Good Afternoon!
The E-Wire got the chance to caucus with President Gillette
and Director Krainick this morning to chat about next steps in the legislative
forum and to review the parameters for our Legislative Alert which should
arrive in people’s inboxes tomorrow afternoon. After that meeting, we got
the chance to have face time with Washington’s favorite cynic, Peter Callaghan
of the News Tribune. Catch Peter’s byline on Education funding here - http://www.thenewstribune.com/2014/02/06/3031115/sometimes-a-bill-in-the-legislature.html
At the time, Peter and the rest of us were cooling our jets
waiting for the House Appropriation’s Subcommittee on Education to return from
caucus. After which, they plan a marathon release of bills from
committee. For a list of the bills we expect to fly out of committee,
look here - http://www.leg.wa.gov/House/Committees/APPE/Pages/Agendas.aspx.
Plan on a lot more coming out of various House and Senate committees in time
for Legislative Cut-off.
And with that brief update, the E-Wire!
We’re seeing a lot about this in the press and it bears
following. Drop-out rates are falling in urban areas nationally, but
rural schools are struggling to keep their kids engaged. Note this
article from Oregon - http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2014/02/oregon_graduation_rate_barely.html#incart_river
– and this one from Ed Week - http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2014/02/05/20hill.h33.html.
Common Core faces new fights - http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2014/02/republican_lawmaker_to_introdu.html
Farm Bill passes the Senate – here’s some perspective - http://union-bulletin.com/news/2014/feb/05/farm-bill-doesnt-just-benefit-farmers/
, http://www.goskagit.com/all_access/farm-bill-raises-funds-for-skagit-specialty-crops/article_2699becd-7351-5907-9a96-6108e9752e52.html,
and http://union-bulletin.com/news/2014/feb/05/washington-senators-weigh-farm-bill/
We’ve been seeing a lot of Anti-Levy Messaging this year –
this is one example
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20140206/OPINION03/140209468/States-help-should-reduce-local-tax
- note that many districts are going out to the voters with these questions
soon - http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2022845926_eastsideschoolbondsxml.html
- and speaking of funding basic education, Governor Inslee talks more about his
jumpstart to Education Funding here - http://www.bothell-reporter.com/news/243855781.html
while Seattle Schools grapple with the lack of adequate funding for School
Transportation here - http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/2014/02/seattle-school-board-approves-plan-to-save-3m-in-busing-costs/
and Skagit Schools receive support from a great editorial for next week’s vote
- http://www.goskagit.com/opinion/editorials_and_columns/schools-asking-for-necessities-of-modern-life/article_3d7a93a3-6ec1-5c28-8bbc-a37af61fa829.html
The Changing Face of Kindergarten
Dr. Gene Sharratt from the Washington Student Achievement
Council visited with the Longview Daily News
Senator Roach has been an outspoken advocate for foreign
language options in early education for years – this article probably made her
day - http://blogs.seattletimes.com/educationlab/2014/02/06/new-preschool-will-teach-children-in-vietnamese-and-english/
Anacortes High School Flips Homework with School Work
The bill will die in the House, but be advised Eyman has a
plan
http://www.kirotv.com/ap/ap/legislative/two-thirds-tax-vote-fails-in-wash-senate/ndD3j/
- here - http://crosscut.com/2014/02/06/under-the-dome/118642/eyman-23rds-rule-fails-get-senate-approval/
- here -
And finally, this one bears watching
The E-wire is written and developed by staff and edited by
WA State PTA Legislative Director, Sherry Krainick. If you have a posting
or a topic you would like us to research or cover – please let us know.
You can contact Sherry directly at PTALegDir@wastatepta.org
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