Seattle Education 2010

Washington State Remains Free from "Race to the Top" Extortion

2010-07-27T20:04:00.000-07:00

Seattle Ed 2010 EditorialSo our state was not selected by Arne Duncan & co. for his "Race to Privatization and Teacher Demoralization." (See: "Washington Not a 'Race to the Top' Finalist State," Puget Sound Business Journal.)Hooray!That's right. This is good news.There are some who are lamenting this "loss" of the RTTT monies, like League of Education Voters' Chris Korsmo: “Our kids need and

Open Letter to Bill Gates about Education (from a Public Schools Parent)

2010-07-27T19:59:00.000-07:00

Dear Bill, I am a public schools' parent in your own general neighborhood (Seattle). I realize you have an interest in public education, and are a major participant and funder in the current “education reform” efforts being attempted nationally. Unfortunately, I don’t agree with a number of the choices and “investments” you are making in our schools. I believe they have not

The Art of Teaching (and the Automatons of "Education Reform")

2010-07-15T11:36:00.000-07:00

In light of the recent New York Times article about robo-teachers that Dora found, here's a re-post of a related article I wrote in January. -- sp:I came across a Seattle magazine article from 2008 the other day called “Hot Button: Math Problems.” It said that Seattle Public Schools math teachers are being forced to exactly replicate what someone in Japan has deemed a “perfect lesson” right down

Letter to Seattle School Board about Tonight’s Vote to Extend Supt. Goodloe-Johnson’s Contract: Vote NO

2010-07-07T14:39:00.000-07:00

Dear Seattle School Board Directors, At today’s (July 7) final school board meeting of the summer, you have the opportunity to represent your constituents and common sense by voting “No” to extending the superintendent’s contract yet another year to 2013. The board has already extended Superintendent Goodloe-Johnson’s contract twice, to 2012. And she has already had three years to demonstrate her

Testimony Regarding Dr. Goodloe-Johnson’s Performance: No One Can Serve Two Masters

2010-07-07T10:12:00.000-07:00

I will be giving this testimony tonight at the Seattle Public Schools’ Board of Directors’ meeting regarding the performance of our school superintendent.Good evening.This is regarding the performance evaluation of our superintendent, Dr. Goodloe-Johnson, who is also a board member on the NWEA board of directors as well as the Broad Foundation.What I have seen over the last two years as a parent

Adams Elementary School in Ballard voted “No Confidence!” Regarding the Performance of Dr. Goodloe-Johnson

2010-06-22T18:35:00.001-07:00

Of the18 ballots returned:17 votes of no confidence1 vote of confidence

SEA, the Seattle Education Association Recommends to the School Board Not To Extend Superintendent Dr. Goodloe-Johnson’s contract.

2010-06-21T21:54:00.000-07:00

Seattle Education Association, June 21, 2010Press release:With the growing number of schools taking no confidence votes in Seattle Public Schools’ Superintendent Goodloe-Johnson, over one hundred elected association representatives for the Seattle Education Association (SEA) debated the merits of taking a no confidence vote as a body at their monthly business meeting tonight. The SEA

West Seattle High School Votes “No Confidence” on the Performance of Dr. Goodloe-Johnson

2010-06-21T18:46:00.000-07:00

That makes the tenth school so far whose teachers have voted “No Confidence”.The vote was out of 42 ballots turned in, 4 voted to abstain, 3 voted “confidence” in the superintendent and 35 voted “No confidence” in the superintendent.”Maybe the school board will start getting the hint soon that our supe is not measuring up.

Nine Schools So Far Have Signed “No Confidence” Resolutions Regarding the Performance of Dr. Goodloe-Johnson

2010-06-18T09:54:00.000-07:00

The nine schools are Franklin High School, Ballard High School, Sanislo, Schmitz Park, Laurelhurst, Orca, Ida B Wells, Green Lake Elementary and Maple Elementary.

Maple Elementary School voted "No Confidence", 17 yes, 1 no and 2 abstaining

2010-06-16T22:56:00.000-07:00

According to our source, Maple Elementary School used the Sanislo document in large part to describe their concerns.

Should the School District Be Allowed to Give Our Kids’ Phone Numbers, Addresses & Photos to Every Tom, Dick and Pollster?

2010-06-16T16:49:00.000-07:00

The private contact info of 10,700 Seattle Public Schools students and 1,400 teachers ended up in the hands of a political marketing firm. How did that happen? Should it be allowed? A group of parents says No.A number of Seattle Public Schools parents and teachers were recently shocked to read that the private contact information of 10,700 SPS children and 1,400 teachers had been given to a

Greenlake Elementary School Votes “No Confidence” in the Performance of Superintendent Dr. Goodloe-Johnson

2010-06-15T22:54:00.000-07:00

The vote was 26 For, 1 Against and 1 Abstention.

CORE wins leadership of Chicago Teachers Union

2010-06-13T09:15:00.000-07:00

Press ReleaseThis is a new day!CORE (Caucus of Rank and File Educators) decisively wonthe leadership of the Chicago Teachers Union. The new president of thethird largest teachers union local in the US, with 30,000 members, isKaren Lewis. Karen and the CORE slate swept every position in theelection. This is a strategic victory in the battle against the assault onpublic education and the entire

Putting Two and Two Together in Detroit

2010-06-12T08:10:00.000-07:00

I’ve been following the story of Detroit School Chief and Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb who was discovered receiving money from the Broad Foundation.The Detroit Public School Board unanimously voted to file a lawsuit against Mr. Bobb stating that a conflict of interest had developed by him receiving those funds.Since then it has been established that Bobb cooperated with the Broad

Teachers at Laurelhurst Vote “No Confidence” in the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Goodloe-Johnson

2010-06-11T16:43:00.000-07:00

More info to follow.

No-confidence motion: “Whereas Dr. Goodloe-Johnson, superintendent of Seattle Public Schools, is an ineffective leader”

2010-06-11T08:56:00.000-07:00

I am going to show this per the statement issued to SEA by the staff at Ballard High School on May 26, 2010:No-confidence motionWhereas Dr. Goodloe-Johnson, superintendent of Seattle Public Schools, is an ineffective leader in the following ways:Her conflict of interest in selling the school district an unproven standardized student assessment plan sold by a private corporation on whose board she

Seattle Parents Gathering “No Confidence” Votes Regarding School Superintendent Dr. Goodloe-Johnson’s Performance

2010-06-11T08:53:00.000-07:00

There was an interview of three Seattle parents on the news last night regarding the petition that has been circulating saying that due to school superintendent Dr. Goodloe-Johnson’s performance, her contract that is under review should not be extended.

Orca School K-8 Votes 25-1 “No Confidence” in Superintendent Dr. Goodloe-Johnson’s Performance

2010-06-11T08:51:00.000-07:00

I don’t have the document yet but I can imagine that the wording is the same as with the other three schools.The vote was 25 “for”, 1 “against” and 1 abstention.

Sanislo Elementary School Issues Vote of “No Confidence” in the Leadership of Superintendent Dr. Goodloe-Johnson

2010-06-06T07:45:00.000-07:00

The document reads as follows:Whereas the Seattle Schools Superintendent is a member of the board of directors on the Broad Foundation, which lobbies for and financially supports charter schools across the nation, andWhereas the Superintendent’s strategic plan was drawn up by the McKinsey & Co, under boycott by SEA for their nation-wide advocacy for charter schools, andWhereas the Superintendent’

Union Members of Schmitz Park Elementary voted “no confidence” in the Seattle School District Superintendent Dr. Goodloe-Johnson

2010-06-03T21:24:00.000-07:00

Today, June 3, 2010, union members of Schmitz Park Elementary voted “no confidence” in the Seattle School District Superintendent. They approved the following motion by a vote of 15 to 0, with 3 abstentions.Whereas the Seattle Schools Superintendent is a member of the board of directors on the Broad Foundation, which lobbies for and financially supports charter schools across the nation,

2010-05-31T22:00:00.000-07:00

As shown on the Street March and Rally Facebook page:June 2, 20104:00pm – 6:00pmLocation: 1st Ave S and Edgar Martinez Drive with a march to the John Stanford CenterSeattle parents, teachers, students and community members call on the Seattle School Board:* Not to renew Superintendent Marie Goodloe Johnson’s contract* Not to award her a pay raise and bonus* To consider firing her with cause for

“Race to Nowhere”, the film and a discussion with the director. Free and in West Seattle!

2010-05-30T16:45:00.000-07:00

This is not to be missed.Friday, June 18th, 20106-9pmWest Seattle High School Theater3000 California Ave, SouthwestSeattle, WA 98116Check out http://www.racetonowhere.com/To register for this viewing, go to:Race to Nowhere, Seattle, WA

No Confidence Motion: "Whereas Dr. Goodloe-Johnson, superintendent of Seattle Public Schools, is an ineffective leader"

2010-05-30T10:25:00.000-07:00

I am going to show this per the statement issued to SEA by the staff at Ballard High School on May 26, 2010:No-confidence motion:Whereas Dr. Goodloe-Johnson, superintendent of Seattle Public Schools, is an ineffective leader in the following ways:Her conflict of interest in selling the school district an unproven standardized student assessment plan sold by a private corporation on whose board

The KOS Kids Are Alright: Visionary Bronx teacher and “at-risk” kids show what they are made of through art

2010-05-29T10:28:00.000-07:00

Don’t miss a terrific exhibit at the Frye Art Museum here in Seattle that shows what a dedicated teacher inspired by art can do when he taps the creativity of “at-risk” kids. "Tim Rollins and KOS (Kids of Survival)" closes this Monday, May 31.For over 25 years, Tim Rollins has been working with emotionally or academically challenged teenage students in the South Bronx, synthesizing literary texts

"Scathing Surveys" & Talking Points Vie for Truth about the Supe

2010-05-25T23:55:00.000-07:00

Nina Shapiro at the Seattle Weekly has now weighed in on both the CPPS and the other survey: "Schools Chief Maria Goodloe-Johnson Heads into Board Evaluation on the Heels of Scathing Surveys" Note the Seattle Public Schools/Alliance for Ed/Seattle Times talking point of the CPPS survey being "nonscientific" because it wasn't conducted by a marketing firm -- unlike, I suppose, the politically

Dr. Goodloe Johnson and Our Performance Management Policy

2010-05-22T11:13:00.000-07:00

Recently the Performance Management Policy was approved by our school board. The one school district that was chosen by SPS staff to look at as a model was the Oakland Public School district.One would ask why Oakland? There are fifty states worth of school districts to look at as a source of information.Well, let's take a look.A parent spoke in front of the school board about the Oakland school

Race to the Top: More of the Same But Worse

2010-05-21T07:30:00.000-07:00

It Started With a QuestionI participated in the PERY Conference last weekend at Nova which included a showing of The War on Kids. After lunch we broke into smaller discussion groups to discuss the rights and roles of youth and the direction that we should take in terms of education and schools. I chose to sit in on the discussion regarding the future of our schools.I chose this subject because

Dr. Goodloe-Johnson’s Evaluation, The People Have Spoken

2010-05-18T21:21:00.000-07:00

A local parent group put together a survey and just sent results to our school board members. It was enlightening and seems to reflect what I and others have been feeling and expressing.My favorite part were the comments. There were many so I am just going to select about one quarter of them to post.Does not reflect the values of our community. Makes no attempt to understand our individual

Can Seattle’s Schools Afford Many More Years of Superintendent Goodloe-Johnson?

2010-05-18T00:48:00.000-07:00

Seattle’s school superintendent is due for her annual review in early June.Here is an attempt to outline her accomplishments and leadership while in Seattle so far, drawn from input from various parents, teachers and bloggers in the community. I invite readers to add or amend this list.First, a bit of history:2007-08Superintendent Goodloe-Johnson came to us from the school district of Charleston,

A Post on Arne Duncan's Facebook Page

2010-05-16T08:10:00.000-07:00

Someone discovered Arne Duncan’s Facebook page today and jumped right into it. I was invited to join in and wrote several posts. This was one of them:Our students in Seattle get tested four times a year starting in kindergarten, which is completely absurd, and continue through 9th grade. It started this year and teachers as well as students are exhausted by the change in schedule and routine each

Lowest Paying College Degrees

2010-05-16T08:08:00.000-07:00

I saw this comment on Arne Duncan’s Facebook page and wanted to share it with you. It’s simple and to the point.“Yahoo Hot Jobs has compiled a list of the worst-paying college degrees. Here are the lowest-paying college degrees, in reverse order:10. Drama 9. Fine Arts 8. Hospitality and Tourism 7. Education 6. Horticulture 5. Spanish 4. Music 3. Theology 2. Elementary Education 1. Social workInfo

Taking It A Step Further

2010-05-16T08:05:00.000-07:00

After posting on another website what I wrote below, I began to think about what I had written and decided to take it a step further. To follow is my post in response to a statement made about a school losing its’ entire staff due to low performance on test scores:Firing the entire staff of a school is no solution. Anyone who thinks that it is doesn’t understand how children are a reflection of

Another post on Arne Duncan's Facebook page

2010-05-16T08:02:00.000-07:00

There is much that was not considered in this grand scheme referred to as Race to the Top. Below is another post worth consideration:“Mr. Duncan, your ill-conceived Race to the Top will leave tire tracks on the back of disabled children. My daughter won’t be welcomed in any of these charter schools. Teach for America non-professionals won’t know diddly- squat about my child’s disability. Teachers

Taking Back School Reform: A Conversation Between Diane Ravitch and Mike Rose

2010-05-13T06:31:00.000-07:00

This is such a great “conversation” that I decided to post it rather than just add a link in the right hand column. The original post can be found at edweek.org. It goes as follows:Last month, education scholars Diane Ravitch and Mike Rose held a conversation at the University of California-Los Angeles about issues raised in Ravitch’s much-discussed new book, The Death and Life of the Great

Seattle School Board President Goes to Korea

2010-05-10T12:09:00.001-07:00

Our school board president visited Korea recently and came back with a glowing report on the educational system in Korea. Many of us would like to know first, why Korea? Secondly, whose idea was this? And finally, did we get to pay for this junket?What I found even more interesting than those questions are the comments that were made about President DeBell's description of the educational system

Nova High School Hosting "War on Kids"

2010-05-10T08:34:00.000-07:00

Public Education and the Rights of Youth, PERY, will be hosting its' first annual forum sponsored by Nova High School on Sunday, May 16th, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.Here are the specifics for this event:Public Education and the Rights of YouthSunday, May 16, 10a-3pmNova High School300 - 20th Avenue EastSeattle, WA 98112Free. donations welcome!Please join us on for a viewing of the important film

Seattle School Board Testimony Regarding Dr. Goodloe-Johnson

2010-05-02T12:52:00.000-07:00

This testimony was given by Alyssa Royse, a parent of a student in the Seattle Public School system, on April 21, 2010 at the Seattle Schol Board meeting.Maria Goodloe-Johnson’s contract is up for renewal. It is time for us to ask what we are getting from her, and if it is worth renewing the contract of a woman who is done little to help a struggling system.As the parent of a student at South

From "Teacher's Letters for Obama": Questions for Arne Duncan by Anthony Cody

2010-04-28T12:54:00.000-07:00

We are getting ready for our talk with Arne Duncan, and the members of Teachers' Letters to Obama are actively engaged in generating questions and thoughts to share with him. We have been discussing the key issues, and this weekend we asked members for their thoughts on what they would like to say to the Secretary of Education. More than 200 have responded thus far.Here is what is on their minds:

Notes from the Field: Citywide PTSA Meeting on April 22, 2010 with Olga Addae, SEA President

2010-04-26T13:04:00.000-07:00

I went to this meeting because Olga Addae, the Seattle Education Association President, was to introduce herself and provide information on the association.When I arrived there were about five PTSA members and one teacher. By the end of the meeting there were three more PTSA members including myself. I was expecting more parents to attend but that’s why I write these notes. I know how it is with

The Fallacy of "Merit" and "Performance Pay" as Teacher Incentives

2010-04-12T14:48:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Seattle Citizen over at the Seattle Public Schools Community Blog for recently finding this article: "The Folly of Merit Pay" by Alfie Kohn (posted below). And thanks to Alfie Kohn for shedding some sense and insight on the discussion of what motivates strong teachers.Though written in 2003, this essay is more than relevant today as the ed reformers try to force or weasel their idea of

The Stars Have Aligned for the Broad Foundation

2010-04-12T13:18:00.000-07:00

From the Broad Foundation's Annual Report for 2009:"The election of President Barack Obama and his appointment ofArne Duncan, former CEO of Chicago Public Schools, as the U.S. secretary of education, marked the pinnacle of hope for our work in education reform. In many ways, we feel the stars have finally aligned.With an agenda that echoes our decade of investments—charter schools, performance

A Poem by a Teacher in Florida

2010-04-11T09:49:00.000-07:00

I received this through a list serv associated with Test Abuse and wanted to share it with you.This poem has reached the office of a Senator in Florida where they are battling over a bill that includes performance pay and high stakes testing. The bill is in the governor's hands now and there is a posiibility that it may be veoted by the governor.Written by Jamee Cagle Miller2009 Seminole County

Where Do We Go From Here?

2010-04-10T08:34:00.000-07:00

Privatization is about making a profit, whether it’s utilities, war or education. In states where access to public water has been privatized, the average cost of water to the public is 30% higher. The cost of handling waste water is on average 60% higher in those states. No bid contracts or lack of contracts with private enterprise during the Iraq war and little or no oversight by the government

Excerpt from EPATA Educators and Parents Against Testing Abuse

2010-04-07T11:15:00.000-07:00

An interesting point of view from a teacher that I wanted to post in it's entirety.To see the source of this post, go to Testing Abuse.Why 'Speed' Kills An Education The current trend in education is to get feedback about student progress instantly. Why? There’s a race going on, don’t you know? We have to be smarter, faster, and better than all other countries. Or so the thought goes. Handheld

Regarding Tennessee and Delaware Winning the Race to the Top Funds

2010-03-30T06:55:00.000-07:00

The winner in this is Gates and the Broad Foundation.Do you see what they've been able to do with Arne Duncan at the helm? The Broad and Arne Duncan developed a close relationship when Arne was in Chicago. There are very close ties involved.They have gotten all but two states to fall in line with this education reform agenda without having to pay most states a penny. It's the best business acumen

Teacher seniority pays off, especially for students

2010-03-26T20:08:00.000-07:00

With Pat Bailey's permission, I am posting this editorial that was published in the Seattle Times on March 23, 2010.Teacher seniority helps ensure quality education for students, writes guest columnist Patricia Bailey. The Seattle School Board should not try to undo seniority in upcoming negotiations, as some community petitions are urging.By Patricia BaileyWith community petitions calling for

Notes From the Field: The Mayor’s Youth and Families’ Community Meeting

2010-03-24T09:33:00.000-07:00

March 23, 2010I walked into the gymnasium of the Garfield Community Center where it seemed like hundreds of people were either milling around or sitting in large circles waiting for something to happen. I had no idea what was going on or where to go. I checked out the formal entrance into the gymnasium and there were people at tables selling baked goods and providing information about other

Recent Broad Foundation Newsletter

2010-03-21T21:11:00.000-07:00

Broad Superintendents and Residents Leading Bold Teacher Performance Pay Efforts Across AmericaFor more than a hundred years, educators in America have been paid essentially the same way, based on their number of years on the job, not the quality of their work in the classroom. Broad Academy and Residency participants and alumni are leading the way, however, in a seismic shakeup of the old

Notes from the Field: School Board Meeting on 3/17/10, A Night to Remember

2010-03-18T11:03:00.000-07:00

I had not planned to take notes at this meeting. I thought that everything would be recorded and anyone interested could watch the proceedings. I knew it was going to be a full house but that was it.I was not prepared for what was to unfold.First of all, I got there early to meet with some people and there was a work session going on in the board meeting room. The supe was sitting in her usual

Letter to WA State Senators and Governor Gregoire opposing SB 6696 & the "Race to the Top" Frenzy, from a Concerned Parent

2010-03-11T10:11:00.000-08:00

March 9, 2010Dear Governor Gregoire and State Senators,I am a Seattle Public Schools parent and voter.I am also an advocate for public education that is free of political and corporate agendas. I support a collaborative, cooperative learning environment for all our children. I don't believe in scapegoating teachers or principals for the greater socioeconomic issues of our nation that affect how

Joint Statement of Early Childhood Health and Education Professionals

2010-03-08T21:24:00.000-08:00

This is on the Stop National Standards website and is worth a read.Issued by the Alliance for ChildhoodMarch 2, 2010www.allianceforchildhood.orgWE HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS about the core standards for young children now being written by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers. The draft standards made public in January conflict with compelling new research in

Senate Bill 6696, Race to the Top Funding and the State of Washington

2010-03-07T11:25:00.000-08:00

Below is an e-mail that I sent to a group of parents and teachers earlier today explaining a bit of the history behind Bill 6696 and how it could impact our schools in Seattle.It went as follows:Regarding Bill 6696.The Race to the Top agenda is to:1) Force states, by way of a financial carrot, to convert a certain percentage of their schools into charter schools. This is to be done by closing

Board Testimony Regarding Closing Schools in Seattle

2010-03-03T22:04:00.000-08:00

The following was my testimony that I gave tonight regarding the proposed Performance Mangement Policy 2.0, specifically regarding the closing of or reconstituting of a school. It went as follows:Because of the time limitation, I will speak to one item on the Performance Management Policy 2.0. The wording in the policy goes as follows:“Schools that have three years of low growth and sustain low

Responses to the News that "Stand and Deliver" Teacher Jaime Escalante has Cancer.

2010-03-02T23:48:00.000-08:00

Education News reported on March 2 that former L.A. high school math teacher, Jaime Escalante, whose heroic story was made famous by the movie "Stand and Deliver," is now battling cancer and is having trouble paying for his health care.Which prompted this first comment:David Ziffer on 2010-03-02 23:41:38 Comment: If anyone wants a most astounding

Letter from a Parent to the School Board Regarding the film "The Race to Nowhere"

2010-03-02T23:06:00.000-08:00

Board Members: I hope you will take note of this important documentary that is waking up parents and educators nation-wide at this time. It played Mar. 1 at Bainbridge Island HS, and is showing this evening in Mercer Island. I was unable to make either of these initial screenings, but am working to try to get another screening in Seattle in the near future, which I intend to invite you all to

Buy This Book

2010-02-28T17:13:00.000-08:00

All I'm going to say is buy this book, read it and then help us get Dr. Ravitch to Seattle, please.Check out the following reviews for The Death and Life of the Great American School System:THE WASHINGTON POST"Business principles won't work for school reform, former supporter Ravitch says"LOS ANGLES TIMES BOOK REVIEW'The Death and Life of the Great American School System" by Diane RavitchTHE

A Response by Our Seattle PTSA President to My Testimony

2010-02-09T11:07:00.000-08:00

I will not post this letter in it's entirety that was sent to me by Ramona Hattendorf. Suffice it to say, it was quite lengthy and revealing.To wit:"This was not a grass roots process. It was done at the organizational level - via delegates from different organizations, and then via elected representation within PTA/PTSA. As we gather organizational support, the coalition will be reaching out to

Testimony Regarding the Community Values Statement

2010-02-04T10:04:00.000-08:00

At about 12:30 PM on Thursday, January 21st , I received a forwarded e-mail from our school PTSA president that had been originally sent the night before at 9:20 PM.The original e-mail was from our Seattle Council PTSA President asking all of the school PTSA Presidents to read the attached document and have someone at the meeting that next evening to vote on the document. That document was the

Notes From the Field:The Garfield PTSA Meeting, Curriculum Alignment, CAN, Read/Write and "Teacher Effectiveness"

2010-02-02T14:07:00.000-08:00

A friend asked me to go to the Garfield meeting to listen to Dr. Goodloe-Johnson speak about the curriculum alignment in math. Because I live across the street from Garfield and I’m always up for more information about our schools, I agreed to go and take notes for them.Ah, Garfield. I will not go on about the renovation but at sometime everyone needs to just walk into the front door and check it

The Art of Teaching (& the automatons of “education reform”)

2010-01-23T01:39:00.000-08:00

I came across a Seattle magazine article from 2008 the other day called “Hot Button: Math Problems.” It said that Seattle Public Schools math teachers are being forced to exactly replicate what someone in Japan has deemed a “perfect lesson” right down to where they must stand in the classroom. “The district is also trying to improve teaching methodology. [Seattle Public Schools’ K-12 math program

Seattle School Board Math Adoption "Arbitrary & Capricious" Judge Declares

2010-01-11T01:07:00.000-08:00

UPDATE (2/7/1o): THEY WON!!!On Feb. 4, King County Superior Court Judge Julie Spector decided in favor of the plaintiffs in the "Discovering" math text adoption appeal.The local blogosphere is surprised and delighted to see accountability imposed on the school district, and SPS kids potentially spared from yet another unsound math text.Even the Seattle Times ("Judge Tells Seattle School Board:

California Capitulates to “Race to the Top” extortion

2010-01-10T00:32:00.000-08:00

Meanwhile in California, the state has succumbed to what one senator has called "extortion” from the federal government, and has voted to change its laws in order qualify for a chance at the "Race to the Top" education stimulus funds.Calif. lawmakers pass major school-reform packageBy DON THOMPSON, Associated Press WriterWednesday, January 6, 2010(01-06) 17:50 PST Sacramento, Calif. (AP) --The

Free Public School Buildings for Private Charters

2010-01-08T21:37:00.000-08:00

A chain of private charter schools in New York and Connecticut called Achievement First has figured out a way to get taxpayers to buy its buildings for it. Here’s an excerpt from their annual report revealing how they acquire their buildings:"Our FacilitiesAchievement First is incredibly grateful for the support of our host districts in helping us bridge the facilities challenges that accompany

The Pillars of "Education Reform" are Toppling

2010-01-08T14:35:00.000-08:00

Bad news for the “education reformers” – Two key components of the Obama/Duncan/”Race to the Top” reformite agenda – charter schools and “merit pay” – have now been seriously called into question by two separate studies, one from Stanford University, the other from Vanderbilt University.These studies found that most charter schools are no better or perform worse than public schools, and “merit

What Happened in Oakland is Happening Now in Seattle

2009-12-19T23:15:00.000-08:00

Hi Sue and Dora,I just discovered your blog this morning when my hit counter showed that someone was directed to my blog via yours.Local control was just returned to my public school district (Oakland) in late June, after being subjected to six years of Broad-trained leadership, courtesy of our state superintendent. The experience left a sour taste in everyone's mouth and permanent damage was

Seattle Public Schools: Budget Deficit Part Two

2009-12-11T00:38:00.000-08:00

Notes from the FieldI sat in on the Audit and Finance Committee meeting today.I was looking forward to hearing our CFO’s ideas on how the budget deficit could be rectified as he had suggested would happen in the school board meeting the night before. I was expecting some creative ideas that could be implemented, fat that could be cut, just about anything to get us back on our feet and boy was I

Seattle Public Schools: Budget Deficit Part One

2009-12-10T12:22:00.000-08:00

Last night at the school board meeting, our CFO, Don Kennedy, made an announcement about our budget deficit for this year.Instead of providing a blow by blow description I thought instead that it would be more interesting to read an exchange that I had with two people about the subject. It went as follows:Me:"OK. I have a question for everyone.I was at the board meeting tonight. I did not give my

MAP Testing in Seattle

2009-12-09T10:40:00.000-08:00

This is testimoney that I will be giving in front of the school board this evening regarding student assesment testing that wah recently instituted in Seattle.You should have in front of you two documents, “An Open Letter to Arne Duncan” by Herb Kohl and “The Rise of Venture Philanthropy and the Ongoing Neoliberal Assault on Public Education: The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation” by Kenneth

The War on Kids

2009-12-02T09:37:00.000-08:00

I wasn't sure where to put this film. It doesn't fit into any category so we are showing this information as a post.The movie is called "The War On Kids" and we think that it deserves our attention.

Who are the "Reformers" Really Trying to Help?

2009-11-16T19:31:00.000-08:00

Seattle Times columnist Jerry Large writes a thoughtful piece today about the true causes of inequity in public education and the troubling aspects of the latest "education reform" agenda. He cites Gerald Bracey, the sensible public education champion and essayist who recently passed away in Pt. Townsend.It's worth noting that if Washington state is allocated Race to the Top funding, whose total

Mr. Oki, A Primer on Tenure vs. Seniority with Teachers in the Seattle Public School System

2009-11-11T20:01:00.000-08:00

After Mr. Oki's presentation, I wanted to get clear on the difference between tenure and seniority. Mr. Oki had mentioned tenure and the necessity of eliminating it from the Seattle teachers' contracts but it was my understanding that teachers in Seattle were not tenured.So after a few e-mails to those who know more than I do on this subject, I got the skinny.It goes as follows:Seniority ensures

CPPS and Scott Oki: Kool-Aid Anyone?

2009-11-11T03:00:00.000-08:00

OK, first, you know how I like my context.The presentation by Mr. Oki was set in the enormous cavern of a library at Garfield High School.In the heyday of corporate interior design, this space would have been a striking example of how to spend the most money possible. The library is a two story space with this skylight roof system that is well detailed and probably one of the most expensive

Conflict of Interest for Our Superintendent?

2009-11-08T08:36:00.000-08:00

As per an update on this blog, we discovered how the Gates' $9M grant money was being used to do MAP testing of students at least in one location, Lowell Elementary School. The testing starts at the kindergarten level and continues to the 8th grade. The test is administered three times each year to each student on a computer. We will save the discussion regarding the testing of students, the

School Board Candidates

2009-10-31T11:17:00.001-07:00

This is an e-mail that I sent to the Alternative School Coalition and other interested parties regarding the school board candidates and their understanding of the alternative school programs in Seattle.Hello all,Please take a look at the answers to the questions that were given to our school board candidates regarding alternative schools.This election is of tremendous importance in terms of the

The Hoaxby Study

2009-10-27T10:26:00.000-07:00

Based on an article in the Charleston Post and Courier titled "High Marks for Charter Schools", I posted a response that I wanted to share with you:Per the Charleston Post and Courier:"The study did not reach any conclusions about why charter schools succeeded, but noted that many had extended school days and school years, mandatory Saturday classes, performance-based pay for teachers and a

The Alliance and the NCTQ Study

2009-10-16T11:27:00.000-07:00

The Report: Human Capital in Seattle Public Schoolshttp://www.nctq.org/p/publications/docs/nctq_seattle_human_capital.pdfEconomic definitions for the word “capital”:“Capital is something owned which provides ongoing services. In the national accounts, or to firms, capital is made up of durable investment goods, normally summed in units of money.”“In economics, capital or capital goods or real

The NCTQ Presentation

2009-10-15T22:33:00.000-07:00

Note to self: Bring a laptop next time so that I look like a blogger.I walked into the ballroom early hoping to pass out flyers and was almost immediately greeted by a happy blonde (no disrespect to other people who have blonde hair) in a red Alliance jacket who introduced herself and asked me who I was. I gave my name and she said "Oh, I know who you are. I've seen your picture!" I asked where

A Letter to a Friend

2009-10-14T02:12:00.000-07:00

My friend Dora and I started Seattle Education 2010 (http://seattle-ed.blogspot.com) in an effort to amass and share all the info a group of us had accumulated this past year that connects the dots on our superintendent and the "education reform" agenda and how that is wreaking havoc on Seattle's schools. Our goal is to protect, preserve and invest in public education without the influence of

Making Space for Charter Schools

2009-10-13T08:40:00.000-07:00

As some writers point out in articles that we have posted, when there is not a vacant school building that a charter school can be housed in, some charter schools will take a part of a school building that already houses a school program and move into that space. In time, some of these charter schools will begin to take over the entire building. In New York City there is an unfortunate