Innovative schools in WA State
Forwarded to me by DAvid Spring, State Legislature candidate from LD-05
From Dora Taylor, Parents Across America
One of the many false claims of charter school proponents us that there are no innovative public schools. In fact, there are innovative public schools in nearly every school district. The only requirements to have an innovative school in your district are that the program be approved by your local elected public school board and that the program complies with State laws.
In Tacoma there is the School of the Arts (SOTA), Science and Math Institute (SAMI) and Lincoln Center, an extended day program. All are high schools. SOTA has been in operation the longest and is one of the top scorers in standardized tests. These schools serve a diverse population both in ethnicity as well as socio-economics.
Aviation High School in Highline
The following are examples of innovative schools in Seattle:
Nova High School: Project based and student oriented meaning that the students along with the staff and principal take part in the decision making process from who will teach at the school to how the school budget will be used. Nova was established about 30 years ago and STEM collaborated with Nova on developing STEM's project based learning approach. Nova students have scored highest on the SAT in the city in the last two years in language arts.
STEM-opened last year and their focus is on Science, Math and Technology.
TOPS Elementary-great elementary school, I call it a progressive alternative school. Established about 20-30 years ago
Salmon Bay K-8- "option school", another student oriented progressive alternative school. There is a site based council made up of parents and staff that determine the course of the school. Same at TOP
Center School- A high school with a focus on the arts. Been around about 10-20 years.
APP-Advanced Placement Program, dispersed among various schools from Kindergarten through 12th grade.
International Baccalaureate (IB) program at Rainier Beach High School- will start in the fall.
International Baccalaureate program at Ingraham High School- not sure when established but has a great reputation. The principal was to be relocated last year but the parents fought fiercely to keep him on.
SBOC-Secondary Bilingual school-great program bringing in recent immigrants and providing them with an introduction to the American school system before placing them in the public school system. Been around about 10 years.
Pathfinder-student oriented elementary school- 10-20 years
South Shore Elementary-opened about two years ago. Considered an option school with special programs.
Thornton Creek elementary "alternative progressive" option school. About 10-20 years.
Montessori programs interspersed throughout Seattle and the IB program in Lakewood.
There are more. This list is off the top of my head. The option schools which are all of the schools above are open to any student in the city and transportation is provided. For more information on innovative public schools and the drawbacks of private charter schools, visit our websites:
Dora Taylor
Founding Editor: Seattle Education 2012
http://seattleducation2010.wordpress.com/
Founding Member: Parents Across America
http://parentsacrossamerica.org/
