The WakeEd blog is devoted to discussing and answering questions about the major issues facing the Wake County school system. How much will the new Democratic majority on the school board do to undo the changes made by Republicans since 2009? Will the new student assignment plan be a hybrid of the last two models or primarily be a return to the use of busing for diversity? Who will replace Tony Tata as the new superintendent of the state's largest district? How will voters react to a likely request in 2013 to borrow potentially more than $1 billion to build and renovate schools?
WakeEd is maintained by The News & Observer's Wake schools reporter, T. Keung Hui. While Keung posts information and analysis on the issues, keep us posted on your suggestions, questions, tips and what you're doing to cope with the changes in Wake's schools.
We can now officially say that the Wake County school system won't have to require students to spend five more days in class this fall.
Wake was among the 77 waiver requests for the 2011-12 school year approved this week by State Schools Superintendent June Atkinson. The school districts said that in lieu of requiring students to spend five more days in school they'd use the time to train teachers on the new core curriculum standards.
Comments
My informed opinion:
Sun, 07/10/2011 - 13:48 — louiselee44The extra five-day action was a political move. No, I won't expound on that (for one thing, it would take too much time - it's not just cut and dried), but some General Assembly members weren't let in on that little "secret". This has been brewing forever.
No rhyme nor reason...
Sun, 07/10/2011 - 13:41 — louiselee44The NC State Board of Education (all governor appointees) gives the thumbs up/down for all calendar-related waiver requests (by law, that includes educational-purpose and weather-related requests) unless there's a new law passed for special circumstances.
Just curious, why did this one go through June Atkinson?
I'm curious, Paula
Fri, 07/08/2011 - 21:35 — ApexterI'm curious, Paula. Have you ever taken a good look at the year-round school calendar? Where would you slide in an extra 5 academic days per year, per track within the existing confines of that calendar?
This extra 5 days plan was a well-intentioned, poorly thought out unfunded mandate given without adequate consideration of the practical impediments to implementation that exist in the year round calendar. When state and local budgets have already been cut to the bone, the legislature had no business adding yet another unfunded mandate announced just a mere few weeks before the year-round school year began.
Complex issue...
Sun, 07/10/2011 - 09:21 — paulastamYear-round schedule, as you appropriately point out, does indeed make it difficult...
Paula, "Independent, Fair & Speaking Up for MY Kids."
Was never going to happen
Fri, 07/08/2011 - 22:16 — FSandYOUYou're correct.
They didn't think about the 1,000's who were forced into that ridiculous year round calendar. Ahh yes, all that miserable growth we were told was to blame. We just had to convert schools to 4 tracks so we could operate 2 or 3 of them and pay for a bunch of empty seats otherwise. Sure, just stick those extra days on Saturdays and run some Disney movies and tell them it's PJ day. That should make it fun for the 50% that show up. Or maybe those 5 days could happen on Sunday. No one goes to church in Wake County right? Except those who want to bash the board over at KD Lang or Billy's bashing churches.
Yeah, that 5 days was never going to see the light of day and going forward my bet is it never will.
Now back to sorting the underwear.
Thanks Keung!
Fri, 07/08/2011 - 18:52 — paulastamI just want to take a moment to thank Keung and the N&O for allowing WCPSS parents, students, community members and the wider internet community to have the opportunity to share their views, via this online forum, about the changes taking place with public education in the Triangle and beyond. As the GOP's beloved General (Tata) states, we're a "passionate" community.
Paula, "Independent, Fair & Speaking Up for MY Kids."
Need to increase instructional day...
Fri, 07/08/2011 - 18:38 — paulastamIt's a pity that General Tata sought a waiver from DPI so that we could not have 5 more instructional days for our children...the few charter schools that are successful (aside from those that block minority and poor student access by not having to provide a lunch or transportation) one of the key characteristics is they have longer instructional days...more time for learning and to implement a balanced curriclum. YES, this would have meant $500,000 more in (bus transportation, etc) expenses for WCPSS but Tata could have sent his high priced new personal clerical assistant back to DC and discontinue his creation of 3 NEW high priced ($130,000 plus a year) senior central office positions (ironically while he cuts lowly paid clerical assistants positions and reduces teacher assistant pay by 7% - go figure - this guy has his priorities all wrong) to fund the 5 days. The 5 day change may be one of the few positives to come out of our new GOP led General Assembly to date. Oh and my latte is 4 cents cheaper every morning since they decreased the state sales tax...truthfully though I would have prefered that my school kept their media assistant and receptionist over my slightly cheaper coffee each day....
Paula, "Independent, Fair & Speaking Up for MY Kids."
So...
Fri, 07/08/2011 - 23:40 — Bob_SconceFirst of all, a $4 coffee every day? Oy! That's $1400/yr on coffee. Are you also lunching with the Campbells at the Club?
An extra 5 days a year is probably a good idea, at least in theory. In practice, though, the mandate came too late -- school starts Monday. The only realistic way to get it in without serious upheaval would have been to add Saturday on a few Saturdays during the year. And there are things that GA could have done to squeeze more education out of the existing 180 days. Moving EOGs later in the year and dropping re-tests would eliminate the 3 weeks of dead time after EOGs are finished -- that's a great way to get 15 extra days. And dropping the requirement for 3 years of middle school health (overkill from do-gooders in the State Board) would free up time to learn more important things.
You're a distraction at best...
Sun, 07/10/2011 - 09:20 — paulastam"Bob",
So this is about the price of a latte now?!
Paula, "Independent, Fair & Speaking Up for MY Kids."
At best?
Mon, 07/11/2011 - 17:40 — Bob_SconceSo, you read the 2-line throw-away, ignore the substantive paragraph after it, then presume that I was posting for the purpose of criticizing your coffee habits?
Thanks for being a "distraction" Bob
Mon, 07/11/2011 - 09:01 — FSandYOUBob is almost always right on the mark and has been sharing his wisdom here for years.
FS, "Fair, Tired of the Bull and Speaking Up for the Clueless."
Sales Tax Cut
Fri, 07/08/2011 - 23:06 — PrivateSchoolDadIf you are so interested in helping increase state tax revenues, I think there is a line on the income tax return where you can give the state more than the required amount owed. How many people that complain about the revenue cuts and state they would rather pay the extra 1 cent sales tax than have the education budget cut actually give that amount freely to the state? My bet is very few if any! All talk and no action! Or if you would rather help WCPSS I think you can donate money to them either directly or through the PTA system to help. Take the equivalent of that 1 cent sales tax over the year and donate it!
5 days
Fri, 07/08/2011 - 20:59 — nriemannThe five days in this case are an opportunity for a legislature that is starving education to pretend it is improving it. It is an unfunded mandate whereby teachers would give up five workdays to make the five instructional days. More contact hours are important, but I don't think any credible scholar would say this small increase would have produced a detectable difference in outcomes, particularly when it comes at the expense of professional development and planning time, which effective teachers use to become more so. I think he made the right call.