HiCap Parents Council Meeting
Reading/discussion today:Beyond the Neuropsychological Evaluation: Finding the Right Professionals to Support Your 2e Child’s Needs
Don’t see all of this in our child, but some; speech and language needed help
Wasn’t until the family got the student a neurological evaluation that they realized there might be a learning problem because the child spoke so well
Do teacher/doctors have this information?
There should be a parenting handbook
A lot of parents don’t know about learning problems
Not all administrators “accept” 2e and might remove or try to prevent interventions
Early intervention is key
A lot of times the kid knows they are different and the longer it takes adults to see this, the more damage there is to the kid’s self-esteem
It is hard for parents to know what they should look for of know if things are worrisome
Once kids now they are 2e, it is really helpful for teachers (especially at the middle and high school levels) to give students and opportunity to share and assist in their self-advocation
Amity updates
Testing and Notification
28 schools need to be revisited twice to catch students who missed the NNAT3 and IOWA, plus we need to leave a gap between vistis to allow time to get permission for IOWA testing
17 schools are scheduled so far
11 more schools are left to be scheduled
Blackboard messages haven’t been effective to get permission, so sometimes Amity calls families, even the night before testing, to attempt to gain permission for testing
Catch up will take at least through February
Private and homeschool testing will need to be pushed to March
We need to finish testing for enrolled students first
The only space we have to do this testing is the bottom floor of Innovation Lab High School (ILHS)
NVP IOWA testing: can only do after it is warmer if it still needs to be administered outside
Algebra Readiness
This is conducted by the Curriculum and Instruction but Amity is involved in their meetings on this topic
There will probably no longer be a formal test anymore to identify students who are ready for Algebra
Method will be similar to that used in Spring 2021
5th graders
If they have already had accelerated math (walk to math, EAP, Edgenuity, etc), they are approved to skip to Algebra
If the only qualify for hicap/accelerated math in 5th grade but have not taken an accelerated math class, they will be placed in 7th/8th grade challenge math (they could do Algebra in 6th grade if they take 7th/8th grade challenge math in summer school)
6th and 7th graders will be subject to a review and may or may not be placed in Algebra based on an evaluation 4th grade math SBA scores, iReady diagnostic scores, and grades
Parents of 5th-7th grade students can accept or reject their student’s placement in Algebra
It is hard to know fully how well this method worked last year as 1st semester grades won’t be finalized until January 28th, but they will look to see how it went
Students who have received math acceleration prior to 5th grade historically have not had problems with 6th grade placement in Algebra
The success of students who have not had math acceleration prior to Algebra is more of an open question
Keep in mind that NONE of the current elementary students has ever seen a true SBA test
High School Update
Course descriptions for ELA and Social Studies were due and are being evaluated by the Regional Area Superintendents (RAS’s)
These new descriptions are not perfect, but are getting better
A new math sequencing document has been published online: NSD High School Mathematics
We can give feedback but can’t change it for the 2022 course registration
Document is super streamlined; no grades are listed next to courses
All buildings should have these classes through Calculus 2
Differential Equations (Calculus 3) is listed for the highest level of math
This might not work at every school based on the # of students who are both eligible and want to take it
Not sure how it might be accessed if it is not offered in person at a comprehensive high school (e.g. via Zoom into a class at a school that offers it, drive to a school that offers it, some version of online course)
The first batch of triple jump 6th graders are currently in 10th grade
NCHS has the numbers to offer differential equations in 2022-23
Cohort at other comprehensive high schools should begin in 2023-24
AP Stats is good after or before Precalculus and could even go backwards to take it after Calculus 1 or 2
The chart reflects only mainstream math courses
Challenges
Algebra 2 doesn’t really prepare a kid for Precaculus; students really need to take Algebra 2/Trig but this is not reflected on the chart
Chart is trying to define math for all students, not just hicap
Still have some problems with building dependency (e.g. if you take Precalculus 1 which is offered at NCHS, you are not ready to take Calculus but have to take Precalculus 1/2 the next year)
Looking at the webpage where this information is listed:https://www.nsd.org/schools/academics/subject-areas/subject/~board/mathematics/post/mathematics
HS math PDF is updated, but not the graphic above the PDF
MS math PDF is not updated
Council questions
Will there be opportunities for new families to check out EAP schools physically or virtually?
Hoping to have another EAP night for 1st grade families on February 1st (families need to commit to EAP by February 11th)
Can try to extend this to 2nd grade families
This will be publicized once we are sure all parties can be present
Hard to commit principals to tours/webinars especially due to COVID
We don’t want EAP open houses to be forgotten but understand that we can’t do them this year due to Omicron
Older kids also need attention as parents wonder if it is worth uprooting students in mid to late elementary school
Maybe we can recycle school specific welcome webinars offered last year for new students if they were recorded
Principal input
Nancy Johnson (Moorlands) said that schools really like to do these events and they want to bring them back and to them again when it is safe
Juan Price (Bothell) agreed
Will newer EAP schools (Shelton View, Wellington, Kenmore El) with 1 class have EAP again next year, and will they get more integrated connection with EAP peers?
Kids who are currently in these classes get to stay at their current school
We don’t know if they will grow as this is a number’s game and not entirely within Amity’s control
Students cannot do a lot of mixing due to COVID
There is a concern that all EAP kids are perceived to be rich kids who’s parents “promoted them to EAP”
Amity says they are tracking diversity carefully and are always doing what they can to support highly capable learners
They use multiple sources of data and local norms to identify studtents
It is still harder to make minority groups feel they belong
Student and parent education is the next step
It might be helpful if we can try to communicate the existing diversity to new families
Austina shared that new work in the US points to the importance of clustering cohorts of diverse students to that certain groups of kids don’t feel alone (and to also help support diversity)
What will future years look like for new, small EAP sites: Shelton View, Wellington, Kenmore Elementary?
The students who are there now will stay their through their elementary careers
We don’t know yet if we will have the numbers needed to expand the programs
Students who qualify in grades matching the existing cohorts in these schools will be placed in the EAP classes at their current school
How did the December high schoo meeting go with Obadiah Dunham?
We have already covered the items that came out of that meeting
What is the high level math class for triple jumpers?
Differential equations (see previous discussion in Amity’s updates)
The district believed that they would be able to find staff to teach this course and that was why it was chosen
Questions about improvements in the writing curriculum
Have not heard of anything through the Curriculum Materials Adoption Committee (CMAC)
Have to purchase a new elementary ELA (English Language Arts) curriculum
Amity has looked at this a bit but focused more on the reading side of the proposed elementary ELA curriculums
We haven’t looked at middle grades yet.
There were opportunities to view the curriculum in person at the administration building and virtually on January 25-26, 2022
Curriculum needs to be chosen soon and will be rolled out to schools during the next school year
Adopted curriculum could probably uses to enrichment for hicap students; this would be a good thing for the committee working on writing improvement to look for
Question about college essay support that is available at some schools in some classes, but not all, and a request that all schools offer assistance as a matter of equity
Unfortunately, Juan Price had to drop off the call just before this issue was raised
Suggestion that this could be adde to 11th grade curriculum (near the end of the school year as students start to think about applications)
Assistance takes place in the fall at Woodinvill HS for non AP English courses, but it is not mentioned in the course catalog
Can we raise the importance of this issue by highlighting its link to a student’s mental health since this is already a district priority?
AVID, Advancement Via Individual Determination, a college readiness course is not offered at all comprehensive high schools
There was a suggestion to add college essay help to advisory, but only of the 2 comprehensive high schools have advisory
Question of whether anyone considers the load of work that college essays put on students in addition to their high school coursework and homework
It sounds like there are a lot of equity issues related to this question
Wondered if there are other better forums in which to raise this issue as these are not really areas within Amity’s purview; suggestion to email/start a conversation with Chris Bigelow, cbigelow@nsd.org, who is the Executive Director of Racial and Educational Justice for the district
Suggestion of a simple ask for the moment: add information about courses including college essay assistance in the class description in the high school course catalog so that families can make informed decisions
Reiterated that we are not expecting the current revisions to the high school course catalog to be perfect, but we are hoping for a step in the right direction
Can we send satisfaction surveys to new EAP families?
It would be good to update the surveys
New questions to ask based on recent changes
Accelerated math for 4th & 5th grade will be staying and we should work with Amity on questions on this topic to make sure we are asking the right things to get the answers we want
Are triple jumpers satisfied?
Aim for survey to go out to families by the end of April (in the past it has been sent at the end of June and tends to get lost)
If interested in working on updating survey questions, reach out to Austina
Updates on Council Priorities
Update from Terri and Terra
Terri is currently leading social studies and science and Terra is leading writing
Both need more help and are thinking of merging efforts
They think that first they should investigate what happens in other hicap areas and then look at what they can do in our district
They will hold meetings in February to discuss the next steps for both groups; please join
January through March are key times to focus on these sorts of improvements
Imen and Terri on teacher awards
Imen spoke to the Kenmore Elementary principal
Question about who would lead the initiative: students, parents, or staff
Council prefers a combination of all three
Timeline: when?
Council believes that it needs to be planned and launched by the beginning of April if we will give awards this year (you still need to allot time for people turn in nominations, to review nominations, and then give awards, hopefully in May)
Categories of awards: 1 for EAP, 1 for AAP, 1 for Gen Ed
Hope to have feedback on plan done before February HCP meeting
Thought to request nominations in conjunction with the HiCap survey, but the timing won’t work out
Hearing for HB1611 went well
Dr. Reid was called on to testify and testimony was “fabulous”
Testimony was recorded and can be viewed here (begins at 35:00): https://tvw.org/video/house-education-committee-2022011574/?eventID=2022011574&fbclid=IwAR0wG_9AvFmAHrQq4dYtZ7jdwHWvZTwkztB8cf2kkaAnDpmgiLDlt9B2zyA
Bond and Levies presentation
District facts
District includes 23,400; 3,000 staff; and 35 schools
NSD High school graduation rate: 96.6% (WA grad rate: 83%)
NSD SAT score average: 1237 (WA SAT avg: 1073)
2,600 volunteers
Pandemic successes
Transportation flexed in the pandemic to deliver 288,720 free meals
Devices were given to every student who requested one
1,900 hotspots were given to students who needed them
NSD has NOT seen a dramatic decrease in enrollment as other districts in the state did
Washington still does not fully fund K-12 education and therefore NSD relies on voter-approved initiatives to bridge the gap
Washington does not provide for the building or repair of schools
Money raised through levies stays in our district
State funding for nurses is equivalent to providing for 3.5 nurses; levy funds allow for one nurse per building
NSD has had clean audits for the last 6 years and won a national award for the transparent presentation of their budget
Proposed bond and levies are continuations of existing levies
Costs are decreasing despite value of levies increasing
Current tax rate for existing bond and levies: $3.63 per thousand dollars of assessed property value
Proposed tax rate for bond and levies on the ballot: $3.28 per thousand dollars of assessed property value
The rate paid by individual households is dependent on the number of homes taxed
NSD cannot collect more money that the total approved on the ballot
Assesed property values are increasing more slowly than the number of homes in the district is increasing leading to everyone having lower rates to fulfill the value of the levies and bond (as tax base increase, tax rate decreases)
Levies and Bond measures on the ballot for February 8th election
Education Programs and Operations Levy (EP&O) Renewal
$265 Million total value collected over 4 years
Provides for school nurses, mental health professionals, elementary counselors, and classroom support
Provides funding for Special Education, Multi-language learners, and Accelerated Learning supports
Provides for Band, Orchestra, Choir, Theater, and Athletics
Technology Level Renewal
$80 Million total value collected over 4 years
Measure was developed by a group made up of community members, teachers, administrators, and students
Washington provides nothing for instructional technology; access to a computer is NOT part of “basic education”
The prior technology levy allowed us to have 14,000 devices in hand to send out to students at the beginning of the pandemic
Technology level covers things that plug into and operate on the network: computers, software, and apps for students and staff
Levy also provides training and technical support fo students, staff, and families
Adaptive technologies (especially those used by students with IEP or 504 needs) are also funded with this levy
Captial Bonds Projects
$425 MIllion total value collected over 4 years
What did the last bond pay for?
New softball fields at the comprehensive high schools
New door locks for classrooms
HVAC system upgrades
The construction of new facilities
An elementary school, Ruby Bridges
30 classroom flexible space shared by Canyon Creek Elementary and Skyview Middle, dubbed SkyCreek
Northshore Concert Hall @ Inglemoor HS (just got temporary certificate of occupancy; had been waiting on chairs; expect permanent certificate of occupancy by the end of January)
Future projects covered by this measure
Additional classrooms and program space for overcrowded schools: will remove 70 portables (represents a 35% decrease in portables) and build 110 classrooms
Modernization of older schools: Fernwood, Kenmore (elementary), Crystal Springs, Maywood Hills, Leota, and Inglemoor (Phase 1 of 2 for Leota and Inglemoor)
ALL schools will receive upgrades in various areas including: elevators, fire protection, HVAC system, roofing, flooring, plumbing, space for mental health counselors, seismic upgrases, reductions in carbon footprint, security upgrades (modernizing security cameras)
Upgraded elementary schools will each receive a new inclusive playground like the one found at Ruby Bridges (other elementary schools will receive this upgrade in future bond initiatives)
Levies require a simple majority (50% of votes plus 1) to pass
Bond passage is more difficult
Bonds require a supermajority (60% votes in favor)
Bonds votes also require the participation of a minimum of 40% of the voters who participated in the last general election
Ballots should be in the mail by mid January and the voting deadline is in ballot boxes by 8pm or postmarked by February 8th
Further information
nsd.org/bondlevy
Email questions to: amiedema@nsd.org or dralph@nsd.org
