force has started meeting.

Random Math Fun:

Aperiodical is hosting the Big Math Off which looks to be a lot of fun to read.

http://aperiodical.com/2018/06/announcing-the-big-internet-math-off/

Humor:

“Crowded schools. Overworked teachers. In today’s education turmoil, can your child obtain the personalized teaching that every child, average or advanced, need?” (1963)

What's on your minds?

June '18 Open Thread

From the Highly Capable Service Adv. Committee:

The final scheduled HCSAC meeting for this school year will be next this Tuesday 6/5/2018 from 6:30-8:00 at Madison Middle School. 

The agenda includes:

• Approval of May meeting minutes 
• Review and approval of the new HCSAC Charge
• Discussion of recruitment for staff and parent positions for SY 2018-19
• Discussion of election of officers
• Update on the Advanced Learning Task Force (ALTF)
• Farewell to departing members
• Other items TBD

What's on your minds?

May '18 Open Thread

We're heading towards the end of the year.  Last night I attended the STEAM fair at Jane Addams which was very impressive. There were a ton of exhibits by students especially from the Stem/Mesa classes. This  has extra resonance for me since I know many of the kids now through a variety of outlets including the ones who have done Math Club with me.

What interesting things are happening in your building?

Note:

The Advanced Learning Task Force page  https://www.seattleschools.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=627&pageId=38024891 is back up again and the process seems to be restarting.

April '18 Open Thread

The big news for the week and really the year as a whole is the pending announcement of the new superintendent.

HCSAC Meeeting

The April meeting of the Highly Capable Services Advisory Committee will take place tomorrow - Tuesday, April 3, 6:30 - 8:00 pm - at the John Stanford Center, Room 2700. You can check in at the Security Window for access to the 2nd Floor.

Remaining meetings this year will take place:

May 1, JSCEE, Room 2700

June 5, Madison Middle School, Library

College Accceptance Success Stories

I just heard from a friend that some of this year's IHS seniors have been accepted to Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Dartmouth, Penn and MIT.  Congratulations to all of these seniors.

[I'll add any other school/acceptance info that people post/send my way.]


Transportation Letter Snafu
If you've received a letter indicating your child was not eligible for bus service next year its probably in error and the transportation department will be sending out an update in the mail.

What's on your minds?

March '18 Open Thread

March brings the beginning of the district and school wide budgeting process.  I'm hoping we'll see more clarity on the structure of High School as well.

Board Working Session Agenda on 24 Credit Planning:

There are several different scenarios discussed in this document.  I snipped only one of them above so definitely take a read if you're interested. Its a bit unclear how this process is working since I've heard but not verified that several High Schools are rolling out schedule changes prior to this being fully adopted.

https://www.seattleschools.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_543/File/District/Departments/School%20Board/17-18%20agendas/20180228/20180228_Packet_WS_ResolutionGunSafety_Budget_24Credits.pdf

Running Start: 

"Community colleges had been counting on more generous state dollars from Washington’s public schools to help fix a funding imbalance in the state’s dual-credit program known as Running Start. 

But a budget bill passed by the state Senate could undo that possibility."

Seattle Times Link

New Assignment Plan Task Force

https://www.seattleschools.org/district/calendars/news/what_s_new/student_assignment_plan_task_force

Seattle Public Schools is seeking parents, community members, and students to join district staff in the upcoming Student Assignment Plan Task Force as we review the policies and procedures around student enrollment, assignment and school choice and develop a set of recommendations for improvements that support the success of all students across the district. 

The Student Assignment Plan Task Force will carry out two key objectives:
Review the Student Assignment Plan and most recent Student Assignment Transition Plan and Develop recommendations for an equity focused enrollment and student assignment process.

To learn more about the task force, please visit the Student Assignment Plan Task Force webpage. Applications are due on Mon., March 19, 2018. Applicants will be notified no later than March 23, 2018. Please email questions to enrollmentplanning@seattleschools.org 

Its a bit unclear from the description what the scope of the work is and how much his affects HCC but it may be of interest.

March HC Advisory Committee Meeting

The March meeting of the Highly Capable Services Advisory Committee will take place tomorrow - Tuesday, March 6, 6:30 - 8:00 PM - at the Robert Eagle Staff Middle School Library, 1330 N 90th St, Seattle, WA 98103.


- Update from Advanced Learning
- Continued work on the Program Review Tool

Upcoming meetings will take place:

April 3, JSCEE, Room 2700
May 1, JSCEE, Room 2700
June 5, Madison Middle School, Library

Math Counts Scholarship

"We know that an experience in MATHCOUNTS can be transformative and incredibly meaningful for a student. MATHCOUNTS can change opinions about mathematics. It can lead a student to a career in science, engineering, technology or mathematics. It can build critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are invaluable to success in the future. In short, it can help a student realize no less than his or her full potential.
The MATHCOUNTS Alumni Scholarship is a $3,000 award presented to an outstanding alumnus/a whose experience in a MATHCOUNTS program had an impact on his/her outlook on math and influenced his/her academic or professional pursuits. Created in 2014, this scholarship ensures that MATHCOUNTS can recognize the work of talented alumni and continue to expand their academic and professional opportunities."

https://www.mathcounts.org/mathcounts-alumni-scholarship

Pi Day Video

What's on your minds?

February '18 Open Thread

I'm very relieved after last night's board meeting.  The recap for everyone who didn't tune in is:

• The last boundary map F4.3 was adopted. 
• Lincoln will serve as the north end HCC pathway and the Language Immersion pathway.
• Most of the big boundary adjustments are in the Lincoln area. The side effects around the rest of the map were minimized versus some of the earlier iterations.
• Re:grandfathering:  students who choose the pathway high school next year are to be grandfathered, current W. Seattle students at Washington are also to be grandfathered at Garfield. 
• The resolution passed asking the staff to report back on improving identification and increasing advanced learning in every high school next year. Based on that work, the board may revisit the need for a pathway. So basically, the arguments will continue next year but hopefully with better supporting data.

So hopefully, everyone has enough information to make an informed choice for next year.  Open enrollment will start on February 5th. District Link

Things I'm tracking

• NGSS Science Standards
• The new superintendent search
• Lincoln H.S. rollout.
• Bus Strike

The February meeting of the Highly Capable Services Advisory Committee will take place tomorrow - Tuesday, February 6,:30 - 8:00 PM - at the John Stanford Center for Education Excellence, Room 2776.

A code for the elevator/door code is available at the security window in the Lobby.

The agenda will include:

- Recap on High School Boundary changes
- Updates from new schools: Madison, Robert Eagle Staff and Decatur
- Update from Advanced Learning on the eligibility process
- Continued work on the Program Review Tool


Future meetings will take place:
March 6, Robert Eagle Staff Middle School, Library
April 3, JSCEE, Room 2700
May 1, JSCEE, Room 2700
June 5, Madison Middle School, Library

What's on your minds?

2018 Open Enrollment Questions (Which school should I choose?)

Open enrollment starts on February 5th.   There's obviously a great deal of uncertainty about the high school pathways.  I feel really bad for all the families stuck in the middle of this process and I promise I'll have a post 1/31 thread to discuss issues related to those changes once we have some clarity.

[Update: see http://discussapp.blogspot.com/2018/02/february-18-open-thread.html for the final h.s. boundaries decisions]

In the meantime, what questions do you have for other parents at any of the various schools (elementary, middle or high school)?