About Low-Income students Seattle is even slightly worse than elsewhere Talk with Dr. Goodloe-Johnson

Superintendent Coffee Chat Dates:

•Central: Thursday, October 7
at SBOC from 6:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m.

•Northeast: Tuesday, October 12
at Jane Adams (K-8) from 9:00 a.m. -10:00 a.m.

•West Seattle:Monday, October 25
at West Seattle Elementary from 6:00 p.m. –7:00 p.m.

•South East: Wednesday, October 27
at Mercer Middle from 6:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m.

•Northwest: Tuesday, November 2
at North Beach from 9:00 a.m. -10:00a.m.

So here is something to talk about with Dr. Goodloe-Johnson.

In grade Three the GAPS (2010 MSP) in Seattle
between non-low income and low income students is for
READING = 33%
MATH = 35%

There is an enormous instructional problem k-3. Where are the interventions? But more importantly: Why are we doing what we are doing k-3 and continuing to do it?

It is not getting better after grade three the gap is immutable in elementary school once established.

Grade 5 (2010 MSP) GAPS
between non-low income and low income students
READING = 33%
MATH = 37%

Please ask Dr. Goodloe-Johnson and Dr. Enfield: Why they believe their current instructional philosophy and beliefs align with student reality.

Our School Directors apparently never ask that question so someone should.

The Seattle Central Administration's decisions seem all about adults wrangling in politics and grants at the expense of the children ... especially low income children.

See this damage done to low income students in elementary school. Calculations based on OSPI annual testing and reporting of Pass Rates.

Reading Results HERE

Math Results HERE

Ratio of Change HERE

So where are those effective interventions?

What is happening with the supposed benefits of differentiated instruction?

Why do our instructional leaders and decision-makers refuse to believe the results of Project Follow Through the largest study in the History of Education ever?

Note PFT just happened to focus exclusively on low-income students at grade 3 and below (pre-K though grade three; PFT began as Head Start research under Lyndon Johnson) and eventually ran for 28 years.

Read about it HERE and HERE.

See some results from PFT HERE.

We are suffering from a plague of administrators, politicians, consultants, and College of Ed folks who sentence teachers to do what "They, the real elite smarties on Education" want done. Notice this has absolutely nothing to do with what works. Teachers know this but apparently Administrators and Board Members are clueless.

Results do matter. more Here

Hattie's Visible Learning tells us what works and the SPS decision-makers do NOT care about Hattie's research or what works.

Appropriate actions for the public in response include:
(1) Vote against Levy
(2) Recall "Five" Seattle School Directors
(3) Advocacy to Fire the Superintendent with cause.

Really $300,000+ annually for this grief and totally incoherent approach to most everything and the Board keeps on rubber stamping largely due to the class of 2007: Carr, Martin-Morris, Maier, Sundquist.

We do not need another $300,000 study or need to hire another $500,000 consultant. All that needs to be done is to buy a copy of Hattie's "Visible Learning" HERE and get a clue.

$50 vs. another Million Bucks hard to say, which the SPS visionary leaders would buy. Given past performance likely not the $50 expenditure. ($43.15 + tax)
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After Elementary School in GAP LAND:

The non-low-income v. low income gaps narrow a bit for reading in middle and high school.

For math things have improved a bit in middle school so now the gaps are about the same as elementary school rather than widening in middle school.

HERE is the Full Data on GAPS Reading and Math for Seattle and State all grades.

In grade Six the GAPS (2010 MSP) in Seattle
between non-low income and low income students is for
READING = 31%
MATH = 38%

In grade Seven the GAPS (2010 MSP) in Seattle
between non-low income and low income students is for
READING = 28.5%
MATH = 36%

In grade Eight the GAPS (2010 MSP) in Seattle
between non-low income and low income students is for
READING = 27%
MATH = 33%

In grade Ten the GAPS (2010 HSPE) in Seattle
between non-low income and low income students is for
READING = 22.7%
MATH = 37.7%

Grades k-4 are in urgent need of fixing in both math and reading.