Seattle Public Schools middle school English Language Arts curriculum doesn't include having students read whole books. So when some teachers assigned whole books anyway...SPS admins made them stop. What?! @julieletchner.bsky.social takes a look at a flawed curriculum:
NEW: Seattle Public Schools rolls out a new cellphone ban. Everyone agrees on the K-8 part: away for the day. But should high schoolers have access to their phones between classes? Some board members took issue with that part of the new policy. @robertcruickshank.com explains:
NEW: Seattle Public Schools' superintendent has to balance the budget. But how? With cuts, and potentially, with major long-term changes to how SPS spends its money. This could set up some big fights in the months ahead, as @robertcruickshank.com explains:
NEW: Last week's board meeting wrapped up a new K-5 ELA curriculum, and then previewed some key discussions about other topics: debates about devices in classrooms, the SPS budget, advanced learning, and what to do about the slow decline of SPS enrollment. @robertcruickshank.com has more:
NEW: Three quick items this week from Seattle Public Schools, including Superintendent Ben Shuldiner sounding like he wants to close some schools. But which ones? And why? And would this be any different than the reviled 2024 closure plan? @robertcruickshank.com investigates:
NEW: @governorferguson.bsky.social and @chrisreykdal.bsky.social are proposing a statewide "away for the day" policy banning smartphones in K-12 public schools. It's a stricter ban for high school students than what Seattle Public Schools recently adopted. @robertcruickshank.com has more:
NEW: Adams Elementary parents and educators expressed concern that a notorious principal was appointed to their school without accountability for past allegations of misconduct. Then the Superintendent criticized them for microaggressions. A tale of two meetings:
NEW: Seattle Public Schools is considering three options for the long-overdue athletic field for Lincoln High School. Are we any closer to a solution that will finally provide a nearby place for the school's athletes? Julie Letchner takes a close look at the debate:
They are live-streaming the meeting about the Lincoln HS field, for all of you who are interested in seeing the clash of the titans (SPS parents vs. Wallingford NIMBYs) instead of reading about it later. www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWXn...
The SPS 6-8 ELA curriculum doesn't include full books. Teachers are getting in trouble for teaching them anyway. How did we get here?
Seattle Public Schools staff presented three options for an athletic field, instead of two, reviving an old plan that had previously been cut from consideration.
Adams Elementary School families sought reassurance about their new principal. Instead, she denied past allegations. And then the Superintendent criticized the school community itself.
