Kate Simkowiak

Alerts

Important time critical information.

Message From the Washington Coalition For Gifted Education – April 21th

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Still no movement on the budget in Olympia. To summarize, maintenance level funding for FYs 2014 and 2015 has been calculated to be $19,083,000. The various proposals from the Governor and the Legislature hover around that number, with none being less than that amount. As soon as we hear anything substantive, we will let you know.

Meanwhile, our major goal of enactment of the revised Washington Administrative Code (WAC) for the Highly Capable Program has been accomplished and the new WACs approved and published. They are available here. These are the rules with which your local district must comply in implementing Highly Capable as part of Basic Education.

If you are interested in how OSPI will interpret and enforce the new WAC, there are two webinars you can participate in. I’ve copied this from a forwarded email so if the links don’t work, go here to sign up.

Highly Capable Program and Basic Education WAC 392-170 Changes

Find out what you need to know about the changes to WAC 392-170—Special Service Program—Highly Capable Students—background information for why the changes were made, overview of new and repealed sections of the WAC, and details about amendments to specific sections which are consistent with the RCW 28A.185—Highly Capable Students, effective September 2011, which finds that for highly capable students, access to accelerated learning and enhanced instruction is access to a basic education.

Register for a session now by clicking a date below:

Wed, May 1, 2013 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM PDT

Wed, May 1, 2013 2:45 PM – 4:15 PM PDT

Once registered you will receive an email confirming your registration with information you need to join the Webinar.

Direct questions to Kristina Johnstone, Highly Capable Program Supervisor, at kristina.johnstone@k12.wa.us or (360) 725-4991.

This is an ACTION ALERT! – From The Washington Coalition For Gifted Education

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The Washington Coalition for Gifted Education represents all Highly Capable children in Washington. We are calling for an increase in funding to 5%, as recommended by the Quality Education Council, so that all districts can identify and support every Highly Capable child’s strengths.

Some background information:

All the proposals for the final supplemental budget for FYs 2012 and 2013 (the current biennium) call for $ 17,904,000 for HCP.

The Office of Financial Management has calculated that maintenance level funding for HCP for FYs 2014 and 2015 is $19,083,000.  This amount is what it will take to provide the same services in 2014 and 2015 as the $17.9 million did in 2012 and 2013.

Below compares budget proposals that will be considered in conference. All funding amounts are based on 2.314%. Funding is Section 511 of the proposal.

Gregoire: $19,268,000
Inslee: $19,277,000
Senate: $19,153,000
House: $19,236,000

These amounts are all barely maintenance level funding. This level of funding leaves 40% of districts, many small and rural, with no services or programs whatsoever.

Legislators have told us that they assume that the districts will use some of the $1 billion increase all budgets propose for basic education to cover the increased costs of the Highly Capable Program based on the revised WAC. The legislature cannot direct them to do so, so they have to “assume” it will happen. That is wishful thinking.

Contact your representatives and senator NOW and tell them you want the HCP supplemental funding increased to the 5% level.

The House budget will be on the floor for a vote within a few days so contact your Representatives as soon as possible. After that vote, the different bills will go to a conference committee so contact your Senator next.

Here’s how:  If you do not already know who they are, find your legislators here.

Next, call the Toll-Free Legislative Hotline, 8AM to 8PM at 1-800-562-6000 and leave this message for your State Legislators: “I want you to increase Highly Capable Education funding to 5%, the level recommended by the Quality Education Council.”

Follow up with short emails with the same message to your State Representatives and Senator. Email addresses use this format: Firstname.Lastname@leg.wa.gov or find them here.

This is an ACTION ALERT! – From The Washington Coalition For Gifted Education

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Dear Gifted Education Advocate,

We must convince legislators to increase funding for Highly Capable Education, and need your immediate action. Thank you in advance for your advocacy.

Please do the following TODAY or TOMORROW. Please have students leave messages as well!

1.    If you do not already know, find your legislators here.
2.    Call the Toll-Free Legislative Hotline, 8AM to 8PM at 1-800-562-6000 and leave this message for your State Representatives:

“I want you to tell Representative Hunter that it is time for Washington State to ensure equity for all students. I want you to increase Highly Capable Education funding to 5%, the level recommended by the Quality Education Council.”

3.    Call the Toll-Free Legislative Hotline, 8AM to 8PM at 1-800-562-6000 and leave this message for your State Senator:

“I want you to tell Senators Tom and Hill that it is time for Washington State to ensure equity for all students. I want you to increase Highly Capable Education funding to 5%, the level recommended by the Quality Education Council.”

4.    Follow up with short emails to your State Representatives and Senator. Email addresses use this format:  Firstname.Lastname@leg.wa.gov or find them at https://dlr.leg.wa.gov/MemberEmail/Default.aspx

5.    Send additional emails to Ross.Hunter@leg.wa.gov, Rodney.Tom@leg.wa.gov, and Andy.Hill@leg.wa.gov

You may wish to provide them with more information in your email. Feel free to add your personal experience, or use the information below.

With 5% funding the state’s Highly Capable Programs plan will:

  • Ensure equity for all students by supporting early identification, a continuum of services K-12, along with appropriate professional development.
  • Provide equitable screening that eliminates bias
  • Establish a deliberate, systematic effort to look at traditionally underserved populations.
  • Widen opportunity for young children (K-3) who show potential in comparison to their classmates, and to develop that potential to see where it may lead.
  • Provide programming appropriate to the student’s strength.

We are counting on you to take action immediately. There are tens of thousands of Highly Capable children in Washington state who need your help!

2012 Fall Fundraiser

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It’s that time of year that we ask you to consider donating to the Challenge Parents Association (CPA).  If you noticed our pledge forms in the Wednesday packets and have already donated, thank you!

We have heard that there has been some confusion (especially for new families to the Challenge program) as to what CPA does, how we differ from the PTA and where CPA’s funds come from.

To be clear, CPA’s primary goal is to support the needs of gifted students, their families and teachers in the Challenge Program at Terrace Park and the Highly Capable Program at Brier Terrace Middle School.

CPA does this through:

  1. Classroom Support – $300 stipend to each of the 16 Challenge and Highly Capable teachers to enhance teaching materials
  2. Curriculum Enrichment – provide grant support across all grades to enrich curriculum.
  3. Teacher Professional Development – provide support to send all Challenge and Highly Capable teachers to WAETAG (Washington Association of Educators of Talented and Gifted) Conference in October as well as other staff training with a focus on gifted learning.
  4. Gifted Education Advocacy – participate in Gifted Education Day (G.E.D.) in Olympia on March, 19, 2013
  5. Social Activities – Back-to-School Potluck, Family BINGO Night and Swim Parties

Terrace Park PTA serves the needs of the entire school (including Challenge students) and CPA is secondary to PTA. PTA Membership and support is crucial for every family at Terrace Park and every student benefits from it. Because the two organizations have different goals, it is important to note that CPA does its own fundraising, primarily through our Fall and Spring pledge drive. CPA only receives funds when families donate directly to CPA. CPA does not receive funds from the Terrace Park Annual Donation Drive.

Hopefully, that clears up some of the confusion.  If you still have questions, please email us at challengeparents@gmail.com.

If you would like to donate to the CPA and haven’t done so yet, please download the pledge form and return it to your child’s teacher by October 12th.

Thank you for your support!!

The CPA Board

Fall 2012 Pledge Form

UW Engineering Discovery Days

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Friday, April 20, 2012 — 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday, April 21, 2012 — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Engineering Discovery Days is free and open to everyone!

At Engineering Discovery Days, students and faculty from all UW engineering departments share their work with students, teachers, families and the community. Please join us for hands-on fun and learning.

We have reached capacity for school groups with vans or buses on Friday, April 20. Please encourage students and their families to visit us on Saturday. Thank you for your interest in Engineering Discovery Days.

Registration is still open for Saturday, April 21.

Please review our Tips for a Successful Visit to help make the most of your time on campus.

Vote for Your Favorite Student Exhibit
Alumni judges will decide who wins the “Just for the Fun of It,” The ‘Real’ World” and “Presentation of Society” awards. All visitors — YOU — can vote in the “People’s Choice” category. Please visit the student exhibits and vote for your favorite.

For more information on this event please click here.

Replacement Technology/Capital Levy

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Election Day — Tuesday, February 14, 2012

The Edmonds School District is holding an election Tuesday, February 14, 2012 to renew its Technology/Capital Levy.  The decision to put this measure on the ballot was reviewed extensively, and the levy will collect the same amount approved by voters in 2008, helping the District’s students keep pace with today’s learning needs. The Capital portion of the replacement levy will also address priority safety issues. Details about this four-year replacement measure are available at www.edmonds.wednet.edu/2012levy.

CPA’s 1st General Meeting – Oct. 6th, 2011

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Thursday, October 6th, 2011

6:30 pm – 7 pm CPA General Meeting

Highlights:
• Election of Michelle Toshima & Kristin Merrill as Board Members-at-Large
• CPA 2011/2012 Budget
• CPA 2011/2012 Calendar

7 pm – 8 pm CPA Round Table Discussion

Meet fellow parents and teachers in an informal round table discussion. Bring your questions about CPA, homework, social issues, transportation, etc.

Draft Text of Revised Bylaws–Vote on May 18th, 2011

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The link at the end of this post will open a pdf of the text of the revised bylaws for CPA. The following formatting protocols apply:

  • Text that looks like this: unchanged text from the current bylaws.

  • Text that looks like this: proposed additional text to the current bylaws.

  • Text that looks like this: proposed deleted text from the current bylaws.

Please plan to attend the vote on these revisions at 6:30 on Wednesday, May 18 in the Terrace Park Library. Only current CPA members (those who have a student currently attending the Challenge Program at Terrace Park Elementary) are eligible to vote on these bylaws.

If you have any questions prior to the meeting, please email your question or concern to the CPA board at challengeparents@gmail.com.

Thank you for your participation in CPA!

DRAFT CPA Revised Bylaws

NEXT STEPS: Local Legislators Hold Town Hall Meetings–Saturday, March 12th, 2011

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Washington State legislators from the 1st, 21st, and 32nd districts will be holding town hall meetings in their districts on Saturday, March 12th.  The Washington Coalition for Gifted Education’s lobbyist has strongly urged us to keep in close and continued contact with our representatives.  Please try to attend a meeting for your district.   If you attended Gifted Education Day in Olympia last month, this is a great opportunity to follow-up with your legislators. If you were not able to attend Gifted Education Day, please add your face and voice to the chorus to help our legislators understand the importance of continuing to fund gifted education programming in Washington, especially in this tough budget climate!  This could be a great chance to spend family time with other Challenge Program families and maybe stop off at the CPA Coffee Chat before or after and share your stories with others sharing your concerns.  Below are the meetings scheduled: