The following is a guest blog from Sherry Krainick, a parent and education advocate in the Northshore School District.
I believe that public education is our largest public works program and, at the same time, potentially our most effective social justice program providing opportunities to all the children in our state. When you are passionate about all kids receiving the basic education laid forth in the Washington State Constitution, it hardly seems like work to leave Bothell at 6am, arrive in Olympia at 7:45 and start a day full of meetings with as many legislators as possible to ask them to support legislative changes that will make Washington State a competitor for the Federal Race to the Top grants. Here’s a recap of my day in Olympia on Thursday, January 14, 2009.
I met with eight legislators and five legislative assistants to request the legislator’s assistance in passing legislation to meet the four assurances under the Race to the Top (RTTT) grant program so our state can apply for the grants. At noon, I attended the Race to the Top luncheon sponsored by the Excellent Schools Now Coalition. The Coalition is focused on making sure the groundwork exists for Washington State to be an applicant and hopefully a recipient of a portion of the $4.3 billion in federal RTTT grants. The luncheon was held at the Governor Hotel. The room was overflowing with roughly 100 attendees including legislators, coalition members and advocates from around the state.
Bill Gates Sr. was the keynote speaker and stressed the importance of improving education in Washington State–a state that is 4th in the nation in high technology/science jobs, but 46th in the nation in graduating students from four year institutions who can fill those jobs. Our education system must be changed and updated; the RTTT grants will help us further work that was started with the passage of HB 2261 last year. RTTT will move the focus away from inputs and on to outputs. Lisa Macfarlane of LEV shared with us that Washington State must pass legislation to meet the four assurances of the RTTT application criteria including: effective teachers, state intervention in struggling schools, better data systems and higher standards.
We then heard from three very inspirational speakers: Andrew Miller, 9th grade teacher at Technology Access Foundation Academy, and Pat Erwin, principal at Lincoln High School in Tacoma, who focused on doing things differently when more of the same doesn’t improve outcomes for the students. They described amazing programs with amazing results in areas with higher rates of at-risk students, who now enjoy the same grades as their peers across these schools! Kudos to these programs! I felt most inspired by Thelma Jackson, President of the Washington Alliance of Black School Educators. What inspired me? I read the Achievement Gap reports that were published last year. Ms. Jackson acknowledges the achievement gaps among students of color, but indicated that those students can meet the challenges of educational programs that include rigor and have high standards. She spoke about how our minorities are becoming majorities in many parts of our communities and that we need to raise the bar and provide the additional services to close the gap, beginning with Early Learning. RTTT grants will provide the foundation for many of the programs outlined in HB 2261. By closing the achievement gap, these students will be ready for career or continuing post-secondary education leading to the opportunity of success. The American Dream!
We also heard from Randy Dorn, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Judy Hartmann from Governor Gregoire’s office and from Jeff Vincent of the State Board of Education. They are all working together to prepare a proposal from the Governor which we should see in the near future. The legislature needs to make some changes Lisa Macfarlane spoke about to pave the way for RTTT eligibility. Many advocates spoke with their legislators on Thursday to ask for their support when the proposal is announced. Please encourage your Senators and Representatives to support the changes necessary to make Washington competitive in the application process for RTTT grants.
It was a long day, but my passion and the thoughts of my three sons at home kept me going. It was great to walk into our home at 7pm and tell them about my day and hear about theirs. I want my sons’ public education filled with all the opportunities available to them and I want that for all the children in Washington!
