Live blogging is back in 2010 with the first meeting of the Quality Education Council. Meeting materials are available online here. TVW is carrying all of the action live, view it online here. I’ll be updating throughout the day, so hit ‘refresh’ on your browser to follow along.
9:05am-9:45am
Review and Update: 2010 Legislative Session and QEC — Barbara McLain, Susan Mielke, Sydney Forrester, Kim Cushing
>>Questions came up about CORE 24 and increasing high school graduation requirements. It was noted that this is part of the QEC work plan and the group would dive into the issue this year.<<
[Also of note, the Achievement Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee will be appointing a member to attend QEC meetings. Senator Tracey Eide is now attending as an alternate, as well.]
9:45am-10:10am
2010 Budget Impacts on K-12 — Isabel Munoz-Colon
- Local levy revenue now makes up 20.5 percent of K-12 funding, the same level as in 1978 (e.g. the Doran decision).
- The state will spend $5,679 per student in the 2010-11 school year, which is almost $400 less than the state spent in the 2007-08 school year.
>>Assessments as graduation requirements were brought up as a cost concern, but not completely addressed. Sen. Eric Oemig asked about the increased local levy revenues, and Ms. Munoz-Colon clarified that due to legislation that passed, districts can collect more funds due to increased levy lids. Stephen Rushing questioned whether districts would be able to go back to voters and have them approve increased levy rates. Other members asked if staff could present data on which districts actually collect increased levy revenues.<<
10:25am-11:25am
Update and Work Plan from Data Governance Group — Bob Butts, Bill Huennekens, Allen Miedema, Cal Brodie
>>Questions from members on the ability to collect student attendance and discipline data. Mr. Miedema answered that discipline data reporting is not uniform and just not very good; so it is good to bring those issues before the Data Governance Group. Other questions surfaced about the linkage between K-12 and higher education data.<<
11:25am-12:05pm
Update and Work Plan on Prototypical School Formula — Cal Brodie and Kate Davis
1:05pm-2:20pm
QEC Work Plan — Shawn Lewis
>>Mary Jean Ryan made the observation that given Race to the Top and the state reform plan being drafted by OSPI, the State Board of Education and the governor’s office, along with other work plans created by other state agencies, the QEC should consider merging all of the plans. Members stressed the need for adequate time for members to wrestle with issues, and not just have presenters talk at the QEC. Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe is concerned about the use of summative, and not formative, assessments at the state level. Questions over whether the QEC can meet more than four times in one year.<<
2:20pm-2:45pm
Attorney General Briefing: Early Learning and McCleary case — Dave Stoller
[Notably, the AG’s office assures us the Supreme Court will make some decision on school funding at some time in the future.]
Adjourned for the day
