Response to Gov. Gregoire’s letter on the education reform bills, HB 2261 and SB 6048.
We applaud Gov. Gregoire for supporting changes that will make school budgets more transparent and for strengthening the high school diploma by requiring 24 credits to graduate.
We are disappointed that the governor did not include a timeline for reform and accountability measures that would position Washington State to receive federal stimulus dollars and other funds tied to President Obama’s call for innovation in our public schools.
We believe the governor is missing the opportunity to make systemic reforms that will help every child succeed in school, such as including early learning in basic education–the single best investment we can make to reduce the achievement gap and improve overall student achievement.
We support a comprehensive re-definition of basic education, otherwise we risk continuing this endless cycle of cutting school budgets during downturns and filling in the holes when our economy improves. Our best hope to protect our children’s future is to hold our state lawmakers accountable to providing what our children need to pursue their dreams after high school.
Lisa Macfarlane
League of Education Voters
