Be challenged, provoked, informed, and moved to act at events this month!

Thurs. Oct. 7, 7 pm, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 1634 19th Ave  

Kevin Johnson's Mission to Prepare All Kids for College http://www.educationvoters.org/revolution/speakers/

Tues. Oct. 12, 12:15 pm, Town Hall (downstairs off Seneca)

1119 8th Ave S

Seattle CityClub: Improving Pathways to Higher Education

seattlecityclub.org

Seattle Public Schools' Family Academy (from Cradle to College and Career)

Sat. Oct. 16, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm  South Shore School

4800 S. Henderson St. 

Early learning resource fair, college planning and more!

Saturday, Oct. 23, 8:30 am - 2:00 pm  John Stanford Center (JSCEE)

2445 Lander Ave. S. sponsored by Special Education PTSA   

Practical Strategies for Including All Learners

RSVP by Friday, Oct. 15 seattlespedptsa@gmail.com 

SPS Superintendent Community Coffee Chats

Thurs. Oct. 7, 6-7 pm, Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center,

301 21^st Ave. E. 98112

Tues. Oct. 12, 9-10 am, Jane Addams K-8,

11051 34^th Ave. NE. 98125

Mon. Oct. 25, 6-7 pm, West Seattle Elementary,

6760 34th Ave. SW. 98126

Mon. Nov. 1, 6-7 pm, Mercer Middle School

1600 S. Columbian Way, 98108

Tues. Nov. 2, 9-10 am, North Beach Elementary,

9018 24th Ave. NW. 98117

Never has our national education system, its problems and its potentials, been subject to so much scrutiny.  Consider these two documentaries:

"Waiting for Superman," Davis Guggenheim's provocative look at the problems in accessing quality education for all, playing now at AMC Pacific Place 11

Landmark Neptune Theatre, and in Bellevue at the Lincoln Square Cinemas

For commentary by Doug Wells, PPS National Board President, Read here. 

"Race to Nowhere," Tuesday, Oct. 26, NOVA High School will be showing this documentary look at our ever-more competitive education system

300 20^th Ave. E.  Learn more.

CPPS has long championed including the voices of parents in  decision-making around education policy and practice.  When you see the films or read the stories that discuss our education crises, do you agree?  Where do your schools succeed or fall short?  What issues, from contracts to curriculum, concern you?

Consider this special report, just released by the Washington State Office of the Education Ombudsman which offers the voices and perspectives of Washington parents and educators and confirms the importance of parent engagement.  In devising school-home partnerships and better structures to support and sustain family involvement, and in policy debate about our educational system, parents need to be viewed as key stakeholders in the central mission of education -- preparing our children for successful futures.

CPPS seeks to bring more of your voices to the table.

We are working with the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, community organizations such as the Rainier Beach Coalition, Campana Quetzal, Powerful Schools, and the Vietnamese Friendship Association, as well as parent leaders and school leaders in South and Southeast Seattle to design and present parent leadership training for advocacy around the issues most crucial to parents -- quality neighborhood schools in their communities. 

We would love your input, skills or energies, both in the south end, and to design similar parent education outreach in your part of town.  Contact Stephanie Jones for more information or to suggest your ideas. 

Additional resources for teacher development, recognition and support, including an additional hour each week of paid collaboration time for all elementary and K-8 educators; an increase in the number of STAR mentors to support our new teachers; up to $500 for specific training for teachers who are struggling, and stipends for career ladders for our most effective teachers.

An evaluation system that is linked to student growth measures. The Professional Growth & Evaluation system (PG&E) will be phased in over three years. Certificated employees will be evaluated on a four-level scale (unsatisfactory, basic, proficient and innovative). All certificated employees will work with colleagues and principal to set realistic, rigorous and measurable goals for student achievement.  All teachers will be expected to make progress toward their goals.

Scores from multiple tests will be compiled and averaged for each teacher with decisive impact:

Low performers will receive immediate intervention and support, with decisions made by December 15 of each year, while strong performers will have opportunities for advancement.

· Our strongest teachers will have the opportunity to contribute to success across the system - and receive additional compensation in the form of stipends of $2,500 to $5,200 per year - by sharing their expertise with colleagues. Up to 360 school-based career ladder positions (demonstration, mentor and master teachers) will be spread across every school for teacher leaders who model best practice and support their colleagues' professional growth.

· Struggling teachers will get additional support under the new contract that gives every teacher the tools to succeed. For those who can't succeed, there's a clear path to evaluate them out of the district.

· Struggling schools will benefit from stipends that encourage stability of teachers who work in our most challenging schools.

· New teachers will get a vastly improved support program-three years of mentoring instead of one and a near doubling of the mentors who work with our newest teachers.

· All elementary and K-8 teachers will receive one additional hour of time per week for collaborative planning with colleagues. This additional hour will not result in any changes to the length of the students' school day.

· Certificated staff compensation will be adjusted - a 1 percent raise will be given to all educators in 2011-12 and they will receive an additional 1 percent raise in 2012-2013. In 2010-2011, substitute educators receive a 1 percent salary increase; and an annual stipend will be awarded to nurse practitioners with national certification in pediatrics or another child-related field.

The estimated total cost of the contract over three years is $19 million. Included in that estimate are:

· $5.4 million - 1 percent increase in pay in 2011-2012 and another 1 percent in 2012-2013

· $5.1 million - Career ladder stipends, additional star mentors, stipends for level 1 schools

· $4.6 million - Additional one hour of collaboration time for teachers at all elementary and K-8 schools

· $2.4 million - Implementation costs

· $1.0 million - First year investments

Seattle Public Schools is seeking funding for this historic contract via a Supplemental Levy on November 2, federal Teacher Incentive Fund grants ($12.5 million just received) and  other sources.  For more information, click here.