LIVE BLOGGING: Basic Education Finance Task Force Meeting

Posted by Heather

2:40pm-3:30pm

Washington Learns Update
Judy Hartmann, Governor’s Executive Policy Office

Ms. Hartmann provided a review of the Washington Learns report, including the five principles of change within the report.

The five principles are:

1. Share accountability for continuous improvement
2. Tailor education to fit the needs of individuals
3. Bring creativity into the classroom
4. Engage parents, communities and private partners
5. Commit the necessary human financial resources

Ms. Hartmann ran through the strategies included in the report. She was running through the laundry list of strategies and received a question from Chair Grimm when she got to expanding alternative routes for math and science teachers. Chair Grimm asked for more clarification on the routes, including whether candidates received pedagogical training. Ms. Hartmann gave more information, and candidates in these alternative route programs do receive pedagogical training, typically through an institution of higher education.

We then returned to the laundry list — the good news being that much of this list is in progress, rather than on standby.

Ms. Hartmann said the path forward includes three items:

1. A system of shared accountability that is transparent, incentive-based and built on the principles of shared responsibility and continuous improvement
2. A redefinition of basic education, designing a funding structure to support the new definition, and making a significant down payment toward the goals
3. Design a 10-year implementation strategy

Adjournment at 3:30pm.