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Our guest speaker last week was Jordan Posamentier, Deputy Policy Director with the Center for Reinventing Public Education, a research and policy analysis center at the University of Washington Bothell developing systemwide solutions for K-12 public education.
It starts with High Schools with Character, school redesign and system redesign. The system level challenges look at chronically under performing schools, persistent learning gaps, declining enrollment/increased competition along with shifting demographics, talent loss/turnover and a history of failed "silver bullets."
According to Jordan, we need a theory of action, a strategy, responsive to these issues. Something that builds continuous improvement, resilience, and sustainability into our education systems. They include; 1). Good options and choices for all families; 2). School Autonomy; 3) Pupil-based funding; 4). talent-seeking strategy; 5) sources of support for schools; 6), Performance-based accountability in schools; and 7) extensive public engagement. All seven are interrelated components.
These portfolio has worked in Denver, CO; Jefferson Parish, LA; Spring Branch, TX; and New York City. The Lake Stevens School District is doing well with -very high graduation rates - relatively strong scores in English and Math over the years - low absenteeism - relatively strong teacher workforce and high demand for entry. Jordan questioned whether Lake Stevens School District is nimble? Such items as Trouble responding to demand=overcrowding=ban on inter-district transfers.
This was a very thought provoking presentation that will be very interesting to watch and follow up with another presentation in the next couple of years.
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