Washington State Board of Education Community Forums

The State Board of Education (SBE) will hold a board meeting March 9-10 in Renton. Public comment is scheduled during the meeting; however, the Board recognizes that those times may not be the most convenient for community members, so the SBE will be hosting an additional open forum.

Please join board members for an open discussion about important topics, such as strategies for closing the achievement gap, standards, and college and career readiness. The community forum will be held Tuesday, March 8 at 5:30pm at the Renton Community Center.

Not able to attend? Visit the SBE board meeting page for the remainder of the 2016 board meeting dates, locations, and meeting materials.

This is a public meeting and all are welcome. You may bring guests or share this invitation.

If a quorum of board members are present, this will be a public meeting per RCW 42.30.030.

Location

Renton Community Center, Banquet Room

1715 Maple Valley Hwy

Renton, WA 98057

Contact

Stefanie Randolph, Communications Manager

Washington State Board of Education

(360) 725-6501

stefanie.randolph@k12.wa.us

Washington State PTA Supports HB 2214

PTA Members Take Action - Urge Senators to Support House Bill 2214

Wednesday afternoon, the House passed House Bill 2214, which will make needed reforms to academic testing in Washington State. Washington State PTA supports policies that increase academic rigor which results in career and college readiness. We are asking members to take action and send a message to the state senate, urging the passage of HB 2214 today!

This bill comes at a time where transitions are underway and each graduating class has different graduation requirements. This bill supports many tenants of the Washington State PTA public policy platform including providing a meaningful high school diploma that includes academic rigor leading to a career and college ready diploma. It makes available pathways to graduation that provide alternatives to meeting the assessment standards while continuing to increase students’ ability to acquire the knowledge to be successful in life after high school.  In HB 2214, the legislature states that: “The purpose of a high school diploma is to declare that a student is ready for success in post secondary education, gainful employment, and citizenship, and is equipped with the skills to be a lifelong learner. The Washington State PTA supports the streamlining of high school assessment requirements and the opportunities for increased local determination of alternate coursework to meet the requirement in the 12^th grade year in support of future success after high school.  We believe that requirements established in HB 2214 will assist in building and maintaining the integrity of a high quality assessment system that supports career and college ready learning standards and the requirements under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

Click here to send a message to your state senator.

SBE adopted rules to implement 24 credit career and college ready diploma

Because of you, Washington State PTA was successful in working to promote key aspects of Senate Bill 6552 during the 2014 legislative session to make it better legislation for ALL kids.  On July 9 - 10, 2014, at the State Board of Education meeting in Spokane, public testimony was heard and rules were considered on the credit waiver and family engagement and the high school and beyond plan.  Below is the letter announcing the State Board of Education’s determination on these issues.

Dear stakeholders: 

Yesterday, at its meeting in Spokane, the State Board of Education adopted a set of rules to implement the 24 credit career and college ready diploma, as well as the other provisions of Senate Bill 6552 passed during the 2014 legislative session.

The Board would like to thank stakeholder groups for the unprecedented levels of stakeholder input, both in terms of the number of individuals testifying at our public hearing and community forums – many of whom traveled long distances to do so -- but also those that submitted written input. 

There are a few key issues presented in these rules.   I discuss three major issues discussed below, but the full text of the rules and the accompanying materials can be accessed on our website at: www.sbe.wa.gov/materials.php#july. 

SUBMIT PUBLIC INPUT ON THE COLLEGE AND CAREER READY DIPLOMA

The 2014 Legislature passed the College and Career Ready Diploma as part of E2SSB 6552. The State Board of Education is accepting public comment on the rules for this new diploma and your input will help make sure the College and Career Ready Diploma achieves what you’d hoped it would. You can review the rules and submit comment online at this link (see section labeled Feedback) or in person by submitting testimony at the July 9, 2014 meeting of the State Board of Education from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at ESD 101, Conference Center, 4202 South Regal Street, Spokane, WA 99223.

• State Board of Education Rule Making Process
• A link to SB 6552 - this is the final bill report
• This is a webinar from the Board on SB 6552 Rules

 http://www.sbe.wa.gov/rulemaking.php#.U6kU4_ldWSoRULEMAKING

E-Wire Update - SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION BILL PASSES HOUSE 90-7!

Good afternoon,

 

Two stories are hitting the top of the E-Wire this morning.  The first is the passage of PTA supported House Bill 2797 which cleared the House with a massive 90-7 majority less than an hour ago.  PTA members have been successfully burning up the wires for the past three days in what was one of the largest grass roots efforts we have initiated over the past three years.  Responses from legislators ranged from pleased to shocked.  To quote one, “Where did all those people come from?”

 

Good job people – your efforts paid off – now it moves to the Senate. 

 

The OTHER big news of the day is our SNOWPACK is ranging from 105-132% of normal which means we have cleared the threshold to avoid drought situations in Washington State for this year.  Going into January, we were concerned that this would be a bad year for our farmers, fish, and families.  (Farmers need water for crops, Fish need water to maintain habitat, and Families need water for keeping Hydro based electric rates low.)  No longer a threat!  Happy days!

 

Onto the E-Wire!

 

Senator Andy Hill tried this idea to get Lobbyists to speed up their testimony so that his committee could hear all bills and exec them before cut-off.

 

Education Lab Blog from the Seattle Times gets it, why doesn't anyone else?

 

So much for that idea.

 

This is a growing problem.

 

With all the challenges we face in Washington, moving ahead with judicial understanding for mental health patients is a good thing.

 

As we stated earlier, the waiver debate will resolve itself…

 

Taking STEM to Middle School…

 

Today’s magic number is 3.5 which is the average amount of homework High School Students are assigned.

 

From Our Friends over at WAPO – a look at cool graphs that explain America.

 

Enjoy folks – look for a new message for you to share with your legislators soon about Education funding!

 

The E-Wire is written by PTA Legislative Staff and edited by Legislative Director Sherry Krainick.  Have a question?  Post below or write us at PTALEGDIR@wastatepta.org!

E-Wire Special Morning Budget and Omnibus SB 6552 Edition

Good morning folks!

The PTA was out in force today testifying on behalf of Senate Bills being heard in the House Education Committee.  Priority bills for us include the Omnibus School Hour and Credit Reform Bill and Pathways for Special Education Students.  Several PTA members were in attendance to testify including President Gillette, Director Krainick, and Bellevue Special Needs PTA VP Sarah Butcher.  There was an uncommon amount of give and take in the hearing between the very engaged legislators and the members of the public testifying.  As a result, this was one of the better hearings in House Education and worth your time to listen in to when you get the chance.  Links will be posted here (6552).

The second big ticket item of the day was the release of the Senate Budget.  Some of the Capital Budget directive language to OSPI for school construction looks pretty well thought out – this is likely due to the fact that buried in the budget bill is $78 million that was left unspent in the School Construction Assistance Program.  The reason for this is that there were fewer projects that qualified for grant funding than anticipated.

WSDDA’s Marie Sullivan has a great analysis which we are including here.  House Budget is expected to be delivered later this week with a hearing by the end of the week.

Read more about the Senate Budget here, here, and here.

Jump below to read testimony by our PTA leaders on the Omnibus Bill...

WSPTA Provided Testimony on HB 2181 to Authorizing & Support Career and College ready graduation requirements

Testimony on 1/23/14 - Bill 2181 Career and College Ready Diploma

Thank you madam Chair and members of the committee.

My name is Heidi Bennett, Seattle parent and representing the WA State PTA

We support  this bill most enthusiastically, since the concept was first presented in Washington Learns,  then again in bill 2261 and plus this has been a WA State PTA priority for the last decade.