Volume 29 June 7, 2010
www.flowercityparents.org
I’ll keep this short and sweet; I know we’re all busy with the end-of-year activities that pile up this time of year. (Though if you’d got a minute, please come and post about what’s going on at your school!)
Credit where credit is due: Kindergarten placement letters are out! And high school acceptances are on their way too (dual acceptance letters went out last week; the rest are supposed to go out this week.) If you’ve had positive or negative experiences with the placement process, or have tips for other families – please come share them on the forum.
Remember! We’re on Twitter: @cityparents
From our latest posts on the forum:
On teacher gift ideas …
This year both children are making note cards for their teachers. I got a great deal on Vista Print on personalized note cards and then we took their thumbs and ink pads and made caterpillars.
I am planning on a gift card of some sort to go with it.
I am making “movie” packages for the teacher’s aides. Some candy, some popcorn and a blockbuster (or such - I wonder if I can get Red Box gift cards?) and 2 movie tickets. The bus drivers (only my daughter’s since my son is on the 4th driver of the year) got movie gift cards.
On mayoral control post-Duffy:
I think that real, open and public conversation about our district should have been held long ago. I am still not willing to give up what little voting voice I have, so I still am “against” mayoral control. What I would like is to see our district adopt all the policies that are working well in our neighboring suburban districts of Monroe County. I would like to vote on our school budget, as well as continue to vote on our school board. …I would like our school board to be a volunteer group, rather than take funds from our budget. If it works in the ‘burbs, it’s good enough for me.
On teacher evaluations (D&C op-ed by state education commissioner David Steiner):
Teacher quality is the most important school-based variable in student achievement. An effective teacher can be the difference between success and failure for even our neediest students. Yet our current teacher evaluation system makes it nearly impossible to accurately assess teacher performance or to reward effective teachers as well as provide professional development to those who need improvement.
A recent Columbia University study concluded that teacher evaluation systems using both objective data (including student test scores) and subjective data (observations by trained mentor teachers) can dramatically improve teacher quality. It may seem obvious that evaluations should consider how much students are learning, but that requires a 180 degree change in current practice and state law.
In most districts, teachers are observed twice a year by a principal or vice principal and rated either satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Such a system tells us nothing. That’s why recently I joined Chancellor Merryl Tisch and the leadership of teachers unions NYSUT and UFT to propose reforms to overhaul New York’s system for evaluating teachers. … Our plan establishes a comprehensive evaluation system for teachers and principals based on multiple measures including student achievement.
… Our plan bases 40 percent of the evaluation on student achievement. The remaining 60 percent would use criteria such as principal observations, peer observations and effective lesson planning.
… Fine teaching deserves more recognition and support; and at the same time, no child should be taught by an ineffective teacher.
On performance-based compensation for teachers (The Answer Sheet blog):
Education Secretary Arne Duncan and all of his acolytes who are rushing to implement performance-based compensation for teachers might want to take a close look at the preliminary results from a Chicago program with this focus that was initially started when Duncan ran the city school system.
… A study released today by Mathematica Policy Research Inc. shows no evidence that the Chicago Teacher Advancement Program improved student math and reading tests when compared with a group of similar schools that did not use the system, Education Week reported.
Chicago’s program is a version of the national Teacher Advancement Program, or TAP, which was first implemented in Chicago in 2007-08, when Duncan led the schools.
…Why is it, then, that education officials can recognize that reforms take a long time even though they are pushing states to undertake reforms right now that have no research base of success?
It would have been better for America’s schools if he had waited to find out what really will help kids do better in school before forcing changes that we have no reason to believe will work.
Plus … parent reps on school board committees, Cala’s regional school, free books for summer reading, free tennis lessons … and much more!
Question of the Week: Do you do end-of-the-year teacher gifts?
Do you give your child’s teachers gifts at the end of the year? If so, what kinds of things do you usually give? Share your best ideas! And teachers, we’d like to hear from you — what kind of gifts are your favorite?
Feel free to answer previous questions of the week, too!
And for all of you who read the forum but don’t post, there’s still time to answer our poll. Pretty pretty please? 
From our calendar:
Wednesday, June 9 – 5 p.m.
City Council hearing on RCSD budget
City Hall, Council chambers
City Cable 12 will broadcast the hearings live, while the city’s web site will provide live streaming of the event at http://www.cityofrochester.gov
Friday, June 11 - 10 a.m. (and on!)
Flower City Parents Coffee at Spot Cafe
Thursday, June 24
Last day of school.
Final Thoughts
Are you free during the morning? Did you miss the first Flower City Parents Night Out – or did you come and want more? Join us Friday for an informal drop-in coffee at Spot Cafe, 200 East Ave. If you’ve got younger kids, you can bring them along. If you can’t come at 10 - come at 11 - we’ll still be there! Hope to see you then …
Thanks - as always - for your support.
Sincerely,
The Flower City Parents Network