The final Race to the Top (R2T) guidelines are out, and we all want to know what Washington’s chances are for scoring a piece of the pie. In a series of posts, you’ll find a detailed run through of the guidelines, as well as some analysis on where Washington stands (previous post on overall picture [...]
Video: Randy Dorn Speech
November 21, 2009 By
Podcast of Gov. Gregoire's speech to the state school directors
November 20, 2009 By
Gov. Gregoire gave a speech today at the Washington State School Directors’ Association annual conference. The speech begins with an update on our state’s dire budget situation. The second part is about education and the need for policymakers to make budgeting decisions with our children in mind. Click here for the podcast.
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Washington abandoning Round 1 of Race to the Top
November 20, 2009 By
We just got word that Washington State will not pursue Race to the Top grants in the first round. Alan Burke, Deputy Superintendent for K-12 Education at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, just announced the news at the Washington State School Directors’ Association annual convention last night. The news is not a surprise. [...]
What's at risk in the state budget?
November 20, 2009 By
Our friends at the Washington State Budget and Policy Center have put together this excellent narrated slide show about the very real impacts of the $2.7 billion state budget shortfall. Click on the green “play” button on the bottom to begin the narrated slide show. The large black arrow on the right-hand side just skips [...]
Race to the Top: State Success Factors
November 20, 2009 By
The final Race to the Top (R2T) guidelines are out, and we all want to know what Washington’s chances are for scoring a piece of the pie. In a series of posts this week and next, you’ll find a detailed run through of the guidelines, as well as some analysis on where Washington stands (previous [...]
Wrong move, wrong time
November 20, 2009 By
Yesterday, Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn proposed yet another delay in math and science high school graduation requirements until 2015 and 2017 respectively. The proposal received tepid support at the state school director’s conference where our state’s school chief delivered a major policy speech. The League of Education Voters strongly opposes another delay in [...]
Washington State Board of Education reacts to Dorn proposal
November 19, 2009 By
The Washington State Board of Education just sent out this response to Superintendent Randy Dorn’s proposal to delay math and science graduation requirements until 2015 and 2017. We have tremendous math and science based industries in Washington – yet our K-12 math and science education isn’t reaching this same standard of excellence. Pushing back graduation [...]
Superintendent Randy Dorn proposes another delay
November 19, 2009 By
Superintendent Randy Dorn is proposing another delay in math and science requirements until 2015 and 2017. In a press release, here’s one reason he gave for the delay: “It doesn’t take a mathematician to see that we have a big problem in our state. Less than 50 percent of our 10th graders are passing the [...]
Economic update: state budget down another $760 million
November 19, 2009 By
The Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council released updated revenue forecasts for the 2009-11 biennium. The news is not good. Revuenes are down an additional $760 million from September’s forecast. What does that mean? In short, the state is facing a $2.55 billion deficit. The 2009-11 budget passed in April included $31.39 billion worth [...]
