This article was published in the Journalist Resources and is an update to a previous version. That should make it more comprehensive. Please note that it is a 2 cup of coffee article, This link takes you to the publishing source: Four-day school week: What research suggests About The Author: Denise-Marie Ordway: She joined The Journalist’s Resource in 2015 after working as a reporter for newspapers and radio stations in the U.S. and Central America, including the Orlando Sentinel and Philadelphia Inquirer. Her work also has appeared in publications such as USA TODAY, the New York Times, Chicago Tribune and Washington Post. She has received a multitude of national, regional and … [Read more...]
‘Ridgefield residents deserve better stewardship of their tax dollars’
Ridgefield's Levy Proposals: A Closer Look at Prop 12 and Prop 13 Ridgefield School District is asking voters to approve two levy proposals: Proposition 12, an operational levy, and Proposition 13, labeled as a "Technology and Capital" levy. While these measures are marketed as essential for maintaining and enhancing educational quality, a deeper analysis reveals significant concerns about fiscal responsibility, transparency, and respect for voter intent. Understanding School Levies and Their Impact School levies are often presented using two metrics: the total revenue amount and the cost per $1,000 of assessed property value. While the cost-per-$1,000 figure helps property owners … [Read more...]
Battle Ground School Levy increase $1/$1000 – and no public notice and hidden vote by school board
On Monday August 12, 2019 the Battle Ground School Board held a regularly scheduled meeting. As part of that meeting they reviewed the proposed 2019/20 budget. They allowed public questions. The Board of Directors adopted the budget as presented. What they didn't tell people is that the approval of the budget included an increase in the Levy from $1.50/$1000 of assessed value to $2.50/$1000 effective January 1, 2020. There was no notice of intent to increase the levy. There was no vote to approve the increase. It was all part of the budget approval. This was the only budget meeting. In past years they held 2 public sessions. Normally at Laurin and Yacolt or Amboy to take questions and hear … [Read more...]
Are teachers unions too powerful in public schools?
At the risk of drawing the ire of teachers unions we need to ask if their influence is such that they drive too many choices. Let's start out making clear that great teachers are worth their weight in gold. Outstanding teachers should not only be paid like superstars they should be treated with respect and revered. Weak or mediocre or poor teachers should be assisted to move on to other endeavors. There in lies the issue...the poor and weak are protected. Every teacher is treated as equal and considered as having the same proficiency and effectiveness if they have X degree(s) and Y years of experience. That's simply impossible. Some people (in every profession and job) are better, faster, … [Read more...]
Publishers are hiring ‘sensitivity readers’ to flag potentially offensive content
When you think political correctness and stupid behaviors are behind us we get this. Yes...it's true...coming to education is curriculum and books that have been put through the "feeling filter". Any word...any phrase...any thought that might offend someone in some way should be expunged. What are we left with? Absolutely nothing... From The Chicago Tribune and Everdeen Mason Before a book is published and released to the public, it's passed through the hands (and eyes) of many people: an author's friends and family, an agent and, of course, an editor. These days, though, a book may get an additional check from an unusual source: a sensitivity reader, a person who, for a … [Read more...]
Ridgefield Bond & Levy – Feb 2019
Update: Jan 30, 2019: At a public meeting today at the Evergreen School District headquarters, County Assessor Peter vanNortwick clarified the financial impact of the proposed $77 million bond. The district materials implied the impact would be about $.09/$1000. An article in the Columbian said it would be over $4/$1000 of assessed value. Mr. vanNortwick spoke with the district Superintendent and confirmed the "true" projected cost to be $1.06/$1000 of assessed value. What does this mean regarding taxes? A $400,000 assessed value home would see and annual INCREASE of $424. A $500,000 home would see a $530 increase. If you live in the Ridgefield School District you know (or will when … [Read more...]
iReady Testing….What is it and is it useful or just another waste of time? Updated October 20, 2020
Update: October 20, 2020 Several more articles that you may find useful: https://mathexchanges.wordpress.com/2018/06/14/why-iready-is-dangerous/ https://tultican.com/2019/11/23/i-ready-sells-50-years-old-education-failure/ Update: December 29, 2018 The Vancouver school district is moving to introduce iReady testing...in kindergarten! Yes...the 5 year olds will be asked to use a computer to complete the testing. In addition the district is planning on giving the iReady test...MONTHLY! Why? So they can train children for the SBAc annual test. So they will dramatically expand testing in the name of "gaming" the SBAc to try and improve falling testing scores. No matter … [Read more...]
Mishmash of odds and ends
I've been gathering a bunch of items/topics that have accumulated to the point that it's time to move them to the "live" page. So, without further ado here they are: __________________________________________________ Yet another Ed Reform That Doesn’t Work AIR Experts Develop School Discipline Planning Guide for Educators Feds spend $2.5M on mindfulness intervention for kindergarteners Lawsuit to Stop Common Core On Air News Read for November 13, 2015 Standardization isn’t Just Killing Students’ Creativity - It’s Killing Their Love of Creativity Gates impact on Washington teachers and schools Oregon teachers despise the Smarter Balanced tests, survey says … [Read more...]