The title says it all… What will universities and community colleges across Washington do to cope with this session’s ominous budget cuts? A recent poll of UWers suggests some interesting student perspectives on the issue. Primarily, UW students do not want the quality of their education to decrease given our State’s budget deficit. The survey [...]
“Identifying the ‘Least Bad Options’ for Coping with Decreased State Support for the UW”
January 19, 2010 By
First big moment for early learning
January 19, 2010 By
The first big moment for early learning in this short session was today, January 19th, at 1:30pm. The House Committee on Early Learning & Children’s Services held a public Hearing on HB 2731 -”Creating an early learning program for educationally at-risk children.” The Hearing also included HB 2431 and HB 2867, both related to Early [...]
Two polls help drive education debate
January 19, 2010 By
Two surveys of Washington teachers and voters are helping to drive the education debate this legislative session. ESN Poll: What Washington Teachers Think About ”Race to the Top” Issues PFL Poll: Survey of Washington voters on education reform and Race to the Top ESN and PFL Side-by-Side Findings A poll by the Excellent Schools Now Coalition (ESN) and one by Partnership for Learning (PFL) [...]
Tax credit for college expenses
January 19, 2010 By
As we all know, college is expensive. Previously, the federal government allowed families to claim a tax credit for college expenses (Hope credit). Families can now claim the similar American Opportunity credit on their federal income tax returns. Details from the Higher Education Coordinating Board below: American Opportunity tax credit may help offset college expenses OLYMPIA- [...]
Doing the Right Thing Always Matters
January 18, 2010 By
Annual university president salary rankings out
January 18, 2010 By
Every year the Chronicle of Higher Education releases the salaries and rankings of top earning public university presidents, and the latest results are out today. This is one list where Washington universities “score” highly. On average, salaries for university presidents increased by 2.3 percent in 2008-09, compared to 7.6 percent in 2007-08. The median salary for [...]
Gov: Legislation needed to compete for R2T
January 18, 2010 By
Gov. Gregoire held a press conference today to formally announce Washington’s plan to become competitive for a Race to the Top (R2T) grant. [We were given a sneak peek last Thursday by Judy Hartmann, the governor's education policy advisor.] To co-present her plan, Gov. Gregoire was joined by Randy Dorn, superintendent of public instruction; Mary Jean Ryan, chair of the [...]
Guest Blog: A parent activist's day in Olympia
January 18, 2010 By
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 [...]
Gates Sr: Race To The Top Provides "Unprecedented Opportunity"
January 14, 2010 By
In front of a packed room of Washington education leaders, Bill Gates Sr. delivered a keynote speech Thursday calling on officials to dramatically improve our education system and to compete for the federal Race To The Top funds. Below are the highlights of his speech. At the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, by far and away our biggest investment in [...]
Race to the Top Legislative Luncheon
January 14, 2010 By
Education leaders today presented a legislative agenda to strengthen education in Washington state and compete for a share of the $4.35 billion Race to the Top federal grants at a luncheon in Olympia. Keynote speaker Bill Gates Sr. noted that too few high school graduates in Washington state have the skills to fill jobs that [...]
