Just in time learning: Basic Ed 101

All education funding is not equal; “basic ed” is protected

Session update:

No deal for kids. Talk shifts to adult needs. Next session starts May 13

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In a legislative session that was “all about McCleary” and living up to promises made four years ago to expand and fund basic education, the state legislature ended its 2013 general session Sunday night without a budget and without agreeing on key K-12 issues – such as how much money to put into the program of basic education.

House plan has edge

Offers kids clarity and commitment; requires significant funds

Yes HB 2051, Implementing basic education expenditures

Yes HB 2038, Investing in the education legacy trust account (end certain taxing preferences)

Take Action: Legislators Need to Commit to kids

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Within the Washington State PTA, we are talking revenue.

Invest and prepare students for life

• Yes to policy bills that support reading and career and college readiness for all students. E2SSB 5237 and SHB 1692
• Yes to reviewing tax preferences and making adjustments to support K-12 and higher education. HB 2028
• Yes, to a budget that uses a balanced approach, identifies stable revenue, and charts out a linear path to fully funding K-12 education while maintaining programs that keep children healthy, safe and fed and that get our youngest ready for kindergarten.

Message to Olympia:

Governor sets aside time for PTA Q&A

Gov. Inslee to speak May 3 at our 100th annual convention

The event runs May 3-5 at the Bellevue Hyatt. Click here to register
Click here for convention guide and agenda
Send your suggested questions for Gov. Inslee to Kathyrn Hobbs, WSPTA Executive Director, at khobbs@wastatepta.org by April 29.

Other great speakers:

Testimony - Senate operating budget, 2013-15

Bill information: SB 5034
Click here to comment on the budget bill
Click here to comment about tax breaks
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What does the budget mean? Possibly, delay in restoring K-12 or cuts to other essential services

Testimony - Academic acceleration and career learning

Tell your legislators what you think:
Comment on 5243, academic acceleration
Comment on 5754, career learning
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To: House Appropriations Committee
Re: PRO, 5243- academic acceleration;  5754 - career learning

Dear Chairman Hunter and committee members,

Cheat sheet on K-12 finance and budgeting

Beyond  class size: Other essential funding

When it comes to basic education, many in the media talk about salaries and class sizes. That's because salaries and benefits make up about 80 percent of school costs, and the number and size of classes drive staffing levels.

But for years, Washington State PTA has been calling attention to other necessary costs. That's because if the state doesn't fund it, local communities need to pass an excess levy, and PTAs tend to run the levy campaigns. And if the local levy doesn't cover it, then neighborhoods need to fund-raise, and PTAs tend to do the fund-raising. And finally (this is a big one that "think groups" and academics usually overlook), when the money doesn't come through, PTAs find volunteers to work for free.

Inslee budget proposal a good opener

It covers recent K-12 cuts, but leaves heavy lifting around McCleary school funding ruling for another day

Governor Inslee's 2013 Operating Budget Proposal is now available on fiscal.wa.gov
Press packet from the governor’s office

Testimony - SB 5330, Student Achievement

Staff handout for E2SSB 5330, Comparison to Current Law & House Bills

To: House Education Committee

Re: E2SSB 5330, Improved Student Achievement and Outcomes

(To comment on this bill, click here)

WSPTA position: Pro. This bill advances a number of our association’s priority issues, including WaKIDS, K-3 class size, parent involvement coordinators, mentors for teachers, and behavior interventions

Dear Chairwoman Santos and committee members,

Washington State PTA is supportive of Engrossed Secondary Substitute Senate Bill 5330; it is an integrated, directive approach that attempts to make best use of limited resources. We appreciate its emphasis on closing the gaps in achievement and we agree with the underlying premise that money alone is not the answer; rather, it is how we direct additional resources to support programs and practices that best help our students, in particular our struggling atypical students. 

Following is feedback on the bill’s separate provisions, in the order your staff presented them in its handout for E2SSB 5330.

Testimony - Reading bill doesn't address dyslexia

To: House Education Committee

Re: E2SSB 5237 - Establishing accountability for student performance in reading.

(To comment on this bill, click here)

WSPTA position: Mixed support, with mixed feelings

Dear Chairwoman Santos and committee members,

Washington State PTA absolutely supports investments in preschool, full-day K, and professional development, particularly if that professional development educates staff on instructional strategies for children with reading disabilities.

State funding ends today (symbolically)

From here on out, funding for K-12 public schools falls to local levies, private fund-raising and federal Title 1 and special education dollars – symbolically, at least

 

Ad in March 18's Olympian

Take Action: Tell the Legislature to pay its bills, so you don't have to pay twice (or three times)

 

Legally the state is supposed to cover basic education. In reality, it covers about 2/3s of the cost. The Washington State PTA, League of Education Voters, Washington Education Association, Washington Association of School Administrators, Washington State School Director Association and the Superintendent of Public Instruction unite to tell the Legislature: Pay up. Following is our press release. A link to a coalition ad is above.

In their words: Kids focus on funding

“We, the future of America, need you to care about paying for our schools and teachers.”

 Students shoot video clips to focus attention on school funding

• Dorothy, Mia and Sonia 
• Bettiann and Emi
• Hannah

Time to fund schools

Court strikes down the two-thirds requirement for revenue

Washington State PTA looks forward to stable and equitable funding for schools

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TAKE ACTION

The Washington State Parent Teacher Association opposes placing “super majority” barriers to funding that kids rely on, and the association welcomes the state Supreme Court ruling this week that strikes down the two-thirds majority requirement for state revenue increases. This ruling gives policymakers the flexibility they need to make practical and balanced choices for children.

Bills we are tracking - Feb. 27 update

Sick and family leave, foster care, troubled youth, CPR, after-school use of facilities, dropout prevention, compulsory attendance, sex education, math and science, online learning ... and graduation tests

Read on for bill information and links to comment on them. Click here for Action Alert on testing feedback

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BUDGET ADVOCACY:
http://waschoolexcellence.org/

NEWS, the group that sued – and won – over school funding, has updated its website (above). Links of interest:

• What is “McCleary”? 
• What real and steady progress should look like (based on state’s testimony in McCleary):

Washington State PTA is a member of NEWS. You should feel free to share these resources with your PTAs and members.
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The Legislature is always busy when in session, but activity has picked up significantly. Last week, bills needed to move out of policy committees. This week bills need to move out of the money committees. This means bills are starting to come up for floor votes and your legislators need to hear feedback on the bills with traction.

“It’s Basic” four years later …

Passing “HB 2261” was about a vision for kids. Will it survive?

Bills this session could either advance or undermine PTA’s goal of redefining basic education to give every child a strong foundation. Early bills looked at walking away from full-day kindergarten and extra science and arts; and pulling 24 credits out of the definition of basic education. Other bills took on discipline issues; opportunity gaps around communication and cultural competence; and dropout prevention, intervention and re-engagement. And rumor is a mystery "big bill" is in play in the Senate. But there has been no hearing. We’ll know this weekend what’s still in play.

So what was the grand push for, back in 2009, when education advocates swept into Olympia and rallied to pass the funding reform bill, ESHB 2261?

Testimony - Fiscal impact of reading bill

To: Senate Ways and Means Committee

Re:  SSB 5237 - Establishing accountability for student performance in reading 

 

Position: CONCERNS; recommendations; supportive of intent

Attached: Letters of testimony

Dear Chairman Hill and Senators,

Screening and Support for Struggling Readers is one of Washington State PTA’s legislative priorities, and I wanted to thank you for hearing this bill and considering the tremendous financial implications surrounding our failure to reach and teach all of our potential readers.

We do have concerns with the bill as written, especially any sort of forced grade retention. Our understanding of the intent, however, is to assert accountability around intervention. That is, schools need to be held accountable for understanding the learning needs of their students and providing appropriate instruction and interventions.  We strongly support this concept and we assert the state has a fiscal interest in ensuring schools use research- and evidence-based literacy curriculum and interventions.

Every high-schooler deserves enrichment

Please - no to HB 1656; how is “less science and no electives” a win for kids?

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Graduation requirements that Washington State PTA supports:

• Career- and college-ready plan developed by the State Board of Education and embedded in the program of basic education; currently on hold pending funding
• 17 core academic credits
• 7 flexible credits
• Students must attempt 24 credits; complete 22 to graduate
• This brief video explains the plan we support

Changing state assessments

To: House Education Committee

Re: State assessments and graduation requirements;
(HB 1450 heard 2/8/2013. Others bills are expected)

Dear Chairwoman Santos and committee members,

At this point, Washington State PTA does not have a position on the various proposals about assessments. But I wanted to share our perspective as you sort through bills this session.

Testimony - suicide

To: Senate Early Learning and K-12
Re: SB 5365 Increasing the capacity of school districts to recognize and respond to troubled youth.

(Written testimony)

Dear Chairman Litzow and committee members,

Washington State PTA supports state efforts in this area and sincerely thanks the sponsors. We would also encourage the state  to offer school staff tools to address students’ social and emotional health, such as support to implement Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports and adoption of comprehensive K-12 Social Emotional Learning standards and the state support needed to implement them for all children.

Sincerely.

Ramona Hattendorf
Government relations coordinator
Washington State PTA

 

Testimony - Lowering graduation requirements

To: Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education
CON, SB 5477 - Delineating standard diplomas and applied diplomas.

Dear Chairman Litzow and committee members,

Washington State PTA believes a high school diploma should signify the minimum skills all children need to prepare for work, ongoing study and citizenship. The goal isn’t just to graduate, it is to graduate prepared. We are concerned about tracking. We are concerned about doors closing on kids before they even hit puberty. We are very concerned that the state will continue to view a solid, 24-credit diploma as an “enhancement” – something kids don’t really need and that the state doesn’t really need to fund. At least, not for all students.

We question the assertion “kids can’t do it.” Is it that they can’t do it, or that they haven’t been given the supports needed along the way? Why have we gone down the reform path if not to bring all of our children along?