J une 4, 1997 • T he P ortland O bserver P age A8 Focus on high school redesign Wilson High School conference to provide tools for managing change "R e d e sig n o f the A m e ric a n H ig h Sch o o l" is the subject o f a two-day conference, June 18-19 at W ilso n H ig h S ch o o l, 1151 S .W . Verm ont St. The conference is sponsored by the p ro fe ssio n a l developm ent and research program o f L e w is and C la r k C o lle g e 's G ra d u a te S ch o o l o f P ro fe ssio n a l S tu d ie s, Portland P u b lic S ch o o ls, T ig a r d - T u a la tin Sch o o l D istrict and E v e rg re e n H ig h School in V a n co u ve r. Geared toward parents, teach ers, and school adm inistrators, the conference w ill provide p a r tic i pants w ith to o ls and ta ctics for m anaging change. T h e co n feren ce w ill feature w o rksho p s on to p ics such as per fo r m a n c e -b a s e d a s s e s s m e n t , m e n to rin g y o u th s, in te g r a t in g c u rr ic u lu m and b re a k in g la rg e sc h o o ls into sm a lle r c o m m u n i ties. "Teachers who are tying to p io neer changes in their classroom s are isolated," said Sabra Bradshaw, director o f professional develo p ment and research and Le w is and C la rk's' graduate school. T o register, call Le w is C la rk 's professional development and re search program at 1-888-601-8202. The conference fee is $ 165 per per son and $ 150 per person for school teams o f 10 or more. Home school bill advances in Salem Legislation calls for change in how students are evaluated How home-schooled students are evaluated is dram atically changed under a bill approved on a 4-3 party line vote by the House Education Committee. Major provisions o f H B 3080 are. * Eliminates the requirement that home-schooled students take a stan dardized achievement test from the state Department o f Education’s ap proved list. Instead, the bill allows home-school parents to select an as sessment method, which may include a standardized test, diagnostic test, narrative evaluation or report card. * Removes the requirement that the testing be done by a neutral third party rather than a member o f the student’s family. * Removes the requirement that the testing be done by a neutral third party rather than a member o f the student’s family. * Repeals the requirement that the home-schooled student show sat isfacto ry educational p ro gress on a standardized test each ye ar to m aintain h o m e -sch o o lin g status. S atisfacto ry educational progress is defined as scores at or above the 15th percentile. I f a ch ild does not show sa tisfa c to ry p ro g re ss, the ch ild is ordered to return to scho o l in their lo cal scho o l d is trict. U nder H B 3080, the parent would only need to send a written declaration to the E S D superintendent that the child has been assessed within the last six months. Exempts students from the com pulsory attendance law if the student is taught in a satellite, extension or off-campus program o f a public, pri vate or parochial school in courses o f study usually taught in grades 1-12 in the public schools. O S B A supports the right o f par ents to home-school their children, but opposes H B 3080. “ W hile the majority o f home-schooled students exceed current requirements for sat isfactory educational progress, there are those who abuse this law to avoid Oregon’s compulsory attendance law. With an annual testing requirement, we know which students we need to have return to the normal classroom,” O S B A L e g is la tiv e A d vo cate Jim Green told the committee. “ Under this proposal, parents could elect to choose a standardized test that is no longer valid. The list approved by the department is up dated to ensure the tests’ validity. Take away those requirements and those who would abuse this proposed system w ill cost local school districts significant resources to bring those students up to their educational po tential,” Green added Coalition responds to education budget School advocates say proposal offers reason to hope R e sp o n d in g to the H o u se leadership’s unveiling o f a K - 12 school budget package, the C o a li tion for School Funding Now! said that the proposal goes a long way towards the goal o f adequate fund ing for Oregon’s public schools. “ I am delighted that the House has come forward with a school funding package that reaches the $4.3 billion we have always said is the required amount for our schools for the next two years,” said C o a li tion Chair Delna Jones. “ W hile we are not there yet in terms o f final passage, it’s a giant step towards that goal I applaud the Oregon House and its leadership for demonstrat ing their understanding o f what it w ill take to protect the future o f Oregon’s children We are optimis tic that with the strong support in the House, the Senate w ill also rec ognize the importance o f this pack 1 age, and w ill take the appropriate steps to move the package q uickly to the Governor While we do not know the details o f the distribu tion, we w ill stay in close touch with the House revenue commit tee as the proposal’s resources are distributed throughout O regon's schools.” The House leadership pro posal combines $4.21 billion to be distributed among Oregon school districts, along with several finan cia l m echanism s that in effect brings the total for schools to the C o a litio n ’s recommendation o f $4.3 billion. Proposals for state K -1 2 fund ing started at the beginning o f the 1997 legislative session with the Governor’s “base budget” o f $3.67 billion, and his “ investment bud get" o f $3.96 billion. The Senate has passed a $4.11 billion pack age, that would still require cuts to many schools across Oregon. Coalition Executive Com m it tee member and Baker School S u perintendent Arnold Coe said that he needed to review the proposal in detail, but was hopeful. The Jefferson High School Annex is the place for fun as area kids graduate from Soccer in the Streets. Kids graduate in youth program N orth Street S o c c e r C lu b held their third annual g ra d u ation Satu rday for the S o cce r in the Streets program . Th e past seven w eeks, 90 to 100 c h ild re n , ages 6 to 8 h a ve r e c e iv e d in tr o d u c to r y so ccer tra in in g at the Je fferso n H ig h S ch o o l A n n e x. T h e y ’ ve been ta u g h t by a re a h ig h s c h o o l stu d e n t/ coaches on how to k ic k , shoot, d ribb le, trap and head the so c cer ball. H ead co ach fo r the p ro gram was Scott S a g a r, form er U n iv e rsity o f Portland so ccer standout and current m em ber o f the Portland Pride. At graduation, each c h ild re ce iv e d a new so c c e r b a ll, courtesy o f N I K E and a c e rtifi cate for com pleting the course. M any o f the ch ild re n w ill m o ve on to p la y fo r N o rth S t r e e t -s f a ll , c it y - le a g u e teams. North Street S o cce r C lu b is now acce p tin g registratio n for its F a ll teams. T h is sum m er, North Street, w ill be h o ld in g several p layer and c o a c h in g c li n i c s at the Je fferso n A n ne x. D a te s and tim e s w ill be p u b licize d . Y o u can telephone at 282- 9442 for d etails and more in form ation.. -friehek»^ TV)ere power aj/ awrd your house. LooH op before 3 -hee. poujer lines are fbrv r+ dorH- climb ¿)Ju>aqs -flu a bWe 3n °peo -fre/d. . contributed by Angela, age 10 utdoor electric safety is important to O all of us — especially this time of year when we spend more of our time outside. Here are a few important things to remember: • Don’t trim trees near power lines. • Watch for overhead power lines when moving irrigation pipe or operating heavy equipment. • Assume all downed power lines are energized and stay away from them. • Don’t climb trees near power lines. • Stay away from substations or anything marked “Danger: High Voltage.” • Never install rooftop antennas or satellite dishes near overhead power lines. For a free copy of our electrical safety booklet, call us at 1-800-478-1210. > Draw & Win with Pacific Power’s E le c tr ic S a fe ty C o n te st This contest was developed to help educate you and your children about some of the dangers associated with outdoor activities. For kids to enter, all they have to do is draw a picture with an electric safety message and send it to Pacific Power. They can create their own or pick one of the topics at left. All contestants will receive a prize and 25 winners will receive a $100 savings bond. CONTEST RULES Artwork must be the original hand drawn creation of the contestant and all contestants must be from 5 to 12 years of age. Limit one entry per person. Winners will be notified by July 15, 1997. Drawings should be horizontal on 8-1/2" x 11” size paper. The back of the artwork must have the contestant’s full name, age, address and phone number. Entries must be sent to Sheila Holden/Carl Tai ton, General Business Managers, Pacific Power, P.0. Box 12699, Portland, Oregon 97212 and received by June 30, 1997. Artwork will be judged by PacifiCorp personnel to determine (in their sole discretion) savings bond winners, and the decisions of such judges are final. Artwork will not be returned and winners' names and art work may be used in future contest promotion or advertising without fur ther compensation. Members of the household of PacifiCorp employees are not eligible to participate. This contest is void where prohibited or regulat ed by law, and any federal, state or local taxes which may be imposed on prizes are the sole responsibility of the winner. PACIFIC POWER A PacifiCorp Company