Posted on 15. Apr, 2009 by admin.
As the Washington Legislature’s House and Senate negotiate a budget agreement, two state senators write lawmakers must protect funding for basic education.
Special to The Times
OUR children today are surrounded by science and technology that was the stuff of science fiction just 30 years ago. Now, more than ever, education is vital to our state’s future.
We can’t keep waiting until every star is aligned. We must make tough choices now, and time is running out.
As we prepare to enter the final week of the legislative session, the economic climate is one of the most challenging and divisive in recent memory. This passionate storm can quickly send coalitions and stakeholders working for a common good to opposite corners. But we must work together for the good of every child in Washington. They deserve nothing less.
The state spends 40 percent of its budget on our public schools and 11 percent on higher education. While many important programs face major reductions — such as reducing the Basic Health Plan by 45,000 people and slicing General Assistance, the last-ditch social-safety net, by 50 percent — we have constructed the Senate budget so that our 295 school districts — from Spokane and Seattle to Wishkah and Benton City — will face equal reductions of no more than 3.5 percent.
While many programs deal with severe cuts, K-12 public education does not.
But our state has a structural revenue problem — for years, we have continued to expand state services at all levels to meet a growing population and an aging state. Our K-12 system hasn’t changed with the times; neither has the way we fund it.
Our students, educators and teachers deserve better, and we can’t give that to them without changing the way we invest in our schools.
This week, we are working with our counterparts in the House of Representatives to rebuild our basic-education system. Every child should have the opportunity to receive individualized learning so that they can realize their potential within. We can’t accept legislation that doesn’t lay the groundwork to expand the definition of basic education.
We must include early learning as a cornerstone of our school system.
We must apply innovative ways to reward teachers and educators for their hard work and commitment to students.
Washington’s school system must focus on the primary goal of preparing students to meet college and career standards.
HB 2261 provides a pathway to redefine basic education and lay out a long-term strategy for reform.
We recognize that investing in quality public schools is the key to our state’s economic strength and recovery. But we also realize that overpromising in these economic times may lead only to divisiveness and prolong our efforts.
We can and will protect the funding of basic education and take responsible steps in this economic climate to lay the groundwork for reform. This is about our children — and they deserve no less than our full financial and political support in helping them to realize their potential.
Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell, is chair of the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee. Sen. Eric Oemig, D-Kirkland, is a vice chair.
Posted on 15. Apr, 2009 by admin.
This informational sheet was compiled by Ramona Hattendorf of the Seattle Council PTSA. It is intended as an overview only. Detailed information on HB 2261 and other education funding bills can be found on the Washington State Legislature’s web site at www.leg.wa.gov.
Why 2261? The financial reason
School districts are going bankrupt. They were racing toward collapse last year BEFORE the economy took a dive.
Why the crisis?
Partly because state funding for schools wasn’t keeping up with inflation and things like fuel and energy costs. Mainly, though, it didn’t align with what kids need and wasn’t covering enough instructional hours. About 80 percent of school funding pays for staff.
• Example 1: Districts are paying for 22 percent more teachers than the state funds
• Example 2: Textbooks are funded on an 18-year cycle
• Example 3: In 2006-07, districts spent $500 million more on overhead costs than the state allotted for. That figure doesn’t include transportation. For utilities alone, districts spent $259 million. The state only paid $118 million.
• Example 4: The state only pays for five periods. Kids need six to get the credits they need for college.
Districts have been using their local levy dollars to pay for what the community would regard as basic expenses. Those levy dollars are legally intended for enhancement only and are capped. In other words: Districts can’t ask local tax payers to just pick up the bill, and they are limited financially in how they can address things like remediation, tutoring, enrichment and training. Levies are also unstable; if they fail, essential school funding is lost.
Districts are also limited in how much they can pay teachers. The state sets the salaries, and there is no adjustment for regional cost of living. Districts have a little leeway to supplement pay, but that money comes from the “enhancement dollars.” Paying teachers a decent salary competes with programs to get and keep students on track.
By law, the state (as opposed to local government) has to fund “basic education” for K-12 and needs to ensure “equitable” schools. The constitution also says it is the state’s “paramount duty” to make “ample provision for the education of all children residing in its borders.”
Why 2261? The student success reason
Statewide, we have a 30 percent drop out rate. This is actually par for the course nationally. In Seattle, the drop out rate is 37 percent. In Yakima, it’s 36 percent. In Spokane, it’s 42 percent.
Of the 63 percent in Seattle that do graduate on time:
• Only 17 percent (1 out 6) can meet the requirements for a four-year college.
• The rest either don’t have enough credits or haven’t taken the right courses.
Statewide, only 19 percent of ninth-graders will go on to earn a post-secondary degree.
In our increasingly competitive economy, we are graduating a majority of kids without the math, science and language skills they need to get good-paying jobs or pursue higher education or advanced training.
What would 2261 do?
• Redefine “basic education” as “the opportunity for students to graduate with a meaningful high school diploma.”
• Create a “prototypical school” funding model. In other words, identify everything an average school needs – including librarians, books, nurses, counselors, overhead costs, etc. – and use that to determine how much money the state sends to districts.
o How the money is actually spent would be up to the districts so they can best address local need.
The House version of 2261 includes:
• Preschool for high-risk kids, so they start school ready to learn
• Continued roll out of all-day kindergarten
• Reduced class sizes K-3rd grade to make sure kids are prepared for more rigorous courses later
• Enhanced allocations for low income, bilingual kids
• Allocation for highly capable
• Core 24 – This aligns high school requirements with college and employer requirements. It’s a basic college-prep curriculum that gives students some flexibility to tailor to their needs
• Six periods in middle and high school
• Establishes a board to adopt standards for effective teaching and assessment for professional certification, and to define a “master” level educator
• Directs State Board of Education to continue work on school and district accountability
• Dedicates 50% of revenue growth over 5% to fund basic education. Implementation of the expanded definition of basic education would be phased in 2011 – 2016.
Who supports 2261?
2261 follows an earlier bill, 1410. HB 1410 would have fully implemented the Basic Education Finance Task Force proposal. It died, and 2261 was introduced as a scaled-back compromise that addressed concerns of educators.
Supporters include:
• The Washington PTA and Seattle Council PTSA endorsed the task force proposal and have testified in support of 2261
• So has a group of 35 superintendents representing Puget Sound districts, including Seattle
• Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn, and State Board of Education President Mary Jean Ryan
• The Seattle School Board endorsed 1410, as did school boards and PTAs from across Washington
• The League of Education Voters also supports
Who opposes 2261?
The Washington Education Association (teachers union).
In testimony, WEA said the bill is a distraction and could lead to more unfunded mandates. Individuals have testified about changes to the salary structure. There is debate about linking a “master” teaching level to National Board Certification; currently teachers are paid more for advanced degrees.
There was an earlier bill backed by the Full Funding Coalition, a group of educators that included superintendents, administrators and the WEA. That bill died. Educators have testified in favor of 2261 but have reiterated the need to specify and commit funding.
Status as of April 15:
2261 was passed by the House 71-26. The Senate changed the bill. The PTA supports the original House version.
Washington State PTA stance:
Washington schools need ESHB 2261 passed this session.
• Proposed budget cuts will drive many more districts to the brink of financial crisis. Schools will be forced
to lay off several thousand newly recruited teachers. Class sizes will rise. Every special program will be slashed or eliminated.
• As the state’s economy recovers, ESHB 2261 is the blue print we need to rebuild a stronger K-12 system.
Posted on 15. Apr, 2009 by admin.
I’m Deborah Nolan, a parent and PTSA president at my child’s high school in Friday Harbor. Last week, I joined you and advocates around the state in calling the governor and our legislative leaders to pass strong education reforms.
I’m pleased to report that our calls and petition signatures are making a difference!
The Washington State Senate has scheduled House Bill 2261 for a vote! We expect the vote to occur as early as tomorrow morning.
Now, we need to step up the phone calls to ensure passage of this bill.
TAKE ACTION: Please ask your friends, family and colleagues to join you in urging your state senator to vote YES on House Bill 2261!
Parents and school boards are facing tough choices to make up shortfalls in their school budgets. In the San Juan Island School District, we’re considering laying off teachers, eliminating tutoring programs, and cutting back on electives and athletics because of the proposed state budget cuts to public education.
Our schools AND parents are desperate for help. In the short-run, a lift in the levy lid and local fundraising could fill in some of the gaps. But what we really seek is a long-term solution to prevent cuts to education when our state has a budget shortfall.
We believe House Bill 2261 is that long-term solution. The bill would commit the state to re-defining “basic education” to include the essential programs and services that our children need to succeed in school. It includes a responsible implementation timeline and a plan to provide dedicated revenue for education.
Please ask your friends to join you in urging your state senator to vote YES on House Bill 2261. Call the legislative hotline at 1.800.562.6000.
Our phone calls are making a difference. It’s important we step it up because our children are counting on us to provide them the very best education.
Thank you for taking action,
Deborah Nolan
Friday Harbor High School PTSA President
Posted on 15. Apr, 2009 by admin.
An amendment proposed by Hatfield, Hobbs, and Holmquist and adopted on the floor of the Senate turned the collective bargaining for child care center bill into a study. The amendment reads:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The department of early learning must
study issues relating to increasing the child care subsidy and
reimbursement rates for child care centers licensed under chapter
43.125 RCW. The study must:
1329-S AMS HATF GORR 447 Official Print - 2
(a) Include a review of the results of the collective bargaining provided to family child care providers. This must include whether this has resulted in increased economic compensation, health and welfare benefits, professional development and training, and other economic matters to these providers;
(b) Be made in consultation with child care center directors and workers as well as other interested stakeholders. Directors and workers must be consulted in several areas of the state, including centers located in eastern Washington and western Washington;
(c) Review alternative methods of raising the child care subsidy rate;
(d) Review alternative methods to provide training to child care center directors and workers;
(e) Review methods to retain child care center workers and otherwise reduce employee turnover; and
(f) Include other items the department determines necessary to study in order to increase educational opportunities for children in child care centers.
(2) The study required under this subsection must be completed by August 1, 2010, and delivered to the joint legislative task force on child care center subsidy and reimbursement rates established in section 3 of this act.
(3) This section expires December 31, 2010.
Another amendment proposed by Rockefeller and passed by a vote of 37 yea to 11 nay would allow center directors and workers to opt in and out of the bargaining agreement. Those centers that opt out would NOT receive the subsidy increase.
SHB 1329 passed in the Senate by 46 yea to 2 nay.
| Yeas: 46 Nays: 2 Absent: 0 Excused: 1 | |||||||
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The bill summary can be viewed here.
The House passed a vastly different bill - without the study and loss of parity. House and Senate leadership will now conference on the final bill that will be sent to the Governor.
Posted on 15. Apr, 2009 by admin.
We have 11 days left in the legislative session to pass bold education reforms that will improve outcomes for children and schools in Washington.
Your VOICE will make the difference!
Lawmakers in Olympia are considering two education reform proposals. The House proposal commits our state to redefining basic education to include the essential programs our children need to succeed and a plan to fully fund it. The Senate proposal leaves the definition of basic education up for grabs.
It’s up to all of us–parents, educators, and students–to ensure our lawmakers make the right decision on behalf of children this legislative session.
TAKE ACTION: Tell Governor Chris Gregoire, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown and House Speaker Frank Chopp to pass the strongest education reform bill that commits the Legislature to meeting our paramount duty in the State Constitution.
A strong education reform proposal should include:
Now is the time to redefine basic education and adopt systemic reforms and accountability measures and tie them to a responsible implementation schedule. If we do so, we will be able to hold our state lawmakers and ourselves accountable for providing our children the kind of education they need to succeed in good economic times and in bad times.
We would also better position Washington State to receive federal stimulus dollars and other funds tied to President Obama’s call for innovation in our public schools.
Thank you for speaking up on behalf of children and schools.
Posted on 15. Apr, 2009 by admin.
State Superintendent Randy Dorn joined legislators, the League of Education Voters, and other education advocates at a press conference today in Olympia to urge passage of education reform legislation.
State Superintendent Randy Dorn urges passage of education reform legislation at a press conference today in Olympia.
Posted on 15. Apr, 2009 by admin.
Tri-City Herald Editorial Board: Legislature needs to keep education reform on track
Op-ed by Sens. McAuliffe and Oemig: Legislature must protect basic-education funding
Posted on 15. Apr, 2009 by admin.
State Superintendent Randy Dorn joined legislators, the League of Education Voters, and other education advocates at a press conference today in Olympia to urge passage of education reform legislation.
State Superintendent Randy Dorn urges passage of education reform legislation at a press conference today in Olympia.
Posted on 15. Apr, 2009 by admin.
Beginning at 10 AM today, State Superintendent Randy Dorn will join the League of Education Voters; the Washington State PTA; state business leaders; the Public School Employees of Washington; and Stand for Children at a press conference in support of education reform legislation.
We expect TVW to cover the press conference LIVE.
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