Eryka's Summary

I have launched a new fan page on facebook for this site called "Parents for Educational Reform" to take this road up to the state and federal level. I know our struggles here in PBC are not going to bring us much fruit without also working in the State and Federal levels on things like FCAT and NCLB.

Click HERE to join.

I'm sorry but I don't buy it. Today, Dr. J announced that he was returning the choice of following the new "program" or not to the principals... well I'm sorry but I just don't buy it for the following reasons: We have shown and proven the program to be flawed... including but not limited to faulty exams, poorly written lessons that are innappropriate, lack of consistency or themes in learning, pace and sequence issues, and more... Many principals are on 1 year contracts... they will not risk their jobs by going against the Superintendent. This makes for an unfair deck stacked against the schools... if you stay the course and you do poorly on AYP, it's the new program... if you don't and do poorly because you lost the first 12 weeks... who would take that risk except for the very few brave ... I'm not done, and I do not find this to be an adequate solution. You will see no lull from me.

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So tomorrow is the big day. So much has been happening. There have been attempts to get our rally to die down. We are going to quiet and loose steam they said. Dr. Johnson claimed in his interview with the Post that we just didn't fully understand the changes... and blamed much of it on the state and federal regulations. He gave us the choice of Happy Morons or stressed out children...

Meanwhile we've been writing our speeches, gathering our facts, and speaking to educational lawyers. Then this week they released yet another false modification to the gifted program. They allow for compacted curriculum... great! Use mini assessments of about 5 questions from the state to access skills... also good... one major hitch: NO MORE ACCELERATION PAST GRADE LEVEL! That means this year... thy can go as fast as the kids will learn through the benchmarks for their grade level (which should be pretty fast considering these kids who were in gifted last year were working one grade level or more ahead.) and then work on enrichment and labs... but they are not allowed to continue to the next grade level of benchmarks. This change actually makes this situation even worse than before! I hope you gifted Mom's are fired up, because I am livid! My eldest is in gifted, reading in the 500-600 lexile range... approx 2 grade levels ahead... so now what?

If you are a mom who has direct proof in writing that your IEP or EP is in violation, please email me... I am working with legal sources. If you are a teacher willing to share directives... email me too please.

Hey School Board... we in Orange are running against those of you who will not hear our complaints or offer us help. You listen to those teachers and principals that are hand picked to speak to you, but have you gone into your schools directly and asked for yourself? Please don't get me wrong, if you have I would love to hear your thoughts. I have written at least a dozen letters to the board and not once received anything but an automated response. Is it because I run this site you don't answer me? Maybe I should run?

There was an article in the paper that addresses a valid point, if not conveyed as well as some would have liked... that yes there are state and national mandates at work here. Mind you that's not the only issue because on top of faulty state and federal regulations the locals have really done a terrible job of interpretation. Point is... this is the first of many fights and I hope you will stay along for the ride... all the way to Washington to fight for the dismanteling of No Child Left Behind. (Or at least intense revision of it.)

See you tomorrow!

Sorry I have been away... back catching up and updating all day today. Meanwhile here's a thought from my trip about frameworks:

“Economy Education”

Recently I took a short vacation to NY using an economy airline and the comparison to our current curriculum issue dawned on me. You see... though I won't name any company names, the airline I took was an “Economy Airline” boasting lowest priced no frills flights that basically “get you there.” If you want any “frills” you have to pay for them. I think Frameworks is “Economy Education.” Let's look at the two and compare.

Frameworks is supposed to be sufficient education for children of all learning levels. There is supposed to be means of modifying the current benchmark or enhancing it to suit the needs of the individual student by way of enrichment or individual attention. Economy Airline seats are supposed to be able to accommodate everyone as well. The seats are able to lean back or sit upright, and the headrests can fold inwards as well as lift higher or lower for comfort. Also the seat-belts can be made tighter or looser. Both may seem okay on the surface right?

But on the flight recently I was sitting next to a very tall man... about 6'4” at least. Sitting as upright as he could his knees were hard pressed against the seat in front of him. Leaning the seat back did little to accommodate his need for space. He folded two magazines against the chair to help ease the pain of his knees against the seat for the two hour flight. Trying to help, I asked the flight attendant if he could move up to the bigger comfy seats that had more room since the flight wasn't sold out. She told me in order for him to move he would have to pay the additional money for that seat, regardless of money he paid the airlines for a seat unable to accommodate him. I imagine his is not the first story of that nature, as some are wider than the seats, some taller, some smaller so they cannot reach the headrest even at it's slight modification to a lower position.

With Frameworks, special needs children and ESOL children will be given some “modification” to a slower pace, but not enough for the benchmarks to reach them. The teacher can to a degree expand the curriculum for the gifted children, but given the overall constraints or “seats” that each benchmark has been given, some students will not have the room to grow that they need. Our children come in so many shapes, and sizes, and abilities that no matter how you can slightly modify a chair... one chair simply can't accommodate all of them. If you want them to have more room to grow, or more modification to keep up... you had better be willing to open your wallet for the big comfy chair in private school or your local tutors office. Otherwise what your taxes paid for, and what our kids are getting... is the basic no frills “get you there” Economy Education.

My update is short because there is a lot going on in the background right now... and I can't share just yet. All I can say is we're still here... still fighting... we're not giving up on the children, teachers, or tax payers in Palm Beach County.

I keep saying that this program is not 100% bad. It is poorly implemented, and it's too much too fast. Then I get letters and hear stories than I literally cry when I hear and read...

Look at the letters page today and you will read a letter from a teacher in Elementary school... talking about children in 4th grade wetting their pants during the day at school. Children who haven't had accidents since pre-school. One child who's mom couldn't afford to leave work to bring her son clothing so the child staying in urine stained clothing for the day. Imagine the emotional state that child must have been in for the day... already stressed about the pace and tests, and then walking around in dirty clothing. What's really awful is this isn't an isolated incident. I have gotten countless repeats of this at many schools, even middle school. Here's my first thing, as I am all about making sure to take care of the kids NOW while we worry about how to fix the future:

THERE ARE NEARLY 200 SCHOOLS IN PBC. I NEED SETS OF A BOY OUTFIT UNDERWEAR AND ALL AND A GIRL OUTFIT UNDERWEAR AND ALL IN SIZES 4T - 12 YOUTH TO BRING TO THE SCHOOL - DONATED AND CLEAN OR NEW IF YOU CAN. I AM GOING TO MAKE SURE EVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS ONE SET OF EACH PER SIZE/SEX SO NO CHILD EVER HAS TO WALK THROUGH SCHOOL IN DIRTY CLOTHING AGAIN.

It's not just the accidents at home either. There are children wetting the bed at night as old as 10 years old. There are children forcing themselves to vomit on test days not to go in... particularly in those schools where the issue of grades on the tests being counted exists. There are countless tummy aches, headaches, tantrums, nightmares, and so much more. These kids are not doing well.

While we work on the schools - and I mean you reading this too (we need your support writing letter's under BE HEARD to the school board, the FLDOE, and the Federal Ed Dept. - and we need you there on October 21st at the Fulton Holland Building on Forest Hill.) - please work with your kids at home on the stress. Do relaxing things with them... make them laugh cause they need it... explain to them that you love and care about them no matter what grades they get on their tests, and that you're proud of them. They need these things DAILY, if not more.

Every morning on the drive to school I tell mine... concentrate on your work because learning is important... but remember mommy loves you and as long as you're trying your best I will always be proud of you and support you! Then with my oldest we have special reminders... "Small and neat and finger spaced and concentrate... and LAUGH when you're done!" She's in first and her handwriting is that of one of her potential future jobs... a doctor, lol. Then when she gets home I ask her how many times she laughed that day. It's our little thing. Point is... have little things with yours, despite the stress and to offset the stress.

I wanted to note some things as I come from a different state and went to school elsewhere. Some of the changes and things here in FL are very different but some are the same:

In NY - children have an opportunity to take the SATs in 7th grade. It's about exposing them to the test and style and it's treated completely differently than here. There was no stress involved, and reward for doing so. If you scored above a 700 or 800 (I don't recall - but this was when the total possible score was a 1600) you got to go to a special summer sleep-away camp for 3 weeks on campus as special colleges that participated. It was called CTY or Center for Talented Youth and there were scholarships for people to attend who couldn't afford to go. While you were there, you got to take a college level course that counted towards college credit, join clubs, get music lessons, and meet kids your age from all over the country. I know it's new here... but many states already allow the younger kids to give it a shot.

NY also has achievement tests similar to the FCAT called Regents Exams. When I was in school you had 3 levels of study:

Academic - which was the normal average level. You graduated with a regular diploma
Regents - which was slightly more challenging and would take the Regents exams and got a special regents diploma.
Honors - this was the equivalent of gifted here - you took the regents as well, and got a regents diploma.

You didn't have to have all your classes in one level as each student has stronger and weaker subjects. This started from Middle school up. (Regents in HS and some in Jr High if you were advanced.) The major thing I see right away that is different in NY vs. here is the FCATs are very broad. Science is all science, math is all math, and so on. In NY there was a regents exam for the specific subject. Chemistry had a regents exam for Chemistry, Bio for Bio, Math Sequence 1 took the regents for the same. Obviously there were requirements to get the regents diploma... you need 3 science exams passed, 3 math exams, and so on... The point is it left room for specialization. Look, I got decent grades, and I did alright, but I couldn't pass a Chemistry exam to save my life. It just didn't click. I soared in math, and physics, but Chemistry was just not compatible with my brain. Kids are like that... they specialize in some subjects and struggle with others. Of course I had to take chemistry and pass a final, but the regents wasn't a possibility.

The point is that there was an understanding that children are by nature DIFFERENT. They learn different, test different, and excel in different things. We don't need "Jacks of all trades and masters of none." Those who have excelled in their fields have earned the title of genius.... have invented some of the most important staples of society... and have contributed in uncountable ways to this planet's future. Einstein had to work a lot harder on his language arts skills, though math and science were obvious strengths. Even famous and highly accredited Neurosurgeon Dr. Benjamin Carson had a difficult start in school and became renowned for his work as a pediatric neurosurgeon. the grades aren't everything... and the test certainly don't gauge intelligence or capability of achievement.

It is true that the curriculum here in FL is different and in some cases behind those of other states. FL is as a state whole number 29 among the ranking of smartest states in the country. Children aren't learning things like cursive or creative writing, and many aren't getting music or other fine arts that can help so much with math and other subjects. We're in the bottom half of the nation. Palm Beach County still has many schools ranking top in the country like Suncoast Community High school ranked number 3 public high school in the nation for 2008! I wonder if these changes will affect those national and local rankings?

We need to be reaching those students that are having the most trouble, without affecting those children who were doing fine, or even excelling. Anyway, as usual... my 4 cents... not as short as I thought.

Sorry I haven't updated daily but let's see if I can catch up... There has been a lot of press, but it is slowing down so we need to really get the our letters flowing and keep things out there. Check the PB news page by clicking here to see it. There are still 18 days left until the school board meeting rally.


There was another group of school teachers and principals that came out publicly for the program, but many are of the impression they are being told what to say. I am not sure because I do get some emails and feedback through the site that is positive, and not all are anonymous. More on this to come...


There is a poll running on WPBF that is over 1100 against the programs. Go and vote please!


Interim reports have gone out and there are a lot of parents and students upset because the grades have not been good. Some schools and teachers have been counting the EA grades towards the students overall grades. Of course the main issue is making the policy more clear because Mr. Hernandez says it should never be counted and Dr. Johnson says it's up to the principals. Some teachers are saying they have to use them as grades because they have no time for other assignments to use and they need 2 assignments per week for grading. I think this is a multi-leveled issue. As a parent, I would rather my kid get another piece of HW counted towards their grade than flawed tests. I would rather the principals have said to their teachers not to count these tests. I would rather there was a clear unified answer from Dr. J and Mr. H stating not to use these as grades.


I want more information from you teachers out there reading. I have been given some schedules of the breakdown of the day, as well as some other information. While it is true some of this is mandated by the state, i.e. structured PE is a state law, not a local one. (I have a link for that here-updated link-ty!), I want a better understanding of specific gripes. I want to know, I think we as parents all want to know how many tests we're talking about each week, specifically per grade level. There have been 7 weeks. Can someone provide that? The next question is how many are new or additional since last year? The reason I ask is because now we are seeing on the FB page teachers stating that last year these embedded assessments were called common assessments. So what changed? Is it more often? I know the time frame changed, but is that it?

The information I have so far is there are many schools that have been using these tests before - meaning it was in fact tested. I am guessing not on a grand scale, and there are still flaws, but what seems new is all schools using them instead of some. I still need data for how it has worked. (Success rate and so on...)


I believe strongly in fighting for our children and our teachers, and I will not falter there … but the time has come to get the information directly from the source so I am fighting a clear fight, instead of rumors and partial stories. I had a phone conversation with Mr. Hernandez for one and a half hours today, and I plan on having a lot more of them. I realize that I will be chastised for this, and just mentioning there is hope for dialogue got me some colorful hate mail... but what can we hope to accomplish without having a dialogue? I'm sorry but an open forum of 40+ angry people talking to one very defensive person is not going to work. There have been not nice things said on both sides that are personal and non constructive, and that needs to stop.


What I have asked for from Mr. Hernandez, and I will be asking for again is to sit down and document on one place the current policies and the way this system is supposed to work. NO misconceptions, NO misinterpretations, and NO saying one thing and doing another as is the fear of many people I have spoken to about my conversation with him. My thought is this. We have a guide, we post the guide very publicly, and then we can all either praise or bash the specific issues within the guide directly.


I also want to point out something that was sent to me... there are people who made this curriculum that has flaws... and those people are not Mr. Hernandez, though he is their boss. We need to hold those people accountable as well and understand what their process was too. I want to know who they are, what their credentials are, and how much experience they have working on something like this.


Good things I have heard:

The EA tests are not to be counted and already some principals have sent letters to parents saying they no longer will be.



Testing in AP classes and frameworks in AP classes and IB classes have been virtually removed or dramatically reduced.



All principals and teachers are required to get gifted certifications within the next 2 years to help teach and identify gifted children, and classes are beginning this week.



There are things being fixed and corrected daily, including the embedded assessments. Should have been better prepared before launch but at least it is being fixed as we speak. I would like to see them either stopped or lessened in frequency but we'll see what we can push for.





Asking for everything to stop in it's tracks isn't going to happen. Realistically if we say no more Mr. Hernandez, and no more Dr. Johnson then what's next? They replace them and then what? Who steps in. How long will it take for them to get into what's happening before making suggestions to fix it? How long will it take for rolling out the fixes. If they stop the program right now immediately what happens to our kids and their school year?

The program is severely flawed. We all know this, Mr. Hernandez included. Let's start coming up with realistic solutions and specific issues instead of the broad approach we've got going. If you don't like what I have said I welcome you to email me, or even call me at 561-543-7627 and tell me how you feel. I'm not hiding anywhere and I am not afraid to tell it like it is. We're only going to fix this if we can see the big picture, and both sides to make our opinions educated, and well founded... and if all we have are opinions then we'll never get anything accomplished that we need to. Let's get to the bottom of this from all angles, and see where it leads us and how we can receive our children home from school happy and educated.

Someone asked me via FB how I see getting this to a win win situation... here was my reply:



Eryka Amber Lefrak October 3 at 7:14pm

I think we hold him 100% publicly accountable for how this program is "supposed" to work by asking him to specifically document it. In one place, very clearly, and published in the media and on the sites.

I think we have to back away from personally attacking him or Dr. J because that only takes away from our focus and our goals.

I think we have to take what little successes we get along the road otherwise we get no successes until 11/2010 when there are elections.

I also think, as some teachers and people are posting, that not everything about this program is bad, and the testing is not the main issue. For me the main goal or issue is the frameworks pacing. I don't want gifted kids going slow or less abled kids falling behind.

Making a faster pace for the schools and including more content is not a bad thing as we are only ranked 27 in the country for schools in FL. How we do so though is critical, and he is admitting there are big errors and issues with how this program got launched. (Which in itself I think is showing a start of actual progress from all we are doing)

I don't know, I guess I am now traitor #1 for actually saying something civil about the man, but I think if we can find common ground we can help.

I know realistically asking for the testing to stop, and everything else to be halted would not be feasible and it would actually harm the kids more than help them as their would be major confusion. I have to publish the schedules I have gotten from teachers because it is less stringent than the group mentality is led to believe.

Here is what I would like to see happen, and I think CAN happen:

- Less embedded assessments... maybe every 6 weeks instead of every 3.
- A public clear policy from both Johnson and Hernandez that it is FORBIDDEN to use the EAs as grades. (This is coming soon already)
- Clarifying the use of frameworks, and the loosening of the time frames to complete things...
- The reduction if not elimination of the inspections. Perhaps a one person auditor that sits in the classes from time to time instead which is common in other states.
- Removing of departmentalization from the K-2 grades.... thing is this was not mandated, it was optional - so I don't know why principals opted to do this and I was to understand what happen there.


Anyway.. that's my two cents... or maybe 4, lol

I added a bunch more teacher thoughts to the letters page. Take some time to read through them when you get a moment. Their words are heartbreaking, motivating, and inspiring all at the same time! Are you a teacher looking to speak out anonymously? Click HERE to get your words on the letters page! I update it daily.

On the PBC School District news page you can find links to all of the news stories related to our issue in the various media outlets. Here is a summary of what's there today(There is more... I can't keep up, but I'll do my best!):

WPBF

http://www.wpbf.com/education/21142964/detail.html

http://www.wpbf.com/video/21157719/index.html

http://www.wpbf.com/education/21152371/detail.html

http://www.wpbf.com/video/21157562/index.html

WPTV

http://www.wptv.com/content/news/southpbc/bocaraton/story/Jeffrey-hernandez-curriculum-complaints-wptv-palm/Rn5DDL6tIkiuasFoLvG3eA.cspx

http://www.wptv.com/content/news/topstories/story/Hernandez-set-to-visit-local-high-school/DNRgFxt__k6xrPgOjPv4vQ.cspx DayPortPlayer.newPlayer({articleID:"15030",bannerAdObjectID:"5",videoAdObjectID:"4",videoAdConDefID:"2",playerInstanceID:"24FAD9E0-DC70-2532-414F-7E6F051C4C2F",domain:"wptv.dayport.com",rootCategory:"null",categoryID:"3",accPos:"CCTVI.NEWS.SOUTHPBC",accSite:"WPTV"});

Misc

http://www.huffingtonpost.com%252Fgerald-bracey%252Fthe-mounting-collateral-d_b_101546.html&h=fb8f2377cb7a34f5e9c42a788288cd72&ref=mf

Spanish River HS

All Sun Sentinel Articles on the issue

Yesterday, if you didn't already know, there were a lot of big happenings surrounding our school curriculum issues. WPBF featured this site, and came out to speak with me about our specific complaints and desires in the school system. Though it was only a short interview, I think it was great to hear some of our main points get aired. Mr. Hernandez is stating a lot recently about the staple testing is in any curriculum to gauge students. I wonder if the Statement "Testing is not Teaching" is not clear enough to convey what our true issues are. I would love it if through the Anonymous teacher posts you teachers out there reading would send me a message with your subject, grade, and how many tests you have given your students including the assessments this year... along with whether or not your principal is having you count the EA's towards the grades. I want to make a chart to show the load of tests graphically... to really explain the issue more clearly.

Also, this is more than just testing... frameworks and early education departmentalization are major issues as well... let's not lose sight of that in our journey! Read more here.

I also had the pleasure of being on 850 AM WFTL with Joyce Kaufman during her hour on educational issues. Dr. Johnson joined me on air for a short but open discussion about the issues as well as gave me a promise of more discussion to come. If you have any specific questions... please send them in through the suggestions form. I would ask that you please be very specific and precise and include a link to any documentation you have because I may only get one chance to sit with him and I want to make sure something is accomplished from the meeting.

AP classes are only asked to take the embedded assessments 2x a year instead of the every 3 weeks for other students... possibly not at all... more on this coming as I get the details... it's a small concession but it counts!

A very noble teacher from Cholee Lake Elementary School went on air with WPBF 25 today about his frustration with the new system. As soon as the video is posted I will get it up! Any other teachers will to speak? Let me know! 561-543-7627

I heard through the grapevine that there was a gifted education meeting today with some of the teachers and principals.... I wonder what happened. I will try and get an in... but if you were there and you know... please call me or email anonymous and share!

Of course the biggest news was the Rally at Spanish River HS, Dr. Johnson's old school. Parents and teachers met for an open discussion with Mr. Hernandez about the changes. There were some very articulate points made by parents, students, and School Board member Mr. Barbieri. There were a lot of supportive parents and students outside in Orange (around 100 if I had to estimate...) but I really want to see more people at the October 21st board meeting! Teachers please - wear a mask, wear a wig, I don't care... just come... and bring some parents from your class with you in orange! We can only do so much, but if they don't see us there in larger groups we won't make enough of a dent.

That being said... the main focus here, that I think is critical for us to convey, IS NOT Mr. Hernandez personally. It IS NOT Dr. Johnson personally. It IS NOT each on of our district school board members personally. IT IS our children's educational career. IT IS our children's future. IT IS our future. There are a lot of players that hastily launched this curriculum. What we need is less pride, less anger, and more focus on how to fix this debacle before it make a greater impact on the kids. The general consensus is if Dr. Johnson and Mr. Hernandez won't or can't help us then we need the school board to get someone who will... but I will personally step one step back from that. I would like to ask our school board members that we have elected to monitor our school district to please come walk the halls of your schools personally... speak to the teachers One on One at random, and then let us know what you find on your own. Maybe if you as our elected officials get a specific perspective of your choosing in your schools... instead of a hand picked perspective, and you openly share your findings with us as well as with Mr. Hernandez and Dr. Johnson, we can all gain some perspective and find a way to resolve this together.

When I was on air another Mom called in (who I have to ask if it's okay to say her name :)) and said I was on point but sugar coating the issue. The fact of the matter in my humble opinion is that I am not behind school board doors... I was not there when this was planned... and what I need is the information and data... and some real answers to help me understand our current course. While I have hundreds to thousands of letters, emails and phone calls from teachers and parents and students... and I have been in the school and the classroom... I understand when someone has an idea or vision they can creep too far off of their scope. With no change management there is no control, and suddenly the best laid plans and intentions can be destroyed.

I think there were merit worthy ideas in this plan that was launched... but the launch itself has been a failure... I only hope it's not too late to fix what damage has already been inflicted without creating more chaos and losing more precious class time for our children.

With that I say goodnight! It's about midnight and probably the earliest I have gone to bed in over a month! More tomorrow!