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WSCA Forum

This forum is devoted to intelligent discussion of educational issues in Wake County, focused on long-term strategies for achieving the goals we all share of providing an excellent education for all children, stable school assignments in a community model, and parental choice in those assignments. From time to time we will also comment (and welcome comment) regarding current events in our school system that have long-term ramifications.

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  • Please don’t copy and paste long articles from other sources. Include a web link when references are cited.
  • Moderators will monitor forum posts to ensure communications are respectful.

The Democratic Process

Submitted by joeciulla on Fri, 2010-03-05 22:19

Sometimes the process of Democracy in America is kind of like the process for making sausage – the ingredients come from many places (some of which we might not like to hear about), they are mixed, and if it is done right we get a great sausage at the end of the line.

Detrimental labeling

Submitted by redpath.sarah on Fri, 2010-03-05 23:11

The socioeconomic labeling of Wake County school students has had some undesirable effects. Perhaps most damaging is that when a child is labeled as socio-economically disadvantaged - let’s just call it poor, its shorter to type - they are further disadvantaged by WCPSS' "Effectiveness Index". I first started to learn about the Effectiveness Index when it was presented by Dr. Holdzkom at a CCCAAC meeting last spring. The Effectiveness Index is an equation created by the WCPSS Evaluation and Research Department that assigns projected scores those children are expected to achieve by the end of the next grade. The intent is to help teachers track students progress and to help WCPSS track the effectiveness of teachers. What I further learned about the Effectiveness Index through the SAS report which came to light in late summer 2009, is that in practice this equation handicaps poor students.

Concentric Circles

Submitted by kristen_stocking on Sat, 2010-03-06 08:58

Concentric Circles - single set

A trusted advisor suggested that we consider the parties involved in this "schools" discussion as concentric circles, which are simply defined as circles with a common center. I propose that we have far more in common than the media is trying to brainwash us into believing.

Why don't we choose to put up a hand and refuse the divisive trash that is being offered?

What Every Parent Should Know About Accountability in WCPSS and EVAAS

Submitted by Barbara on Sun, 2010-03-07 21:07

Parents are essential partners with teachers in education. Parents are their children's FIRST teacher, they know their child BETTER than anyone else and they are the MOST IMPORTANT advocate for their child. No one knows your child as well as you do. You should understand what information is available to the school system and how it can be used.