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News & Commentary
Common Good's EdWatch is a collection of news and commentary illustrating how laws, rules, and regulations are affecting public education.
CG in the News is your source for news on Common Good and our efforts to reform bureaucracy in public education.
Recent articles from each section appear below.
EdWatch Students Who Turn Violent Are Core of Issaquah Labor Dispute
Lynn Thompson, Seattle Times, April 19, 2008
In 2006, a 13-year-old autistic boy in Seattle assaulted his teacher and two assistant teachers. This story is now the heart of a dispute between “educational assistants, who want to retain contract language that lets them opt out of working with students whose behavior poses a safety threat, and the district, which argues that aides and teachers can't choose whom they'll work with.” Chris Svensson, an educational assistant in Issaquah said, “We're seeing more students with serious behavioral issues. The numbers just keep going up." Though few autistic children are overly violent or aggressive, “they and other children with behavior disorders present a serious challenge for the schools that must educate them.” Jill Nichols-Hicks, one of the assaulted aides is herself a mother of two autistic children and she openly admits that, for the small number of autistic students who behave dangerously, "We need help." » article
Discipline Data Report Shows Rise in Disorderly Conduct in Schools
Jennifer Von Reuter, Your4State.com, April 15, 2008
Washington County Public Schools recently released discipline data, revealing a rise in disorderly conduct in elementary, middle and high schools. Office referrals have increased dramatically for incidents involving “classroom disruptions, tardiness, and refusal to obey the school,” and in middle schools, referrals for being disrespectful “almost tripled.” Not surprisingly, a higher level of tolerance for minor incidents of misbehavior has led to more suspensions in those categories, while “suspensions for fighting and physical attacks dropped.” » article
DPS Board Reviews New Incentive Plan
Nancy Mitchell, Rocky Mountain News, April 15, 2008
In an effort to grant autonomy to principals in
Denver public schools, the school board is reviewing a new incentive system that would “reward schools performing well with more freedom in budgeting, hiring and instructional choice.” Brad Jupp, DPS senior academic policy adviser, said, “As schools begin to improve, we want to be able to release them.” This new system, along with others in the new “School Performance Framework” will be offered to schools based on whether or not students progress on their exams. Schools who perform below par will endure more regulations, not less. The ultimate goal, however, is for “schools [to] set their own goals and work with DPS leaders to vary implementation of district curriculum.” » article
CG in the news Common Good Colorado Supports Education Bill
Todd Engdahl, Education News Colorado, April 3, 2008
Common Good Colorado testified before the Colorado House Education Committee in favor of the "Innovations Schools" bill.
Ed. Schools Beef Up Classroom Management Training
Vaishali Honawar, Education Week, December 11, 2007
Common Good Director of Education Policy Dina Hasiotis comments on teachers' concerns about school discipline.
Schools Increasingly Sending Discipline Issues to Court
Yvonne Wenger, The Post and Courier (SC), November 11, 2007
The Post and Courier examines why school discipline matters -- not crimimal ones -- are increasingly reported to authorities and tried in courts. The article quotes Common Good Director of Education Policy Dina Hasiotis.
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