Here’s a summary of what LEV was up to during “Education Reform Week” in Olympia.
On Monday, the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee held a public hearing on Gov. Gregoire’s “Race to the Top bill” (Senate Bill 6696). The bill would make changes to help Washington win a Race to the Top grant. George Scarola, legislative director, coordinated testimony among Excellent Schools Now coalition members, and Lisa Macfarlane, co-founder of LEV, testified on the bill:
All this work that the Race to the Top competition is driving across the country has a national context. Our country used to lead the world in college success. We have lost that lead and our US dept of Education has a very explicit goal of restoring that college success leadership by 2020.
And in our Washington, we have a math and science achievement crisis, and achievement gaps that are GROWING.
- Gap in NAEP 8th grade math scores between low-income and non-low income Washington students is growing. It is now 28 points, which is almost 3 years. This gap is the 12th largest in the nation in 2009.
- Also on NAEP 8th grade math, Washington is 1 of 9 states where the White-African American gap is growing, and 1 of 7 states where the White-Hispanic gap is growing.
These sobering realities are a call to action and a reminder that we ALL need to own the performance of our schools and students.
Click here to view her full testimony.
Later in the afternoon, Frank Ordway, Director of Field and Community Partnerships, testified in support of House Bill 2731. The bill, which would make early learning for at-risk children part of basic education, was passed out of House Ways & Means and is one step away from a floor vote.
On Tuesday, Kelly Munn, state field director, helped organize a group of parent activists to testify in Olympia on behalf of kids and schools. In the morning, they testified in support of House Bill 2776, which would begin implementation of the education reform bill passed in 2009.
LEV's legislative director, George Scarola, and Rep. Marcie Maxwell (center) thank parents and education advocates for coming to Olympia.
They also weighed in against House Bill 2915, which would implement Sup. of Public Instruction Randy Dorn’s proposal to delay high school math and science graduation requirements. KOMO news followed parent activist and Issaquah School Board member Chad Magendanz as he met with legislators. Click here to watch the video.
In addition, Heather Cope, policy analyst, testified in opposition to House Bill 2915. Below are her talking points:
- LEV opposes House Bill 2915. We acknowledge that we are not going to hit the current dates for math and science requirements — but what is missing from this bill is a plan.
- Further, lowering the passing bar on exams would be a disservice to the children of our state. Our STEM employers are asking for graduates with more science and math mastery, not less. Math remediation rates at 2- and 4-year colleges range from 30 to 50 percent — lowering the bar would surely increase these rates.
- You all received a letter from the Excellent Schools Now coalition opposing HB 2915. LEV is a member of this coalition, along with many other advocates, including those representing the tech industry.
In the House Higher Education Committee, LEV’s youth organizer, Maggie Wilkens, testified in support of House Bill 1949:
- LEV supports HB 1949 because we we believe it is important to create consistency in how we incorporate student perspective between 2-year and 4-year students and their respective campus policies.
- Regardless of whether or not a student is attending UW or South Seattle Community College, both should have the right to take ownership of their educational experience.
- There is no denying that students provide an incredibly useful perspective to the governing bodies of school campuses, and appointing students to their respective boards is merely staying consistent with the opportunities that are already granted to students at 4-year universities.
On Wednesday morning, LEV Foundation board members Janet Levinger and Yaffa Maritz testified in support of Senate Bill 6759, which will get us on the path to pre-kindergarten in basic education. Frank was also in attendance. Here’s what he had to say about the importance of elevating the state’s commitment to pre-kindergarten:
The education and early childhood care communities have been working on this issue for some time. Research shows that the best way to improve K-12 education and close the achievement gap is quality early childhood education. Students who enter kindergarten with a solid foundation of social skills and learning skills are more likely to succeed in school and contribute to society as adults. PreK education helps children read earlier and develop proficiencies in math and science PreK reduces grade repetition and the number of children placed in special education.
Click here to watch their testimony on TVW.
In the afternoon, members of the Excellent Schools Now coalition (which includes LEV) testified on the Race to the Top legislation (House Bills 3059, 3035, and 3038).
On Thursday, George testified on Senate Bills 6760 and 6761, which contain the Quality Education Council’s recommendations to begin implementation of education reform legislation passed last year. At the 1:30 PM House Education Appropriations Committee, Kelly brought several parent advocates to testify in support of implementing Quality Education Council recommendations (House Bill 2776) to implement education reform.
