Report: half of schools fail federal standards

Via Seattle Times. Follow link for full story.

Report: half of schools fail federal standards: Nearly half of America's public schools didn't meet federal achievement standards this year, marking the largest failure rate since the much-criticized No Child Left Behind Law took effect a decade ago, according to a national report released Thursday.

Will Expanded Learning Time = Better Outcomes?

Via the Forum for Youth Investment. Follow link for full story.

Will Expanded Learning Time = Better Outcomes?:

What does Waiver 11 mean for school districts and community-base organizations? Experts from the education and youth development communities discussed the implications of this waiver in a webinar organized by three members of the Ready by 21 National Partnership - the Forum for Youth Investment (the Forum), American Association of School Administrators and United Way Worldwide.

Moderated by Forum Policy Director Elizabeth Gaines, the webinar on Dec. 8, 2011, brought together a leading education journalist, a cutting-edge superintendent, and policy and youth development thinkers.

Watch the webinar here.

NASBE Discussion Guide: School Leadership: Improving State Systems for Leader Development

Via Wallace Foundation. Follow link for full story.

NASBE Discussion Guide: School Leadership: Improving State Systems for Leader Development:

Teacher evaluations need an overhaul, Gregoire says

Via Seattle Times. Follow link for full story.

Teacher evaluations need an overhaul, Gregoire says: Gov. Chris Gregoire has proposed launching a statewide evaluation system aimed at weeding out ineffective educators.

Afterschool Evaluation 101: How to Evaluate an Expanded Learning Program

Via HFRP News. Follow link for full story.

Afterschool Evaluation 101: How to Evaluate an Expanded Learning Program:

A new tool designed to help OST program directors—with little or no evaluation experience—develop an evaluation strategy.

School board may ease ban on junk food

Via Seattle Times. Follow link for full story.

School board may ease ban on junk food: Years after a ban on unhealthful food in Seattle high schools, students are now ignoring campus vending machines — crippling student governments that once depended on profits from the sales. The Seattle School Board is likely to relax its policy next year.

Seattle School Board takes up new ethics policy

Via Seattle Times. Follow link for full story.

Seattle School Board takes up new ethics policy: If approved, the new policy would strengthen provisions preventing conflicts of interest in decision-making and retaliation for making ethics complaints.

New Seattle School Board could bring significant change to district

Via Seattle Times. Follow link for full story.

New Seattle School Board could bring significant change to district: New members Sharon Peaslee and Marty McLaren appear to have shifted the balance of power of the old board, likely leading to more close votes. Priorities are expected to include finding technology-based solutions to budget cuts and giving more flexibility to schools.

Finally here! Footage from the State of the District Address

Via Alliance for Education Community Blog

Finally here! Footage from the State of the District Address:

Dr. Susan Enfield, Seattle Public Schools' Interim Superintendent, delivered a very strong State of the District report at the end of November. The achievement gains and operational improvements cited give great reason for hope and confidence in what can be accomplished. While much work remains to deliver on the promise of a college-ready education for all, the forward momentum is palpable!

Reference was made to potentially lowering the 2013 outcome goals. The Alliance believes that this should not be considered an option. Instead of having a conversation around whether and how far we should lower our goals, we should be having a conversation around what we - as an entire community invested in the success of our public schools - need to do faster and better to meet or exceed the goals that have been set.

"Attacking Gaps, Raising Expectations Everywhere" means just that. Lowering outcome goals flies directly in the face of the spirit of AGREE, which is a very compelling rallying cry.

The individual schools cited in this presentation demonstrate just how much progress can be made in a short period of time under strong, deliberate leadership. Let us look to those and other high achieving schools for the path forward, rather than be content to lower our sights and ambitions on behalf of school children across our city!

For more information in on the data referred to in Dr. Enfield's presentation, CLICK HERE.

Dorn Calls for Run-Off Election for State Board

Via OSPI Communications. Follow link for full story.

Dorn Calls for Run-Off Election for State Board: State Superintendent Randy Dorn has called for a run-off election for a position on the State Board of Education.

Number of students attending charter schools soars

Via Seattle Times. Follow link for full story.

Number of students attending charter schools soars: The number of students attending charter schools has soared to more than 2 million as states pass laws lifting caps and encouraging their expansion, according to figures released Wednesday.

Community-Based Education and Social Capital in an Urban After-School Program

Via Education and Urban Society. Follow link for full story.

Community-Based Education and Social Capital in an Urban After-School Program:

This qualitative case study examined how social capital development was facilitated in an urban after-school program. Specific attention was devoted to identifying structures and strategies that helped student participants develop social capital, the types of social networks that were developed through program participation, and the outcomes that were attributed to these networks. The findings suggest that the program’s purposeful design and skillful implementation presented students with opportunities to forge heterogeneous and bridging relationships that fundamentally shaped their learning experiences and their future social, educational, and professional aspirations.

Achieving Resource Equity Within a Single School District: Erasing the Opportunity Gap By Examining School Board Decisions

Via Education and Urban Society. Follow link for full story.

Achieving Resource Equity Within a Single School District: Erasing the Opportunity Gap By Examining School Board Decisions:

This article examines the failure of school districts to distribute nonmoney resources—controlled primarily by the board of education—equally among students in affluent neighborhoods versus low-income areas. It is largely an urban phenomenon, although some county-wide and large suburban school systems display similar patterns. Such practices represent a failure to achieve the vision of equity championed in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. The main aspects of the opportunity gap addressed in this article are teacher assignment, staff-based budgeting, formal equality over equity, general education funds, parental involvement, curriculum, and building maintenance costs. These elements are widely accepted as important to learning outcomes. Inadvertent disparities in resource allocation, therefore, can foster a growing opportunity gap between well-off and impoverished students. The findings of Necochea and Cline highlight the negative effects on students of unequal resource allocation. Potential legal pathways in the form of Federal and State laws are suggested to combat the intradistrict educational inequity. The article concludes with policy solutions that school districts across the country have implemented to mitigate the harmful effects of unequal resource allocation and their straightforward attempts to erase the opportunity gap among students from different neighborhoods.

Students Speak Up Against Budget Cuts

Via SOWA Live (So Alive!)

Students Speak Up Against Budget Cuts:
By Danielle Baer, Communications & Grants Manager

Last week, hundreds of Garfield High School students in Seattle walked out of class in protest against proposed cuts to education funding during the special legislative session called by Governor Gregoire this month. As a Garfield alum, I was proud to see fellow bulldogs standing up for what they believe in and speaking out against further cuts that are having a real impact on their day to day educational experience.

As we advocate on behalf of young people and providing access to quality expanded learning opportunities, afterschool, youth development and summer programs, we need to remember to listen to youth voice and provide opportunities for their input to be heard. Over the past few years, many people have become desensitized to hearing about budget cuts. What’s another billion in a deficit of trillions? What does it really mean? But when students take to the streets and tell us firsthand what education cuts mean to their lives and their futures, the message resonates in a concrete way and makes a real impact.

Just this week, the Children’s Alliance and Washington State Budget & Policy Center released their Kids Count in Washington 2012 report including more data on the persistent achievement gap in Washington State and its disproportionate impact on Pacific Islander, Black, Hispanic and American Indian students. Further cutting education is not going to help narrow this gap and provide opportunities for all young people to thrive in school and life.

Over the course of the next few months, we will be supporting efforts to preserve safety net services such as high quality afterschool and youth development programs, food and nutrition programs, health care programs, employing training programs and a strong educational system that prepares children and youth to enter the future workforce. Stay tuned for our 2012 legislative agenda and sign-up for our Washington Afterschool Network email alert system for regular updates and opportunities to take action on budget and policy issues during the 2012 legislative session. As young people take risks and take to the streets, we need to support their actions and speak up to preserve essential services for children, youth and families.

Photos by Joshua Trujillo of the SeattlePI.com.

Click here to see Joshua's photo slideshow

How Mercer Middle School soared after struggling

Via Seattle Times. Follow link for full story.

How Mercer Middle School soared after struggling: The remarkable turnaround at Asa Mercer Middle has School Board members paying close attention. The school's success could significantly influence policies across the district.

52% of 4th graders are receiving subsidized meals

52% of 4th graders are receiving subsidized meals:

Via United Way of King County.

When I think about childhood hunger a vivid image comes to mind of my fourth grade teacher, Ms. Doyle, teaching kids how to make simple nutritious snacks – like peanut butter on apples. It was the early 90’s and the country was in the middle of a recession and the first Gulf War. She knew that there were some kids in this working class Connecticut suburb who went to bed with empty bellies – many of them had parents working multiple jobs, struggling to get by and find the time and resources to prepare meals. Like many teachers before and after her – she understood that hungry children struggle to concentrate, learn and thrive. She believed it was unacceptable for any child to be hungry and she made sure that didn’t happen…one kid at a time. Fast forward 20 years – I wonder what she would do today as more families struggle to put food on the table.

Yesterday the New York Times reported a surge in the number of kids receiving free or low cost meals. Nationally an astonishing 52% of 4th graders are receiving subsidized meals. In some King County school districts, more than 70% of kids are eligible for these programs. This is no surprise given the ongoing recession, high rate of unemployment and that nearly 250,000 King County residents are food insecure. While these numbers are alarming, they show that kids are accessing food during the school day. We should also be concerned with hunger when school is out – after-school, on weekends and during the summer.

Like Ms. Doyle, I believe it is simply unacceptable to have children experiencing hunger in our community. As a community we should be outraged that any child is hungry. It doesn’t make moral or financial sense. Federal nutrition programs like the National School Lunch Program and Basic Food Program (SNAP/Food Stamps) are critical tools in the fight against hunger. These programs combined with resources from community food banks, education on cooking low cost meals and opportunities to grow food can help end childhood hunger. As a community we must rally together to protect existing programs, promote access to these programs and find new solutions to address childhood hunger.

United Way of King County is working to create a Hunger Free King County and ensure no child is hungry. Here are five ways you can join us:

1. Advocate for the State Food Assistance Program: Legislators are in Olympia now for a Special Legislative Session to deal with a projected $1.4 billion deficit. Last year, the state legislature reduced funding for State Food Assistance (a program that provides Food Stamps to legal immigrants who are not eligible for the Federal Food Stamp program). A court order is in place prohibiting the benefit reduction, however, pending the outcome of an equal protection and due process lawsuit on behalf of SFA recipients. Gov. Gregoire has again proposed to eliminate the program. Of the 31,100 people who either receive State Food Assistance or benefit indirectly from the program by living in a householdwhere another family member receives it, 12,500 are children. Contact your legislator today and ask them to protect this important program.

2. Encourage your school to participate in the Fuel Up First With Breakfast Challenge sponsored by the Children’s Alliance.

3. Support weekend backpack programs and summer meal programs that provide food outside of school hours.

4. Volunteer at a local food bank, community garden or with Bridge to Basics a program that connects families with the benefits they are eligible for.

5. Donate to an area food bank.

To Teach a Child: The Parents' Role (Letter to the Editor, The New York Times, 11/24/2011)

To Teach a Child: The Parents' Role (Letter to the Editor, The New York Times, 11/24/2011):

HFRP director Heather Weiss' response to a recent New York Times op-ed, "How About Better Parents?"

Via HFRP. Follow link for full story.

Garfield students protest more cuts to schools

Garfield students protest more cuts to schools: State legislators considering further cuts to education to close a $2 billion state budget shortfall have already heard from a variety of school administrators and advocates.

Via Seattle Times. Follow link for full story.

Credentialed by 26, When Working Works: Employment & Postsecondary Success

Credentialed by 26, When Working Works: Employment & Postsecondary Success:

CB26.jpg

Via The Forum for Youth Investment. Follow link for full article.

Balancing work and school can hinder a young person’s success in higher education. However, the opposite can also be true: Good jobs facilitate student persistence and completion. So what does it look like when working works for students? That’s what we need to understand in order to transform employment opportunities into drivers of student success.

This brief summarizes research about employment and postsecondary success, and features examples of employers and institutions that have found creative ways to both support student persistence and advance their bottom lines by creating “college-friendly” jobs.

Relational Strategies in After-School Settings: How Staff-Youth Relationships Support Positive Development

Relational Strategies in After-School Settings: How Staff-Youth Relationships Support Positive Development:

Via Youth & Society. Follow link above to learn how to suscribe and view the full article.

Staff–youth relationships are a key strength of after-school settings, though more research is needed to understand the actual processes whereby these interpersonal connections lead to beneficial outcomes. This qualitative study focuses on the relational strategies that staff employ within an urban youth organization, and the ways in which those strategies contribute to a positive developmental climate. Researchers observed staff–youth interactions for a year and conducted a series of interviews with 17 youth between the ages of 12 and 18. We found three specific relational strategies that staff used to develop relationships with youth. These were minimizing relational distance, active inclusion, and attention to proximal relational ties. These strategies contribute to an overall supportive culture, suggesting a relational pedagogy in this after-school setting. The staff–youth relationships serve as the foundation for both youth engagement in programs and the promotion of positive developmental outcomes.

Rethinking Youth Political Socialization: Teenage Activists Talk Back

Rethinking Youth Political Socialization: Teenage Activists Talk Back:

Via Youth & Society. Follow link above to learn how to suscribe and view the full article.

This article draws from the experiences and narratives of teenage activists throughout the Americas in order to add a needed dimension, that of peer political socialization, to the larger political and civic socialization literature. The authors argue that although the existing literature emphasizes the roles and responsibilities of adults in shaping young people’s civic capacities, the roles that young people play in socializing each other for political engagement is underexplored. Based on two qualitative studies of teenage activists throughout North and Latin America, the authors argue that teenage activists, who are largely left out of this literature, represent a different process by which youth engage in politics. We use teenagers’ narratives about their own youth-led political socialization to extend the existing theorizing on youth civic engagement, rethink some of its core tenets, and elucidate the roles that young people themselves play in the processes of political socialization.

Bullying Behavior, Parents' Work Hours and Early Adolescents' Perceptions of Time Spent With Parents

Bullying Behavior, Parents' Work Hours and Early Adolescents' Perceptions of Time Spent With Parents:

Via Youth & Society. Follow link above to find how to suscribe and view the full article.

This research investigates the relationships among bullying behavior, mother’s and father’s work hours, and early adolescents’ perceptions of whether they spend sufficient time with their parents. In cross-sectional models, we find maternal work hours are modestly associated with increases in bullying behavior. However, in more rigorous change models, our findings indicate that over time maternal work hours bear no direct relationship to bullying behavior. Moreover, in our final models, an interaction between father’s work hours and perceptions of time spent with him has one of the most robust associations with bullying for adolescents. When paternal employment is full- or overtime and youth perceive they do not spend enough with their fathers, bullying behavior increases. Other important factors that shape bullying behavior are the quality of the home environment and the adolescent’s school performance.

Big expansion, big questions for Teach for America

Big expansion, big questions for Teach for America: In a distressed neighborhood north of Miami's gleaming downtown, a group of enthusiastic but inexperienced instructors from Teach for America is trying to make progress where more veteran teachers have had difficulty: raising students' reading and math scores.

Via Seattle Times. Follow link above for full story.

Kids who count blessings multiply satisfaction

Kids who count blessings multiply satisfaction: Jeffrey Froh, an assistant professor of psychology at Hofstra University, says that "grateful kids are happier and more satisfied with their lives."

Via Seattle Times. Follow the link above for the full story.

Arts Education In Seattle's Public Schools

Arts Education In Seattle's Public Schools: Monday, November 28 at 10:00 a.m. on "Weekday"

Via Weekday Newsletter. Follow the link above for the full story.

Arts education has declined in public schools for decades, but some organizations haven't given up. They're still trying to bring theater, visual arts and creative writing into classrooms. What do children gain from an arts education, and who's funding these organizations' efforts?

Mayor McGinn: Working to improve access to the arts in education

Working to improve access to the arts in education:

Via Mayor McGinn

At a time when we are facing further education cuts at the state level, the recent passage of the Families and Education Levy demonstrates Seattle remains committed to ensuring every child will graduate school ready for college or a career. This is a bold vote of confidence that will help our youth and families succeed and compete in the global economy.

The City’s Office for Education administers levy dollars. Our intent is to offer many opportunities for collaboration and partnership in the interest of dramatically improving academic results for students in Seattle public schools. When it comes to investing in our children’s future we are seeking a broad range of partners, including schools and nonprofit, community and arts organizations.

We’ve written in the past about the proven educational benefits of the arts. We wanted to make sure that local arts organizations were informed and ready for the opportunities to help kids get access to arts programming through the Families and Education levy, so last week the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs and the Office for Education co-hosted a workshop designed to introduce arts organizations to the process of qualifying and applying for levy dollars.

The arts are an essential ingredient in a complete education. While evidence suggests that when schools invest in arts education, students demonstrate academic gains, we won’t rely on the research alone. We will design programs to achieve clear outcomes and hold service providers accountable, ensuring that the programs we fund are delivering measurable results. We will make our investments based on data, and we will adapt those investments if the data shows something is not working.

Thank you to the voters of Seattle for renewing their commitment to Seattle’s youth and families.

Obesity Prevention Summit 2012

Obesity Prevention Summit 2012:

Via SOWA Live (So Alive!)

by Virginia Eader, School's Out Washington MSW Student Intern

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the Obesity Prevention Summit in Tukwila which was put on by the Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition.

The day was packed full of information, statistics, and research with a focus on policy solutions for a healthier Washington. We began with a deliciously healthy breakfast and warm welcome by American Heart Association Board Member, Chris Gorey. He introduced some alarming statistics: currently only 8% of elementary students get daily physical activity during the school day. For middle-schoolers the numbers decrease to 4% and for high-schoolers only 2%. Twenty-two percent of schools do not require ANY physical activity. To make matters, worse 83% of food purchased by students at school, outside of the USDA food program, are fried and high in fat.

State Representative Laurie Jinkins gave the keynote address beginning with a rundown on the current state budget dilemma and possible solutions to produce more revenue rather than continuing to make cuts to much needed services. She also introduced two bills: House Bill 1801 which focuses on bringing healthier food to the USDA food program and House Bill 1700 focusing on bike transportation and ride sharing.

We then heard from Andrew Dannenberg, MD, MPH, and a panel of public health professionals across the state about the impact of the Built Environment on public health. This public health framework includes urban and suburban development, access to parks, air quality, public transportation, and even the idea as simple as the ‘walkability’ of your neighborhood. The panel members shared stories about how the state of Washington is making progress in these areas with campaigns such as the safe routes to school program and the healthy corner store initiative.

After a beautiful spread of delicious salads and sandwiches, I attended the informational panel on fighting childhood obesity and hunger with school breakfast. My favorite quote of the day was by panelist Don Sloma, with Healthy Communities Partnership. Without hesitation he said, “Healthy kids learn better. Start with breakfast”. Statistics show us that kids who are hungry have a more difficult time in the classroom.If we want kids to reach their fullest potential we must ensure they start the day out right. The current work being done to promote these efforts is the Fuel Up First with Breakfast Challenge, which is a strategic and innovative approach to improving the current USDA breakfast program in schools.

SOWA is committed to advocating for the health and well-being of young people in Washington State. Currently, SOWA sits on the Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition, Washington Summer Meals Partnership workgroup, the Afterschool Meals workgroup, and the Coalition for Safety and Health in Early Learning, who just released a comprehensive report on child care nutrition and physical activity standards. SOWA also administers the Healthy Youth, Healthy Futures mini-grant, which focuses on building public awareness around the role afterschool and youth development programs play in promoting healthy youth behaviors, and the Feed Your Brain grant, which provides funding for Summer Learning programs to address the gaps of summer learning and summer nutrition.

Six Schools Recognized as Academic Achievement Schools

Six Schools Recognized as Academic Achievement Schools: Six schools in Washington state have been recognized as Title I, Part A Academic Achievement Schools, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction announced today.

Via OSPI. Click the first link for the whole story.

Three Building Bridges Partnerships Awarded Grant Funding

Three Building Bridges Partnerships Awarded Grant Funding: Three organizations have been awarded grants to help students stay in school and graduate, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction announced today.

Via OSPI. Click the first link for the full story.

OneWorld Now! partners with Obama administration to send underserved Seattle kids abroad

OneWorld Now! partners with Obama administration to send underserved Seattle kids abroad:

Last Tuesday, local non-profit and social venture OneWorld Now! (OWN) organized the Seattle Strong Luncheon to announce Seattle’s partnership with the Obama Administration in the 100,000 Strong Initiative. The initiative aims to strengthen US-China ties and American familiarity with China by diversifying and increasing the number of American students studying abroad in China.

For the past 9 years, OneWorld Now! has taught Chinese after school at Seattle high schools. OneWorld Now!’s model focuses on critical language classes (Chinese and Arabic), leadership training, and study abroad opportunities for underserved youth. OWN’s track record and students make them a natural lead agency in Seattle, where the goal is to not just increase but also diversify who goes to China.

Seattle has been selected by the Obama Administration, along with Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington D.C., as one of the four leading cities to participate in the Initiative. Seattle is the westernmost American state and has a large deepwater port that serves as a gateway for goods to and from Asia. We have a large and vibrant Chinese and Chinese-American population, and many Chinese focused organizations such as the Seattle-Chongqing Sister City Association, the Washington China Relations Council, the Seattle Chinese Garden, Chinese Information and Service Center, and many others. Recognizing the importance of constructive ties with China, Deputy Mayor Darryl Smith just returned from our sister city of Chongqing, where he was leading a Seattle delegation.

Through the Seattle Strong partnership, OneWorld Now! hopes to generate funds and opportunities for underserved Seattle youth to study abroad in China. Seattle Public Schools Interim Superintendent Susan Enfield spoke at the event, as did OneWorld Now! alumnus Philmon Haile. U.S. Ambassador to China and former Washington State governor Gary Locke spoke at the event via video and expressed his support for the initiative and the work of OneWorld Now!

Via Mayor McGinn

Shortening the School Year is Not the Answer

Shortening the School Year is Not the Answer:

By Janet Frieling, Network Director

I read with interest the article in the Seattle times the other day saying that Washington school superintendents are pushing for a shorter school year as a budget fix. In a recent study published by The Education Trust-West, and other groups such as RAND, The National Center on Time and Learning, shortening the school calendar has dramatic impacts on those children and youth who are already struggling. Yes, times are tough and budget decisions need to reflect these unique times, but do we really want to sacrifice the ability of thousands of Washington’s children to make a livable wage?

Low income children and youth and children of color are more likely to suffer if this approach is taken. Not all families in our state will be able to supplement additional learning opportunities for their children and youth if the school year is shortened. For many, this extra time may translate to more time in front of a TV or video game, or more time hanging out at the mall with friends. Is this really the best that we can do for our kids when research clearly shows us that more quality learning opportunities need to be made available to all children and youth to allow for experiential learning, increased social and emotional development, and more time to practice putting academic theory into daily practice.

The current school year calendar is already woefully inadequate in both of these areas-do we really want to reduce learning opportunities even more? Low income families will have to make tough choices and finding high quality activities for their children if the school calendar is shortened for extra learning options will not rise to the top of their list of “must fund” items.

Other states are actually looking at increasing school schedules by partnering with community based organizations to offer quality learning time in multiple settings-especially during the summer months. Across the world, the United States' instructional calendar is already one of the shortest. This solution will only cause our kids to fall further behind and the persistent achievement gap to widen at an even greater rate. Let’s look for other solutions to our budget crisis.

Via SOWA Live (So Alive!)

Dorn Discusses Funding, Better Teacher Evaluation System, Innovative Schools - State Superintendent presents legislative agenda; vows to “hold the line” on education funding

Dorn Discusses Funding, Better Teacher Evaluation System, Innovative Schools - State Superintendent presents legislative agenda; vows to “hold the line” on education funding: Education funding cannot be cut more than it already has, Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn said at a speech this morning, adding, “Don’t shortchange a generation of children because adults have a problem they can’t solve.” Via OSPI.

Historian blasts education reforms

Historian blasts education reforms: Education historian Diane Ravitch blasted the education-reform movement as a "well-funded, well-coordinated campaign to privatize as many schools as possible" during a sold-out speech in Seattle on Thursday night. Via Seattle Times.