Crosscut articles of the past 10 days with the most clicks.
Crosscut articles of the past 10 days with the most reader comments.
Crosscut blog posts of the past 10 days with the most clicks.
Posted Fri, Nov 13, 6 a.m.
New evidence shows that the Bush administration's famous "No Child Left Behind" education law creates standards that aren't really standards, with unfair and exasperating outcomes for the nation's students.
READ MORE 6 COMMENTS
Posted Fri, Nov 6, 6 a.m.
A parent’s critical analysis of budget reporting has helped the Seattle school board consider administrative costs in analyzing where to make cuts next year.
READ MORE 3 COMMENTS
Posted Thu, Nov 5, 6 a.m.
As enrollment begins to creep back up, with a bubble moving toward high school, district officials may think about reopening old Lincoln High. And this is the time to make good on promises to improve South End schools.
READ MORE 9 COMMENTS
Posted Mon, Oct 26, 6 a.m.
The Seattle School District has the highest administrative costs in the state, according to a district parent's study, putting pressure on Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson as new budget work begins.
READ MORE 13 COMMENTS
Posted Thu, Oct 22, 6 a.m.
In a year of change, the choices are getting easier as Election Day approaches.
READ MORE 44 COMMENTS
Posted Tue, Oct 13, 6 a.m.
Better yet, Seattle's next mayor should make sure all high school students spend a year working. It's the best thing he can do to prepare them for adulthood ... and boost graduation rates too.
READ MORE 7 COMMENTS
Posted Wed, Oct 7, 6:55 a.m.
It's also back to reopening five schools closed a few years ago, with a cost of $45 million. The district releases its detailed maps and makes the case that predictability for families will outweigh some of the tradeoffs in desegregation and flexibility.
READ MORE 8 COMMENTS
Posted Mon, Oct 5, 6 a.m.
Out, finally, go all those arcane rules deriving from desegregation efforts. Now, the School Board hopes to adopt a new plan, assigning students largely to neighborhood schools, with far fewer "escape valves." The real challenge remains improving quality of all schools.
READ MORE 2 COMMENTS
Posted Wed, Sep 23, 6 a.m.
The Seattle School District is considering lowering its graduation requirements and giving diplomas to "D" students. I know first-hand that some good can come from a lousy grade.
READ MORE 10 COMMENTS
Posted Wed, Sep 9, 6 a.m.
There are federal mandates and some stimulus funds, but not nearly enough to keep up with this heartbreaking problem.
READ MORE 7 COMMENTS
Posted Thu, Jul 2, 6 a.m.
The classic building, last one standing by an early architect, has been closed by the School District. That could create serious problems for a crime-torn neighborhood, unless a new use is found. Some residents are trying.
READ MORE 2 COMMENTS
Posted Tue, Jun 23, 6 a.m.
Cooper Elementary, a West Seattle school rich in history, shifted its mission last week, with scant mention of Frank Cooper, one of the most influential figures in Seattle history. Here's his story.
READ MORE 3 COMMENTS
Posted Wed, Jun 10, 6 a.m.
The School District is dodging the issue, while the unions are digging in. What's changing is pressure from parents and signs of impatience from the Legislature
READ MORE 18 COMMENTS
Posted Wed, May 20, 10:55 a.m.
A sobering download of data from The Education Trust makes clear that Washington schools are mired in mediocrity, and the WASL is not helping matters
READ MORE 8 COMMENTS
Posted Fri, Jan 30, 12:18 a.m.
Despite a lot of anger at the 5-2 vote, the decision is likely to stick.
READ MORE 5 COMMENTS
Posted Thu, Jan 29, 9:14 a.m.
The board votes tonight on the superintendent's plan, and it looks as if closure opponents have lost their battle
READ MORE 1 COMMENTS
Posted Thu, Jan 22, 6 a.m.
A former school board member looks at the school closure options the board must vote on Jan. 29 and suggests that the members delay a year, partially reject Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson’s proposal, and instead create more K-8 schools.
READ MORE 6 COMMENTS
Posted Wed, Jan 21, 6 a.m.
The School Board president rebuts some of the arguments in recent Crosscut articles.
READ MORE 11 COMMENTS
Posted Fri, Jan 9, 6 a.m.
The plan may affect nearly 10 percent of the district's schoolchildren. This is wise?
READ MORE 5 COMMENTS
Posted Wed, Jan 7, 10:02 a.m.
The next weeks will produce lots of arguments about the musical chairs being played with many programs in the Seattle district.
READ MORE 2 COMMENTSPosted Wed, Mar 18, 8:18 a.m.
Real cities don't fear single-family housing
MOREPosted Tue, Jan 27, 6 a.m.
How I survived a junior high school trauma.
MOREPosted Wed, Dec 10, 5:22 p.m. 2008
A Montlake mom tries to follow the school district's bouncing balls.
MOREPosted Wed, Dec 3, 8:54 p.m. 2008
If it's in a neighborhood with lots of renters, many of those families and schoolchildren will quickly leave.
MOREPosted Tue, Dec 2, noon 2008
Even with some courageous cuts by the superintendent, she still has another $10 million in cuts to find.
MOREPosted Tue, Aug 12, 5:01 a.m. 2008
What does it teach kids to slaughter a grove of mature trees in a city whose urban forest is already in crisis? A city which will need a new generation to help fix serious environmental problems like cleaning up Puget Sound and dealing with cancer-causing pollution?
MOREPosted Tue, Jul 22, 2:07 p.m. 2008
Remember when everyone thought Democratic congressional candidate Darcy Burner wasn't going to get extra money from the party to beat U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Auburn? Well, think again. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has "reserved $949,000 of air time to boost Burner's campaign." Here's the reaction from the right-wingers at Sound Politics. ...
MOREPosted Thu, Jul 10, 1:05 p.m. 2008
David Goldstein at Horse's Ass says everyone has missed the boat about the latest mess surrounding the "top-two" primary. The Seattle Times blamed the parties. The parties blamed the state. Others blamed the lawyers. Goldstein, however, says the person to blame for what could be the "most monumental legal fuck up in state history — one which puts the legitimacy of our entire 2008 election in jeopardy" — is state Attorney General Rob McKenna.
MOREPosted Tue, Apr 1, 10:24 a.m. 2008
Read this interesting story about the Seattle School Board. You'll find the new language of big-company management being spoken by the new boardmembers, all of whom promised to bring that perspective to the troubled district. The four new members, Peter Maier (a consumer lawyer), Steve Sundquist (formerly with Russell Investment Group), Sherry Carr (finance manager at Boeing), and Harium Martin-Morris (also a Boeing executive), all ran on the same basic platform: it takes experience with big business to handle a huge budget like the School District's. This experienced team was cast in the role by an informal coalition of school activists, with some helpful guidance from the Mayor's office.
MOREPosted Fri, Mar 28, 10 a.m. 2008
An important organization in Seattle, the Alliance for Education, has announced changes in the way it will be distributing money. There will now be more targeting and accountability, and more meshing with the district's emerging strategic focus. Similar changes are going on with other umbrella agencies, including in the arts and social services.
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