The petitioners (the 70 + school districts, education associations, and community organizations) have to wrap up their case this week.
Today, Judge Erlick heard testimony from James Kelly, Roberto Maestas, and Erin Jones. Tomorrow, Mary Jean Ryan will finish up. Nick Brossoit, Edmonds Superintendent, will then bat clean up.
Roberto told the court his story of growing up in a small village in New Mexico to being one of six Latino students at UW, to the occupation of Coleman School and founding of El Centro. The judge let in the picture of Roberto being hauled off to jail over the state’s objection.
Roberto spoke eloquently about José Martí Child Development Center which serves children aged 1-5 with a staff ratio of 1 to 8. When they got funding to increase the education and training of the center’s staff, they saw a huge boost in quality. When asked whether they tracked kids afterwards, he said he wished that they could have done so. They applied for a research grant, but didn’t get it. Roberto had no doubt that El Centro’s preschool program helped children be successful later on.
On cross examination, the state’s attorney asked Roberto if he knew of any country that had closed the achievement gap. He mentioned the UN report about the schools in that “tiny republic on the tip of Florida”. When she asked him about the value of another study, he quoted Gertrude Stein, “A rose is a rose is a rose. “ And then said, “A study is a study is a study. We have to get some action.”
