Yesterday, parents and civic leaders from education, business, and community-based organizations testified in Olympia on Senate Bill 6696. They urged members of the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee to strengthen and pass the bill, which is needed to improve Washington’s ability to win a Race to the Top grant. Below are photos of [...]
OLY SHORTS: Watch committee hearings live
January 25, 2010 By
Spot on, Olympian. Prekindergarten must be part of basic education.
January 25, 2010 By
If you see George Scarola in Oly this week, pass him some Gatorade. As you can see on our blog and legislative action page, we are powering through our 2010 ed reform marathon. Including preK in basic education is a key element to our 2010 education reform agenda. So, what’s happening this week to ensure [...]
Define "effective"? Okay, we will….
January 25, 2010 By
Just wondering when the word “effective” became loaded, pejorative or bad. Over at the Save Seattle Schools blog, there’s a conversation going on that started out as a back and forth over a set of values statements for bargaining teacher contracts crafted by a group of advocates – the League included. At some point in the discussion [...]
LEV action in Olympia for the week of Jan. 18, 2010
January 22, 2010 By
Here’s what LEV was up to this week in Olympia during the 2010 session: On Monday, Kelly Munn, state field director, and George Scarola, legislative director, joined 1,000 PTA members at Focus Day in Olympia to advocate for children and schools. PTA members met with their legislators to urge them to protect education funding. George [...]
Give your legislators something to think about this weekend!
January 22, 2010 By
Even though the weekend is starting soon, education is on our minds. That’s because next week is education reform week in Olympia. Lawmakers will hold several public hearings on key legislation that will move education reform forward and improve student achievement. Let’s give our legislators something to think about this weekend! Send an e-mail message [...]
OLY SHORTS: Bikes and bikers everywhere
January 21, 2010 By
Typically during Legislative Session every day is some organization’s lobby or celebration day. E.g. yesterday was Dairy Day. A perennial favorite is Potato Day, when — you guessed it — potatoes are handed out to one and all. Apparently today is BLACK Thursday, sponsored by ABATE of Washington, which I know hardly anything about. What [...]
NEWS decision expected in February
January 20, 2010 By
Education advocates have been expecting a decision this week on the NEWS trial, however we just received this email from NEWS: While this week marks the 90-day point following the end of the NEWS trial — the time period set for a ruling to be issued by King County Superior Court Judge John Erlick — [...]
R2T: 40 states + DC apply
January 20, 2010 By
Bee-tee-dubs, if you hadn’t already heard, the deadline for round 1 Race to the Top applications was yesterday. In the end, 40 states and the District of Columbia applied (Washington State is vying for round 2). Find the list of applicants here, along with press conference footage and other items from the White House. Also [...]
PreK Now. It's Basic!
January 19, 2010 By
Today LEV Foundation board member Janet Levinger testified in support of HB 2731 – including preschool for at-risk 3- and 4-year olds in basic education. I have pasted it below. Janet was joined by 20 parents, providers, sheriffs (yes, there were two!) and child advocates who also testified in support of including preschool in basic [...]
