WSPTA Grassroots Connection: E-Wire: 1/15/14

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Hi folks!

The E-Wire is down with Sherry Krainick and Heather Gillette in Olympia today and while we were there a raft of education and child related bills made it on the introduction sheet. More on those bills later – for now, time to look at what is hot on everyone’s minds down here…

Senate Democratic Leader Nelson applauds Inslee for offering a bold State of the State Address

http://sdc.wastateleg.org/blog/2014/01/14/state-of-the-state-i-applaud-the-governor-for-laying-out-an-ambitious-agenda-for-2014/ while the Majority Coalition Caucus is less enthusiastic, citing the need for specifics http://capitolrecord.tvw.org/2014/01/republicans-say-inslees-plans-lack-specifics/#.UtbqnPRDt8w

Funding education was a centerpiece to his proposal

http://mynorthwest.com/174/2432850/Inslee-calls-for-200-million-more-for-education

As Was Raising the Minimum Wage and Teacher Salaries http://www.seattlemet.com/news-and-profiles/publicola/articles/inslee-proposes-raising-minimum-wage-and-other-surprises-from-his-state-of-the-state-speech-january-2014

The Everett Herald praises the now “wide awake” legislative session

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20140115/OPINION01/140119469/

And Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn adds his thoughts

http://www.bothell-reporter.com/news/240161151.html

Showing some degree of bipartisan support, Senator Litzow and Representative Hunter join forces in support for high quality pre schools http://mynorthwest.com/174/2433155/Lawmaker-Cash-for-quality-preschool-will-be-found- Note: With recent studies by OSPI showing that the achievement gap starts before children enter kindergarten, this is a good sign

T/PEP Bills are in Senate Early Learning K-12 Education Committee today

http://www.columbian.com/news/2014/jan/15/state-again-eyes-adding-tests-to-teacher-ratings/

KUOW Piece on New Federal Discipline Guidelines

http://kuow.org/post/new-federal-classroom-discipline-guidelines

Indiana Governor Mike Pence hints that his state may drop out of Common Core entirely

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2014/01/will_indiana_drop_common_core_.html

The Cyber Charter Schools

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2014/01/09/16virtual.h33.html?tkn=ZVXFbSjFz4C36Y91y7v6FGRiDpQLtOCWAv2R&cmp=clp-edweek&utm_source=fb&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mrss

Some States are looking into inspections into teacher training courses

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2014/01/08/15review.h33.html?tkn=OPSFQ0u8zuFquA2sNX4FMCmR8fni0WfdwWh0&cmp=clp-edweek&utm_source=fb&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mrss

Pre School Resources for Common Core

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2014/01/getting_your_preschooler_ready.html