WSPTA Grassroots Connection: January 9, 2014

Greetings from E-Wire,

Starting off, Representative Ross Hunter formally introduces Governor Inslee’s budget proposal as HB 2185 and sets the initial hearing at 3:30PM on January 13^th. Other Education and Whole Child related bills are dropping fast and furious – here is a sample of today and yesterday’s proposals:

HB 2165 – Representative Ruth Kagi (Shoreline) - Requires a child fatality review to be conducted by the Department of Early Learning if a child dies under the care of a licensed child care center or licensed child care home. The results of the review will be recommendations to the legislature on licensing practices and policies to prevent such incidents in the future.

HB 2166 – Representative Kristine Lytton (Anacortes) - Requires OSPI to begin collecting data on school children in military families in order to track student achievement and incorporate best practices for educational success.

HB 2167 – Representative Kristine Lytton (Anacortes) - Technical Correction Bill – changes date of implementation by which challenged schools are identified

HB 2174 – Representative Roger Freeman (Federal Way) – Recognizes the right of a parent to make decisions concerning the upbringing, management, and education of their children. However, clarifies that this right does not authorize abuse or neglect or to engage in unlawful conduct against the child nor does it prohibit courts or law enforcement to provide child protective services.

HB 2180 – Representative Jeff Morris (Mt. Vernon) – Expands an individual’s right of control and privacy regarding utilization of social networking sites.

HB 2181 – Representative Kristine Lytton (Anacortes) – Establishes the beginning of 1080 student hours for grades 7 to 12 beginning in the 2014-15 school year and the 24 credit high school graduation requirement to start with the graduation class of 2019. The bill provides that the state board of education shall adopt rules to that effect.

HB 2190 - Representative Elizabeth Scott (Monroe) - Bans female genital mutilation and codifies the elimination of the religious exemption which has been used in the past to justify such practices

HB 2191 - Representative Elizabeth Scott (Monroe) - Reduces compliance requirements on child care facilities where facilities meet local standards and requires the department to pay for all building inspection fees associated with obtaining a child care license.

HB 2194 – Representative Roger Goodman (Kirkland) – Adds charges in sentencing scoring for assault on or criminal mistreatment against a child

SB 5982 - Senator Doug Ericksen (Bellingham) – Limits late start and early release days to no more than 7 per school year. Districts may apply for a waiver from OSPI for additional days, but will face a financial penalty.

SB 5984 – Senator Doug Ericksen (Bellingham) – Bans the sale of children’s products or furniture which includes TDCPP. Exempts non-profit organizations from casual or isolated sale or purchase of used materials containing TDCPP.

SB 5986 – Senator Doug Ericksen (Bellingham) – Changes the intent of Federal Forest Dollars to rural districts with a disproportionate amount of Federal Forest Lands. This bill would now consider the money generated from the Federal Government as grants in addition to existing baselines for basic education funding and equalization support compensation from the state budget.

SJR 8212 – Senator Andy Hill (Redmond) - Provides that the change in salary from the salary commission can only take place if the budget is passed on time during the regular legislative session of the odd numbered biennial budget year. Referendum Clause attached as it is a constitutional amendment.

With that, onto the E-Wire!

HB 2158 – Representative Kathy Haigh (Belfair) – Establishes dropout prevention, intervention, and reengagement services as a core service of Educational Service Districts and tasks them with developing programs and partnerships to that effect. The bill also would allow ESD’s to grant HS Credit for completion of courses eligible for credit from that program.

HB 2159 – Representative Laurie Jinkins (Tacoma) – Requires that hours of in-home care be provided based solely on objective assessment of medical need.

HB 2163 – Representative Paul Harris (Camas) - Bans the sale of dextromethorphan to minors under the age of 18 without a valid prescription.

HB 2164 – Representative Tina Orwall (SeaTac) - Adding a requirement for minors charged with possession of a firearm to attend aggression replacement therapy, functional family therapy, or other evidence based program.

More to come tomorrow. All bills that wish to be introduced on the first day of session must be in the hopper no later than 10AM Friday for the House and 12 Noon Friday for the Senate.

3^rd Graders at Captain Strong Elementary in Clark County learn etiquette in fine dining

http://www.columbian.com/news/2014/jan/07/third-graders-learn-fine-dining/#.Us3GXsOXZto.twitter

Garfield HS Parent calls for tougher hazing policies

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Garfield-parents-calls-for-tougher-hazing-policies--239370001.html

Federal Department of Education releases new discipline guidelines http://www.kplu.org/post/govt-offers-new-approach-classroom-discipline and the Atlantic looks into the issue further http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/01/how-to-discipline-students-without-turning-school-into-a-prison/282944/. Colorado’s take http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_24872752/federal-school-discipline-guidelines-reflect-colorados-baby-steps

More young adults are using heroin

http://kuow.org/post/heroin-use-rise-young-adults-increasing-most

The Atlantic looks ahead to Education Topics for 2014 http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/01/whats-ahead-for-education-in-2014/282924/ along with Spokane Legislators http://www.inlander.com/spokane/on-the-agenda/Content?oid=2250107

When I was in school, I had to walk (an excerpt from These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder)

http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/01/school-wasnt-canceled-for-bad-weather-in-1882/282913/

Our aging workforce

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/01/07/number-of-older-americans-in-the-workforce-is-on-the-rise/

Diversity in an Taiwanese Classroom

http://mlford.squarespace.com/new-blog/2013/11/16/sharing-diversity-in-the-taiwanese-classroom-1

Common Core and the Arts

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/common-core-and-creative-learning-courtney-boddie

Rethinking school in the 21^st Century

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/01/steve-hargadon-escaping-the-education-matrix/

Educational shortfalls among NCAA Athletes

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/07/us/ncaa-athletes-reading-scores/index.html

First in likely a series of debates from two rising stars in US/Federal Politics

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/cantor-pushes-charters-and-vouchers-as-part-of-school-choice/2014/01/08/0aa7560c-7889-11e3-af7f-13bf0e9965f6_story.html

Seattle Education Blog looks at per pupil spending in Massachusetts (Paywall)

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/educationlab/2014/01/09/if-school-spending-here-matched-massachusetts-would-we-top-nation/

We have McCleary, Kansas has Gannon

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/08/opinion/whats-the-matter-with-kansas-schools.html?_r=1

Federal School Improvement Program discussed

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

State funding and equity achievement gap

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2014/01/09/16sos.h33.html?tkn=WQRFPnNBnNwKzj55a7R458Q2GzvtrZS%2F4E8E&cmp=clp-edweek&utm_source=fb&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mrss

Rethinking School Management

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2014/01/09/16overview.h33.html?tkn=WNNFX%2BJMJyyF8%2FSz6s6vbNQX%2Bv4jzI2syJGU&cmp=clp-edweek&utm_source=fb&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mrss

Food companies taking the hint and putting America on a diet – cuts 78 calories out of offerings last year

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2014/01/08/3410488/food-companies-cut-64-trillion.html

We’re going to be paying for this

http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/less-boring-than-we-expected/Content?oid=18638091

Tim Eyman gets creative

http://www.columbian.com/news/2014/jan/09/in-our-view-eymans-latest-attack-on-taxes/

Those bills that are lying in House Rules aren’t so dead after all

http://capitolrecord.tvw.org/2014/01/democrats-plan-to-revive-dream-act-abortion-insurance-bill/#.Us7xa_RDt8w

Herald lauds Paull Shin and his graceful exit

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20140109/OPINION01/701099954

Federal negotiations move ahead for a resolution on the Farm Bill which means the Food Stamp program will continue, but with a $9 Billion dollar cut over the next decade

http://union-bulletin.com/news/2014/jan/09/farm-bill-deal-could-mean-9-billion-cut-food-stamp/

Bill Drummond is out as BPA Executive after only six months

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2014/01/bpa_administrator_bill_drummon.html

Fire Protection doesn’t exist in some rural parts of Washington

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/yhr/thursday/1819627-8/outside-fire-department-boundary-lower-valley-home-burns

Kim Wilson of Public School Employees talks Paraeducator Standards

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/educationlab/2014/01/07/guest-para-educators-provide-vital-outreach-to-states-most-vulnerable-students/

Pro Vida Charter Schools get a cold reception in Yakima

http://www.yakimaherald.com/home/1815013-8/skepticism-greets-por-vida-charter-school-proposal

Judge in sex case rules Western State can compel a man to take psychiatric mediations

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2014/01/08/2984469/judge-rules-western-state-can.html

Jail Challenges vexing Pierce / Snohomish Counties