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Important Dates
Feb. 21: WSPTA Focus Day in Olympia. Rally to save K-12 budgets on the steps of the Capitol.
Feb. 23-Mar. 2: Middle School Language Arts Material Review in Professional Library at the John Stanford Center Mar. 1: Nomination forms are due for a number of PTA awards. Further information and application forms at www.wastatepta
Mar. 12: SPS Family Symposium Supporting Your Student's Success Ballard HS
Open Enrollment: March 15 through April 15 Extended Dates
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Dear Seattle PTA and PTSA Leaders,
It looks like the WA State Legislature will make significant cuts to this year's education budget as well as next year's. The Seattle School Board continues to work through what this means for the SPS operational budget, and as they finalize recommendations, the impacts to our schools will become clearer. Washington State PTA Focus Day will be next Monday, Feb. 21 in Olympia. (See the story below for more information.) We need Seattle families - parents and kids! - to talk with legislators about how this budget crisis is impacting our students. Can't make it? Call, write or email your legislator with your concerns. See the link below to find your legislator.
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/default.aspx
Interested in helping serve kids at all schools? We'd love to welcome you to Seattle Council PTSA! To find out more, please contact our Nominating Committee Andrea Baumgarten, Naheed Nizam and Sharon Rodgers at nominate@seattlecouncilptsa.org.
Sincerely,
Lauren McGuire
President, Seattle Council PTSA
president@seattlecouncilptsa.org
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Washington State PTA - Focus Day In Olympia - February 21, 2011 (President's Day)
Rally for K-12 education and let our Legislators know just how important it is for Seattle's kids to receive an education that meets 21st Century standards. We need to speak out against cuts that are profoundly cutting K-12 education - cuts that might be retroactive to Fall 2010!
Come down to Olympia for Focus Day, 2/21, march and rally on the Capitol steps. Meet with legislators and staff, leave notes, receive updates from policy-makers on key issues and network with other PTA advocates. Click here for a list of Seattle legislators.
PTA members do make a difference when they come to the Capitol in large numbers. This is a kid-friendly event so bring them and your neighbors. Register TODAY and for more info go to www.wastatepta.org. Registration is free.
Sign up for PTA Action Alerts so you'll know first-hand when we need PTA Members to speak up either for or against bills. Click here to download a sign-up form and advocate for education - easier from your computer and phone.
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SPS Operational Budget Update as of Feb. 16 Board Workshop: Extra $3.3M and Kindergarten Fees
The board continues to make progress on closing the $35M SPS operational budget gap. A summary of items the board discussed can be found at Seattle Council PTSA website.
District officials discovered an additional $3.3M in the SPS operational budget that can be used to help fill the shortfall. The School Board decided to use some of the $3.3M to offset some of the increase in full-day kindergarten fees. Instead of increasing the fees by $103 per month as was initially proposed, the School Board discussed raising the fee $30 per month, from $207 to ~$237 total per month for the 2011-12 school year. I'd like to thank the PTA leaders who sent out the Kindergarten Fee Survey to preschool families in their community. More than 2,000 incoming families responded. For more information on the SPS budget, click here. Comments or concerns? Contact budget@seattleschools.org or contact your School Board Director. |
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PTA Nomination forms are due on March 1
All sorts of nomination forms are due on March 1: Outstanding Service Award (statewide); Communication Award; Newsletter Award; Honor Unit; Standards of Excellence; Outstanding Local Unit of the Year; 100% Membership Application; PTAs Taking Significant Action. Turn in your Leadership Academy form - be recognized for your volunteer contributions. See the State website for further information and application forms for all of these awards. |
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Seattle Public Schools Family Symposium
Saturday March 12th 9:30 - 2:00pm
Ballard High School
Supporting your Student's Success with workshops on Science, Math, Literacy, Advanced Learning, Special Education, College Readiness, Community Resource Fair, Arts and Pre-K ... and more.
Child activities, transportation & light lunch will be provided. For more information on this event, click here.
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Instructional Leaders for Math/Science and Literacy/Social Studies: Update from CAO
Families have been asking me about the impact the budget gap will have on professional development for teachers. Susan Enfield, the Chief Academic Officer (CAO), has responded.
-- Lauren McGuire
From Susan Enfield, SPS Chief Academic Officer
In an effort to be financially responsible during these challenging times, Instructional Services is combining content manager positions so that Math and Science are led by one manager and Literacy and Social Studies are led by a single manager. It is common in districts the size of Seattle to share management of these content areas. Each department will continue to employ instructional coaches who have deep knowledge of their content area within specific grade bands (e.g. elementary science, middle school math, high school literacy.) Instructional Services intends to continue to provide in depth professional development in all content areas, collaborating with ELL and special education to ensure our teachers understand how to differentiate instruction for their students in all contents.The professional development plan for 2011-12 will look very similar to the current plan, with changes made based on staff needs.
In Science, in particular, it is the intention to continue with professional development using the same curriculum in grades PreK-8; high school will have newly adopted standards and textual materials and will have professional development focused on their use. The Science Materials Center will continue to operate, providing the science kits that support the PreK-8 curriculum. Cathy Thompson, the ED of Instructional Services, has been in contact with several community partners who have historically supported Seattle in science education; these organizations have indicated their interest and intention to continue their support of science in Seattle Schools.
We know that we will face additional challenges next year, but we also see this as a time of opportunity. As such, we plan to engage more of our teachers in helping us develop and lead our professional development work. We think this will improve the quality of science instruction across the district, while honoring the expertise that so many of our teachers have.
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Common Core State Standards Initiative
The Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI) is a multi-state effort to align K-12 educational standards across the country and Washington State is considering adopting these standards. This effort is coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). The standards were developed in collaboration with teachers, school administrators, and experts, to provide a clear and consistent framework to prepare our children for college and the workforce. http://www.corestandards.org/Washington State PTA is offering a Parent-to-Parent 20- or 60-minute presentation on this topic. What a great opportunity to keep membership informed about this important topic. Scheduling can be done through Angela Falcone at ang.falcone@yahoo.com
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Middle School Language Arts Materials Review
Feb. 23 - March 2 John Stanford Center Professional Library 3rd and Lander
SPS is in the middle of reviewing curriculum for Middle School Language Arts (LA). As part of this process, Middle School Language Arts materials being considered will be on display in the Professional Library of the Stanford Center starting next Wednesday, February 23 until Wednesday, March 2nd. Individuals will have a chance to give input on what they see and this input will then be reviewed by the LA Adoption Committee.
Dan Coles
Literacy Program Manager
Seattle Public Schools
(206) 252-0231
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