WSPTA Grassroots Connection: E Wire

It’s Day #2 in the legislative session! House and Senate committees are scheduling their final work sessions before the bills that hit the hopper over the holidays are heard in committee. Both the House and Senate Education Committees will be hearing bills tomorrow.

The 8AM House Education hearing will feature legislation that will attempt to get a handle on the student privacy questions that were brought forth by this NPR article last month. http://kuow.org/post/state-deal-give-media-organizations-student-data-alarms-privacy-experts House Bill 2133 by Representative Scott is scheduled for hearing – no word on possible amendments or an executive session yet. The bill's scope goes beyond privacy issues, however, and is likely to change substantially before passing committee.

In the Senate, there are several versions of bills concerning teacher and principal evaluations. As you may recall, the state was informed by the Department of Education that our waiver is in jeopardy unless we make changes to require student assessments become part of the teacher / principal evaluations. The loss of the waiver would result in stricter controls over spending grant dollars from the Federal Government. The Washington Education Association opposes the change – more on their interpretation here http://ourvoicewashingtonea.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ESEA-Bkgrnd-TP-final.pdf

Yesterday, the session kicked off with House Speaker Frank Chopp defiantly leading the chamber in voting the DREAM Act out with strong bipartisan support (71-23) and sending a message to the Senate that he intended to address the need for additional funding for schools. WEA was out in force with 115 teachers lobbying support for a Cost of Living Adjustment Bill. 47 Sponsors in the House signed on in support which included Republicans Larry Haler (Tri Cities), Cary Condotta (Wenatchee)and Dick Muri (Steilacoom). Hearings in the House focused on reviewing interim projects and ongoing studies required by law. See our recent post on yesterday’s activities for the hand-outs from the meeting.

Low Wage jobs still dominate the economy of Whatcom, but they are not expanding much

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2014/01/13/3414151/low-wage-jobs-remain-dominant.html

Congressman Denny Heck urges changes in housing market rules to jump-start economy

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2014/01/14/2992573/target-housing-market-to-get-recovery.html

Issaquah Schools urging teens to take a digital holiday (cel phones, at least)

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/educationlab/2014/01/14/tech-timeout-at-issaquah/

Kitsap teachers join the fight in Olympia over wages

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2014/jan/13/kitsap-teachers-join-those-pushing-cola-bill/#axzz2qO9eWenM

Ellensburg School District expands Early Learning Program

http://www.dailyrecordnews.com/members/school-district-expands-learning-program/article_962b4a32-7a26-11e3-9f84-001a4bcf887a.html

Spokesman Review Editorial has a take on the Supreme Court’s recent statements on McCleary

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/jan/14/editorial-washington-legislature-is-better-judge/ and so does the Walla Walla Union Bulletin http://union-bulletin.com/news/2014/jan/13/funding-basic-education-first-requires-defining-it/