While the teacher negotiations going on in Seattle are getting a lot of ink, another contract is also under discussion that arguably could have an even deeper impact on student achievement: the principals’ contract. As we’ve written in this blog, building leadership — the principal’s capacity to lead — is hugely important in student learning [...]
Tag Archives: accountability
A motivated, caring, innovative, knowledgeable, effective teacher in every classroom
(This blog post is written by Connie Gerlitz, one of LEV’s key activists and longtime education reform leader and activist, in response to the Seattle School Board meeting on Wednesday.)
We cannot confuse our love and respect for good teachers with the fact that their efforts are not universally replicated in our classrooms, and our children [...]
Partnership for Learning: Measure what matters
Partnership for Learning released a new report this week making some recommendations on how Washington can better hold its schools accountable for educating our kids.
“The current system falls short of the rigorous accountability requirements necessary to ensure that all students are proficient and on track to graduating college and career ready,” the report points out.
We [...]
Racing Stripes
Having sat out round one, Washington’s round two application for Race to the Top funds fell short of making it as a finalist. Disappointing? Yes. Surprising? Not so much.
While we’ve pressed hard for real change in our system statewide, Washington started well behind the most competitive states, and in a strategy that sadly mirrors [...]
The sweet, sweet sound of accountability
I read this morning’s Seattle Times piece on Seattle Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson with interest. I guess it could have been the title of the piece – “Seattle Schools Superintendent Sets Ambitious Agenda” – OH!
How I do love an ambitious agenda. A couple of things from the article worth noting: accountability. In this new age [...]
WA earns federal $ for school improvement
Lost in the flurry over Race to the Top on Monday was the announcement of additional School Improvement Grant (SIG) awards. And hey, what do you know, Washington actually got something — $17 million to help turn around our lowest-performing schools (see our application here). Not quite as large as Race to the Top ($3.5 billion compared to $4 [...]
Schools eligible for federal improvement grants released
Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn released the names of 47 schools identified as “persistently lowest-performing schools” as identified by federal guidelines. The identified schools will be eligible for additional Title I funds and must choose one of four intervention models to receive the funds.
The four intervention models are:
Turnaround model. Replace the principal, rehire no [...]
Gov: Legislation needed to compete for R2T
Gov. Gregoire held a press conference today to formally announce Washington’s plan to become competitive for a Race to the Top (R2T) grant. [We were given a sneak peek last Thursday by Judy Hartmann, the governor's education policy advisor.]
To co-present her plan, Gov. Gregoire was joined by Randy Dorn, superintendent of public instruction; Mary Jean Ryan, chair of the State [...]
SBE adopts accountability framework legislation
The State Board of Education adopted legislation related to its accountability framework today in a special meeting in Olympia.
The approved legislation now goes to the Legislature for its approval during the 2010 session beginning next week. If passed by the Legislature the SBE will implement a system of identifying and assisting low-performing schools and districts, [...]
SBE Accountaility subgroup meeting today
The State Board of Education’s System Performance Accountability (SPA) subgroup is meeting today at the Puget Sound Skills Center. The agenda and other meeting materials are available here.
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Speakers Series
Opening Event:
Kevin Johnson
Mayor of Sacramento & Founder of St. HOPE
Thursday, October 7 at 7pm
Mount Zion Baptist Church
Register today >>>