10:45am-11:20am
Federal Race to the Top Funds – Judy Hartmann
Ms. Hartmann shared the governor’s office is hoping the Gates Foundation will provide a grant for the state to complete a Race to the Top application.
>>Mary Jean Ryan said it’s worth it for the state to complete an application, since we’re looking at potentially hundreds of millions of dollars, and possibly the only new money for education anytime soon.
>>Sen. Zarelli liked Ms. Hartmann’s notes that we need to implement reforms that are sustainable, and find long-term sustainable funding sources.
>>Rep. Priest brought up that tomorrow is also the deadline for the state to send a letter to the U.S. Department of Education about the requirements, citing charter schools as an issue the state will want to address (and the possibility of the state to cite schools like Aviation High School as substitutes). Ms. Hartmann said they are working on two letters, one for the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, phase two and Race to the Top. As for charter schools, the application seems like it’s a “check the box” or “fill in the number” process, rather than demonstrate alternatives, which the state’s letter will address. Speaker Frank Chopp asked if Rep. Priest is making a motion that the QEC also send a letter. Rep. Priest said he would gladly support that idea. Supt. Dorn said his office has been working closely with the governor’s office on this, and they have been talking with the U.S. Department of Education around these issues. He also brought up our murky language around the authority of the state to intervene in low-performing schools and districts. Supt. Dorn said the state is ultimately in charge of Washington’s education system, and gets to decide how close it wants to move toward what President Obama and Secretary Duncan seem to want.
>>Sen. Oemig asked if capital facilities are eligible (answer: no) and if they are partnering with local districts. Ms. Hartmann gave a roundabout answer saying districts are important to this effort.
>>Rep. Sullivan asked if the QEC could have a copy of the letter this afternoon, even if a draft. Ms. Hartmann didn’t know if she could do that. Supt. Dorn said he had no objection to it.
>>Rep. Dammeier asked if the congressional delegation was being engaged. Supt. Dorn said they will be informed.
>>Dr. Hyde agreed with the idea being circulated by Reps. Chopp, Sullivan and Priest. Speaker Chopp joked they could check the box then explain [laughter all around].
>>Supt. Dorn said Washington often has a different name for things, and our system is just a little different.<<
11:20am-11:40am
Funding Formula Technical Working Group Update – Julie Salvi
>>Rep. Dammeier asked if by district-wide allocation, they were recommending that this was by grade for the prototype (answer: yes).
>>Dr. Hyde asked if the group has discussed determining poverty levels, and perhaps differentiating for various levels. Julie Salvi said they will discuss at the next meeting.
>>Sen. King asked if the group will look at current expenditures during consideration of additional funding sources. Ms. Salvi said one of the questions before the group is “Where is the starting point?” which will help inform the group’s recommendations.
>>Sen. McAuliffe asked about doing allocations on a district level, and how parents will look at their schools and figure out prototype allocations. Ms. Salvi said there are different ways to do that.
>>Rep. Maxwell brought up the discussion at the meeting around varying poverty levels of schools in the same district, and how allocating by district could be complicated by that. Ms. Salvi said the group did not come to a resolution on that and will revisit at its meeting next week.
>>Sen. Zarelli clarified Sen. King’s point that the group needs to figure out what “zero” is. He also said they should determine a percentage of allocated funds that are actually spent on what they were intended to fund (e.g. teachers).<<
