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RSS Feeds Get the latest information through RSS Feeds. Blog Articles News College & Work Readiness What is RSS? Most Recent Resources Ladies and Gentleman, the Washington Class of 2009 Added: 2 weeks 9 hours ago Article Transforming STEM Education in Washington Added: 5 weeks 1 day ago Article Sending a Message to Olympia: State Business, Education and Nonprofit Leaders Call for Reforms Necessary for Stimulus Funds Added: 10 weeks 1 day ago Article Education Trust: Washington's Education Watch Profile Added: 12 weeks 6 days ago Publication Positioning Education Washington for the Economic Stimulus Added: 15 weeks 6 days ago Article Find More Resources >>	Blogs On use of stimulus funds: Duncan is watching! By maureen on 24 Jun \| 0 comments In case you missed it last week, EdSec Arne Duncan’s message to states regarding the use of stimulus funding is becoming ever-clearer: If states use stimulus dollars to plug budget holes instead of boosting aid for schools, the federal government may withhold millions of dollars of additional stimulus funding. Read more... Topics: Federal Stimulus \| National Debates \| Education Funding \| Delay math and science graduation requirements, again? We don’t think so. By maureen on 15 Jun \| 0 comments Supt. Dorn’s plans to request a delay of the state’s math and science assessment graduation requirements met opposition from multiple papers over the weekend. For nice takes on the issue, check out the two editorials below. Tacoma News Tribune: No more delays for math requirement The Daily News: Time to stop waffling on WASL requirements Or don’t take their word for it, ask State Board Chair Mary Jean Ryan: Read more... Topics: WASL \| Science \| OSPI \| Math \| Assessment \| WASL Replacement Plans Move Forward By maureen on 11 Jun \| 0 comments Curious about how Supt. Dorn's plans to replace the WASL are shaping up? Me too. For the most up-to-date thinking on Washington's assessment transitition--including shortened responses and soon-to-be online testing--check out today's release from OSPI. But, in case there was any confusion on the status of graduation requirements: "Replacing the WASL, however, does not eliminate the state high school graduation requirements, which, among other requirements, call for high school students to pass the reading and writing state exams and to either pass the math test or earn two credits of math after 10th grade. Students can also meet the assessment requirement by passing other state-approved alternatives." At least that's settled. Read more... Topics: WASL \| Testing \| OSPI \| Assessment \| Breaking Down the Widget Effect By maureen on 08 Jun \| 0 comments Partnership for Learning has been a fan of The New Teacher Project (TNTP) for quite some time—so much so, in fact, that we’re bringing them to Washington!—but a national report released by the group last week only solidified our love. “The Widget Effect” describes how school systems “treat all teachers as interchangeable parts, not professionals. Excellence goes unrecognized and poor performance goes unaddressed. This indifference to performance disrespects teachers and gambles with students’ lives.” The study looked at 12 school districts, across four states, that range in size, geographic location and teacher evaluation approach. But, the study concludes, the outcomes are strikingly similar across the districts. Check out the highly readable report at TNTP’s website and stay tuned for updates about TNTP’s work in Washington. Read more... Way to go, Washington! By maureen on 04 Jun \| 0 comments On Monday, Forty-six states—representing 80 percent of the nation’s K-12 student population—formally agreed to join forces to create common academic standards in math and English language arts through an effort led by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers. Washington was one of them. This is progress. Read more... Topics: Washington \| Common standards \| Pamelia Valentine: School Improvement—Mission Statement Complete By maureen on 03 Jun \| 0 comments Ladies and Gentlemen, our mission statement: At Oakland Bay Junior High School, YOU matter! At our school, we reach out and connect with each other by fostering trusting and respectful relationships that acknowledge and address the unique needs and abilities of each individual. We teach and reinforce the skills needed for academic success and provide curriculum that is both engaging and rigorous. We partner with parents and our community to inspire and coach students to reach their potential. We recognize and celebrate citizenship and academic excellence. This is our promise. Take P.R.I.D.E. Every One! Every Day! After much sweat, no visible tears and minimal bloodshed we have produced a mission statement by committee, which is no easy task. The next step will be completed as the team leaders in our school send it out to their curriculum and departmental teams to scrutinize, and then it will go back the team leaders for final approval. (There have already been both positive and negative remarks and it remains to be seen if this is indeed the final rendition.) Read more... Topics: school improvement \| Teachers \| In The Classroom \| Irene Smith: Another year is winding down By maureen on 26 May \| 0 comments My eighth year students and I are preparing a yearbook to commemorate the 2008-09 school year. Now comes my annual bout of melancholy as my colleagues and I prepare to say goodbye to our oldest students who will be leaving us for high school. They're ready to move on to new challenges, a bigger school, new friends and opportunities, higher learning.... The yearbook project gives me an opportunity to reflect on the times we've shared and reflect on my teaching and their learning. I'd like to say that every moment was a teaching moment, that we never wasted a minute, but that wouldn't be true. I'd like to say that I always provided the best possible instruction as I crafted amazing lessons that brought my students to deep levels of understanding. Read more... Topics: Teachers \| In The Classroom \| Students \| Gov. Gregoire finally signs basic education legislation By maureen on 19 May \| 0 comments Gov. Chris Gregoire signed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2261--the basic education finance bill passed by the legislature last month--today in Olympia. For more information, check out this news release prepared by a broad-based coalition of parents, business leaders, community members and education stakeholders, after the bill signing. Read more... Topics: Washington \| Governor Gregoire \| Basic Education Funding \| Gather round, Kati Haycock is coming to town! By maureen on 11 May \| 0 comments If you’ve ever seen education crusader and Ed Trust President Kati Haycock in action, you know how powerful and compelling her arguments for closing the achievement gap can be. And, if you haven’t, you’re about to get your chance: The League of Education Voters, with help from Partnership for Learning, is bringing Kati to town on Monday, May 18th to speak at the Seattle Public Library. Kati, as well as others from Ed Trust, played a crucial role in brokering the terms of the federal education stimulus and I, for one, am super excited to hear her dish on the process. Hope to see you there! Read more... Topics: stimulus \| Kati Haycock \| Event \| Ed Trust \| Irene Smith: Real Professional Development By maureen on 04 May \| 0 comments Lately, our staff has been examining “High Yield Strategies” for improving student achievement and we’ve discovered that Dr. Robert J. Marzano and his colleagues at the Marzano Research Laboratory actually translate educational research into useful teaching strategies. Marzano has become all the rage for professional development and his strategies are widely respected by teachers. Recently, I asked thirty five teachers pursuing National Board candidacy for suggestions of resource materials that had transformed their teaching. Among the most popular choices were Marzano’s books. Read more... Topics: Teachers \| Professional Development \| Instruction \| Learning \| 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9…next ›last »	EDUCATION NEWS Charter schools in Portland: Boon or bane? Posted on 29 Jun The Oregonian View this article >> Urban high school's rare feat: No dropouts Posted on 29 Jun MSNBC View this article >> Throwing a Lifeline to Struggling Teachers Posted on 29 Jun Washington Post View this article >> Find More News >> Tag Cloud Achievement Gap College & Work Readiness K-12 Education Reform Legislature Math Math Curriculum Science Standardized Tests Students Teachers Washington WASL more tags What is a Tag Cloud?