Breakthrough close on budget?

TAKE ACTION
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Gregoire pushes compromise; says it is an all-in-one proposal
EXCERPT: “Gregoire said there are six major issues still at play, including proposals to raise taxes. She declined to say what her package would look like but said negotiators have to get away from working through each issue one at a time.
… “Republican Sen. Michael Baumgartner said his colleagues still want to see the pension changes and other overhauls, but he said -the party was flexible and open to accepting other ideas as part of a larger compromise, including the possibility of higher taxes.”
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Gov. Gregoire set to sign remaining bills, says budget progress is being made
EXCERPT: “In remarks to the media Friday morning, Governor Gregoire said there’s continued progress on a comprehensive budget package. Budget writers will continue working through the weekend, she said. But movement needs to happen early next week.”
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Is YOUR legislator serious about kids? Ask them to contact budget writers.

Delegates to vote on advocacy, bylaw changes

RESOLUTIONS UP FOR CONSIDERATION:

• Arts education - updates language, scope
• Sleep requirements aligned to school start times - new
• Subsidizing staff salaries - revised proposal; first considered last year
• Equitable education opportunities (contains references to innovation and charter schools) - new
• List of current resolutions

Several resolutions and bylaw amendments will be considered at the Washington State PTA Convention May 4-6. Resolutions are longterm advocacy positions. Bylaws are the rules that govern the association.

All PTAs/PTSAs need to review these proposals. Be sure to familiarize yourselves with them and discuss them with your voting delegates so they know how to represent your PTA.

Great news for early learning

Big news for the early learning folks: new guidlines are available. Please note the guidelines are birth through third grade and reflect the state-level commitment for smooth transitions into the K-12 system. (See forwarded note, below, for more information.)

Also great news: Yesterday the governor signed a new WaKids bill into law that expands the program to all schools statewide. Funding comes from a federal grant.

Waiting for compromise

BUDGET UPDATE
Various proposals

Leaders from the parties and respective chambers should be negotiating a supplemental budget. Last week the governor expressed frustration at lack of movement. Veto threat.

 

Senators released a new proposal last week that protected K-12 education funding -- "basic education" as well as enhancement programs that help struggling learners and that promote literacy, math and science, and educator development.

• Early learning funding is maintained at present levels.
• Cuts to the Office of the Education Ombudsman are trimmed to 5 percent, from 30 percent, and are no longer retroactive.
• New investments in K-12 education -- needed to meet the state's paramount constitutional duty and comply with the McCleary decision -- are not addressed, other than to create another study group.
• At issue are cuts to the safety net that leaders in the majority party oppose. There is also a difference of opinion over pension reform and payment.

The latest from Senators (minority party plus crossover votes) also includes funding for a charter school bill introduced in January. That bill did not make it out of committee and has not been taken up by either chamber. WSPTA has not taken a position on the bill, but has suggested ways to improve it. Feedback on charter school bill, SB 6202

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WSPTA position on the budgeting process:

Feedback on charter school bill, SB 6202

WSPTA neither supports or opposes; is evaluating and cites concerns
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NOTE: This bill was heard in January by the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee. A companion bill was heard by the House Education Committee. It did not move out of committee and was not discussed or voted on by either chamber, but it was funded in at least one budget proposal from the Senate.

Washington State PTA has qualified support for charter schools and is actively looking for ways to close our state's entrenched achievement gaps. The association is supportive of allowing charter public schools in Washington as a way to improve accountability and innovation – but only if the charter public schools support our principles and follow state law.

In the bill as it currently stands, it is unclear how shared decision making will be sustained at either transformation zone schools or charter schools, or how the state will monitor and address impacts on the surrounding school district. Provisions to engage and involve families and community need to be strengthened, particularly since most laws would be waived. (Washington law allows for waivers, but currently all schools must follow a formal process.)

The following written testimony was shared with legislators on the Senate and House education committees when the bills were first heard.

Budget: On to compromise talks

The Senate passed a budget around 1 a.m. last night, using a procedural move to consider a proposal that did not move out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and that did not get a public hearing.

If there had been a hearing, Washington State PTA would have expressed strong concerns about cuts to education programs that benefit disadvantaged youth, and cuts to programs that keep children safe.

In the new Senate budget, $18 million has been cut from Children and Family Services; $202 million from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families  and Working Connections Child Care; and $44 million from K-12 public education. In the version written by the Ways and Means chair, no cuts were made to education and children’s services were protected.  A key difference is the budget passed does not delay by one day a $330 million apportionment payment.

TAKE ACTION: All members are strongly encouraged to contact their legislators and  ask them to pass a budget that puts children first, MESSAGE:

Please look out for kids.

• Protect their health and safety as well as their education.
• Fund programs that keep kids in school and on track.
• Fund their education ombudsman office.
• Make immediate progress toward fully funding Basic Education as promised in 2009.

If there is a particular program or bill you support be sure to cite it. If you want negotiators to consider revenue, be sure to say that. Revenue bills and cuts that conflict with WSPTA priorities are noted below.

Budget slashes programs for kids

UPDATE: New Senate budget passed 25-24 at 12:47 a.m. 3/3/2012
From here, Senate and House will negotiate differences in respective operating budgets

Senate budgets swapped in floor action

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This afternoon I had good news on the supplemental budget. Senators put kids first. No cuts to education – and better yet, they did this without further cuts into programs that keep kids healthy and safe. Ways and Means was set to vote on the budget Saturday.

Then senators swapped the budget. They are now set to vote on a budget bill that cuts education, cuts public supports that families rely on, and eliminates an entire food assistance program. It also slashes the Office of the Education Ombudsman.

An Action Alert has been set up. All members are encouraged to contact their legislators. Washington State PTA advocates for children's well-being and education. 

New Senate budget and amendments voted down

New Senate budget overview

New Senate budget agency detail

Senate budget introduced in Ways and Means (2/28)

2/28 Senate budget overview

2/28 Senate budget agency detail

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SAMPLING OF CUTS:

Office of the Education Ombudsman: -$320,000 (Entire OEO budget is only $547,000 annually)

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K12 cuts (in thousands)

K12 National Board Bonus: -$17,738

Other Savings: -$11,793

Running Start: -$8,356 

Readiness to Learn: -$3,235

Navigation 101: -$2,808

School Based Medical: -$2,770

PASS Program: -$1,500

Beginning Educator Support Team: -$1,000

School For Blind & CCDHL: -$693

 K-3 Class Size Reduction*: 0 from current; -$32,300 from earlier Senate budget

(* relies on closing 2 tax exemptions)
Other Increases: $248
Teacher Evaluation Systems: $5,767

K-12 Education Total -$43,878
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Other human services (in thousands)

TANF/WCCC Savings & Other Changes: -$202,000

Essential Needs & Housing: -$42,565

State Food Asst Program: -$13,884

HEN Under Spending: -$10,393

ESA, Staffing: -$8,094

Childrens, Contracted Services: -$6,721

Childrens, Caseload Ratios: -$6,463

DL/ADATSA Treatment: -$5,101

Childrens: Other Savings -$5,031

DASA, Other Savings: -$4,957

DL/ADATSA Incapacity Exams: -$4,685

Other Savings, -$1,820  

Childrens, Child Welfare Prgms: -$809

Other Increases: $1,240

Other Human Services Total: -$311,283

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