If you've been following the negotiations between the Seattle teachers union and the Seattle School Board over a new three-year contract, then you might be a bit confused, or totally clueless. Not to worry. The new contract, which the union voted in favor of yesterday evening, should make Seattle's teachers work a little bit harder, and we'll all be smarter for it (or Seattle's kids, at least). The new contract will implement a unique system to evaluate teacher performance and reward great teachers while flagging those who perform poorly. It's quite unprecedented actually. more ›

Shoreline Schools has just released what we think is their first-ever guide to their newest ursine drop-in student. Sounds like they're taking an anti-bullying stance: "This morning a jogger reported seeing a bear behind Kellogg/Shorecrest headed into the Hamlin Park woods. Yesterday afternoon it was reportedly seen near Parkwood in the Twin Ponds area. As reported on the news, this type of bear is not a threat to people unless cornered. Our students have been advised to stay away from the bear if sighted." more ›

For those in search of information on so many people think that then Key Curriculum math books recently adopted by the Seattle School District are so bad, Where's the Math?, a local group promoting better math education in our schools, has info on a review of the books by UW math prof John Lee (PDF of the full review here). Prof. Lee explains upfront that "a course that does not imbue students with the spirit, techniques, and practice of deductive reasoning is not a mathematics course worthy of the name." He goes on to explain exactly how well he thinks these books do that, well worth the read for people interested. more ›

Even the most studious among us probably fantasized about our schools burning to the ground during our younger years. Seattlest most certainly did! But three boys in Concrete, Wash., ages 11 and 12 actually did it, albeit unintentionally. more ›