The SnOMG last week plus the Thanksgiving Holidays buried us in weather/travel news and likely some family drama, but I wanted to make sure this ‘tidbit’ didn’t stay buried. In response to the news that the state is facing an additional $385 million deficit in the current fiscal year (as detailed in my last post), [...]
Important victories, some setbacks for education
April 15, 2010 By
With your support and advocacy, we achieved important victories for kids and schools this legislative session. In the face of the worst recession since the 1930s, lawmakers adjourned last night after balancing the state budget and raising $800 million in new revenue to support education and other critical services. Here’s a brief summary of what [...]
I-728: Long run, sad ending
April 15, 2010 By
Back in 1998, a small group of levy chairs, school directors, and parents came together and hatched a plan to direct the state’s surplus (we had one back then) into public schools, so that the promises of education reform could be made real for all children. Its success at the ballot box was stunning – 72 [...]
2010 special session will end…
March 23, 2010 By
Who knows when. The original 7-day deadline came and went Sunday with little fanfare (although Gov. Chris Gregoire did strongly urge the Legislature to wrap things up). So now we wait. Rep. Jeff Morris tweets [I think I am the only person not on Twitter] his predictions on how long the special session will go. Yesterday he thought [...]
Make our lawmakers think about our kids
March 17, 2010 By
As state lawmakers are working on the budget during a special legislative session, we need them to think about our kids. We know cuts are coming–that’s why we need to send hundreds of messages to Olympia on behalf of our kids to protect critical education programs. LEV has joined together with teachers, parents and community [...]
Lawmakers reach agreements on key education bills
March 12, 2010 By
Parents, educators and students have a lot to celebrate this morning. On the final day of the 2010 legislative session, lawmakers reached agreements on key education bills. Thank you to legislators and especially parents and education advocates who worked so hard on behalf of kids this legislative session. Basic education funding bill Lawmakers took the [...]
Oh what a night!
March 11, 2010 By
Today, the last of the 60-day 2010 legislative session, was a big day for education. First, in the late afternoon, Senate Bill 6759 passed both chambers. Then, this evening we had rapid final passage of three other bills, Senate Bill 6696, House Bill 2776 and House Bill 2731 (last of the night). Together, these four [...]
Education advocates send letter to Sen. Brown and Speaker Chopp
March 10, 2010 By
More than two dozen parents and education advocates sent a letter today to Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown and Speaker Frank Chopp urging them to work together to pass critical education bills. The full letter is below. ——————————- To: Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown House Speaker Frank Chopp CC: Senator Rosemary McAuliffe, Chair, Early Learning [...]
Time's running out for pre-K in the Senate
March 8, 2010 By
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Session is nearly over. It could finish with a solid step forward for early learning OR more talk without action. Right now, it could go either way. Last week, the House passed a robust bill (SSB 6759) that would pave the way for increased access to affordable preschool for kids across [...]
State House passes Race to the Top legislation
March 5, 2010 By
The State House has passed legislation to help Washington win a federal Race to the Top grant and begin fully funding basic education (E2SSB 6696). The bill now goes to the state Senate for concurrence. Now, parents and educators need to contact their state senators to urge them to support Senate Bill 6696 as it [...]
