Comments on: Huge victory for a million school kids! http://www.educationvoters.org/2010/02/04/huge-victory-for-a-million-school-kids/ Leaders for quality public education from cradle to career Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:00:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mike Sheehan http://www.educationvoters.org/2010/02/04/huge-victory-for-a-million-school-kids/#comment-352 Mike Sheehan Sat, 06 Feb 2010 06:50:45 +0000 http://www.educationvoters.org/?p=5506#comment-352 I did not actually know that LEV stayed out of the lawsuit because of their stance on early learning. I commend that. I was happy with the ruling but felt that Judge Erlich was neglectful as his opinion did not conclude that this state is also out of compliance in terms of early learning. Section 168 stated: "This court concludes that the word “all” in Article IX, §1 means what it says. It means “every” and “each and every one of”. It encompasses each and every child since each will be a member of, and participant in, this State’s democracy, society, and economy." The ruling even specifically cited the results of the Perry Preschool project as showing how quality early learning programs can positively effect a child's education. Yet Judge Erlich seemed to ignore the fact that our current statutes specifically exclude children birth to five in terms of our Paramount duty. I did not actually know that LEV stayed out of the lawsuit because of their stance on early learning. I commend that. I was happy with the ruling but felt that Judge Erlich was neglectful as his opinion did not conclude that this state is also out of compliance in terms of early learning. Section 168 stated:

“This court concludes that the word “all” in Article IX, §1 means what it says. It means “every” and “each and every one of”. It encompasses each and every child since each will be a member of, and participant in, this State’s democracy, society, and economy.”

The ruling even specifically cited the results of the Perry Preschool project as showing how quality early learning programs can positively effect a child’s education. Yet Judge Erlich seemed to ignore the fact that our current statutes specifically exclude children birth to five in terms of our Paramount duty.

]]> By: Lisa Macfarlane http://www.educationvoters.org/2010/02/04/huge-victory-for-a-million-school-kids/#comment-351 Lisa Macfarlane Fri, 05 Feb 2010 03:19:47 +0000 http://www.educationvoters.org/?p=5506#comment-351 LEV met with WEA lawyers and outside counsel early on and asked that the litigation include an early learning claim. We continue to believe that pre-kindergarten support for poor kids is critically important. The group that became NEWS decided not to include early learning and that is why the League of Education Voters did not sign on. I don't believe that the community groups (i.e. PTA, Urban League, League of Women Voters) that joined the lawsuit were asked to help finance the litigation. LEV closely followed the trial and I sat in the courtroom as often as possible. And I was there today elated when Judge Erlick made his ruling. LEV has fought long and hard for revenue for our public schools at the state level (1-728, 1-884, simple majority, anti Eyman) and at local levels (many of us are leading our district levy campaigns right now) LEV met with WEA lawyers and outside counsel early on and asked that the litigation include an early learning claim. We continue to believe that pre-kindergarten support for poor kids is critically important. The group that became NEWS decided not to include early learning and that is why the League of Education Voters did not sign on. I don’t believe that the community groups (i.e. PTA, Urban League, League of Women Voters) that joined the lawsuit were asked to help finance the litigation. LEV closely followed the trial and I sat in the courtroom as often as possible. And I was there today elated when Judge Erlick made his ruling. LEV has fought long and hard for revenue for our public schools at the state level (1-728, 1-884, simple majority, anti Eyman) and at local levels (many of us are leading our district levy campaigns right now)

]]> By: Stephen Miller http://www.educationvoters.org/2010/02/04/huge-victory-for-a-million-school-kids/#comment-350 Stephen Miller Fri, 05 Feb 2010 01:31:04 +0000 http://www.educationvoters.org/?p=5506#comment-350 Was LEV a contributing member to the NEWS lawsuit? No and why not? Anyone who works in public schools in Washington State knows we are horribly underfunded and now the Courts have affirmed that fact. This lawsuit cost a huge amount of $ and LEV shouldn't send out press releases and alerts to LEV members when you didn't help win the case! It is never too late for LEV to give $ 40,000 to NEWS instead of riding the bandwagon. Words are cheap, while actions that help public school students cost time, effort, and lots of money! Was LEV a contributing member to the NEWS lawsuit? No and why not? Anyone who works in public schools in Washington State knows we are horribly underfunded and now the Courts have affirmed that fact. This lawsuit cost a huge amount of $ and LEV shouldn’t send out press releases and alerts to LEV members when you didn’t help win the case! It is never too late for LEV to give $ 40,000 to NEWS instead of riding the bandwagon. Words are cheap, while actions that help public school students cost time, effort, and lots of money!

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