Another blow to basic education, funding

BILL WOULD KILL 24-CREDIT COLLEGE AND CAREER-READY DIPLOMA
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Set requirements below what most schools currently require
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Dear advocates,

Yesterday afternoon a bill was heard that would redefine basic education to include only 18 credits and not the 24 in the college and career ready diploma outlined in 2009’s HB 2261.
The rolled-back definition in this new bill, HB 2411, was supported by the Washington Education Association (teachers union) and Washington State School Director Association (school board association).

Lab schools, charter schools get House hearing

Dear advocates,
The charter discussion continued in the House Education Committee today. I strongly encourage you to watch the TVW video:

• Jan. 20, 2012 House Education Committee hearing on HB 2428, a bill that would allow a limited number of charter schools to operate in Washington and that would set up a statewide district called a transformation zone.

Early learning bill gets hearing Jan. 20

HB 2448 - Creating the high-quality early learning act

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House Early Learning & Human Services

1/20/2012, 1:30 p.m.
House Hearing Rm D, John L. O'Brien Building, Olympia, WA
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Related WSPTA 2012 priority: Early learning
Also supported as a National PTA priority (see page 7 of the policy brief)

Hearing recap and testimony on charter schools

A work session on Washington’s Innovative Schools and a public hearing on SB 6041, lighthouse school programs; and SB 6202, establishing alternative forms of governance for certain public schools

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TVW video:

2012 Designated Innovative Schools

Overview of TAF Academy

Charter school, transformation zone chart

Dear advocates,

Innovation was the theme at this morning’s gathering of the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee. First senators heard an overview of the state’s designated Innovative Schools and a presentation by the TAF Academy, a public-private partnership that operates STEM-focused schools in Federal Way and Renton. (STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).

Evaluations, early learning, juvenile justice, charters

Dear advocates,

LOTS of issues from our 2012 platform to weigh in on or track this week, from implementing the revised evaluation system, to charter schools, educational opportunities, early learning and juvenile justice. Plus issues included in our legislative principles and resolutions.

This week’s legislative agenda has been updated several times and several hearings or work sessions have been canceled or delayed due to snow.

DAILY AGENDAS – Always check before heading to Olympia. They can change

TVW SCHEDULE – Watch hearings live on TV or web; they also archive them

WSPTA Top 6 and other supported issues

Reform bills introduced in House and Senate

ADDRESS EVALUATIONS, CHARTERS AND ‘TRANSFORMATION ZONES’
Press conference
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WSPTA statement on implementing new teacher and principal evaluations
Re: : HB 2427/SB 6203

Washington State PTA is proud to serve on the Teacher and Principal Evaluation Pilot Oversight Committee and is strongly supportive of the work underway to promote professional growth. We look forward to student-focused evaluations that give educators the feedback they need to progress from a beginner with basic skills to an experienced professional with distinguished skills.

Court to state: No more delays on K-12 funding

UPDATE 2/3/12: TAKE ACTION - Tell your legislators to phase in basic education


Dear advocates,

In a clear win for children, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled unanimously today that the state was violating its constitutional paramount duty to amply fund K-12 education. The ruling

This is a historic victory, and starting today we have a new conversation. No longer are we going to petition over loss of school days or access to all-day kindergarten.

Starting today, the cuts stop and funding starts.

Cutting school days creates a legal, logistical mess

Dear advocates,


The governor’s proposal to cut and later ask voters to “buy back” four days of school gambles with our children’s future, and Washington State PTA strongly opposes it. The move would land the state in a legal mess and cause tremendous disruption. TAKE ACTION

• It would require redefining basic education and set a troubling precedent that students don’t need that time in school. 
• It would force districts to reopen and renegotiate hundreds of contracts, or possibly make the state step in and order school doors closed. 
• Worst of all, it tells students not to count on that promised college- and career-ready diploma. 

Cuts go too far, take wrong approach

Governor’s budget and revenue options
TAKE ACTION
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Dear advocates,

Gov. Gregoire released her budget on November 21 and K-12 takes another hit, this time to both levy equalization and school days. Over the past three years, the state has reduced spending by $10.5 billion, and the biggest piece of that – 26 percent, or $2.7 billion – has been to K-12.

Blow to basic education: We were told to expect more cuts, but the manner of one in particular is troubling. Not only would the governor’s proposal take another $329 million from students, it would require redefining basic education to cut the number of school days. For $99 million in savings the state would set a precedent that basic education is what the state opts to fund – not what students need to graduate ready for college and career, and not what the state previously committed to.  It undoes the “magic” of basic education funding reform and pushes us further from our goal to add instructional time in middle and high school.

Support for charter schools

Dear advocates,

Allowing the operation of charter schools in Washington is on our legislative platform for 2011-12. It is one of eight supported issues, which means the association will testify in support of a proposal that meets our criteria. To the extent possible the government relations coordinator (that’s me) will participate in conversations about what a good charter school law would entail. Staff focus goes first to the Top 6 issues, then to supported issues.

As with all platform issues, the government relations coordinator will let members know when there are opportunities to testify or otherwise engage in charter legislation or conversations.

Following is the filter that will be used this legislative session to evaluate any charter school proposal. This same filter is used for all school proposals.

Priorities for fall special session

Dear advocates,

Gov. Gregoire is calling legislators into special session on November 28 to deal with an expected budget shortfall. Revenue is not falling, but it isn’t recovering at the rate officials had hoped for. The governor is planning on $2 billion in spending reductions -- $1.4 billion to cover lower revenue and $600 million to maintain a reserve. Education and programs that support children’s health, safety and welfare could take a big hit.

The Washington State Parent Teacher Association asks the state to put children first.

Reading flagged in Nation’s Report Card

Dear advocates,

For the data wonks, long-awaited national figures have been released by National Assessment of Educational Progress. And contrary to what we often hear, READING is a concern. Early literacy, specifically screening for phonological awareness and direct, explicit, research-based classroom reading instruction in the K-3 years is our association’s No. 3 priority. (Math and science are No. 2)

Governor’s preliminary cuts

Nearly $600 million less for children’s well-being and education 
$2 billion in cuts needed to balance the 2011-13 operating budget and maintain a reserve

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Dear advocates,

We knew more cuts were coming, and today Gov. Gregoire gave us a glimpse of what might be ahead. She released preliminary spending reductions and asked all who care to review them. She will finalize her recommendations in November ahead of the special session.

Costs to kids? Cuts affecting the well-being and education of children come in at $592 million. And those are just to children and family programs, early learning and K-12 public schools. Other cuts will hit the adults in children’s lives, leaving kids more vulnerable.

How will school salary cuts play out?

Dear advocates,

Short answer to the salary question: It will vary among districts. Any loss in take-home pay will depend on local contracts, local resources and how much of the staff is hired using local funds. The cut is to an allocation. Actual reductions in take-home pay may range between 3 percent (for principals) and none.

The answer will also vary among individuals. Details (and there are many!) are below.

K-12 budget points you need to know

Dear advocates,

Public education is a core function of the state and its paramount duty (per the constitution). The state is charged with ensuring equitable and stable funding.

Here are some quick points about the proposed budgets:

Basic Education 101

The legislators' proposed cuts are severe and we are concerned about the state's ability to meet its constitutional duty. Here is a primer on Basic Education.

CITATIONS FOR BASIC EDUCATION:
           
The State Constitution provides that:

• "It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders…" (Article IX, Section 1), and, 
• "The legislature shall provide for a general and uniform system of public schools. …" (Article IX, Section 2);

The courts have held:
In School Funding I and II the court interpreted these articles of the State Constitution and established important funding principles for the state, including that:

Resources for Arts Education Month

• What does the law say about arts education?
  http://artsedwashington.org/qas/what-does-the-law-say-about-arts-education
• What’s happening to the arts in our schools?
  http://artsedwashington.org/qas/what’s-happening-to-the-arts-in-our-schools
• Why is arts learning so unique in its impact?
  http://artsedwashington.org/qas/why-is-arts-learning-so-unique-in-its-impact

Contracts and school policy; using data in family engagement

1. Advancing student achievement through labor-management collaboration
2. Using data to transform family engagement

1. LABOR-MANAGEMENT COLLABORATION
Interesting reading for those of you interested in how contracts affect student outcome.

• Advancing Student Achievement Through Labor-Management Collaboration:  http://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/labor-management-collaboration-program.pdf  

Update on Budget Cuts – and Outlook for out Top Priorities

Dear advocates,

The first two weeks of legislative session were hectic. In addition to the hearings, there were key meetings of the Quality Education Council and the State Board of Education, as well as ongoing meetings of the steering committee for the Teacher/Principal Evaluation Pilot. Budget hearings and money (or lack of) is coloring everything. PTA/PTSA members need to understand there are 2 budget issues.

REFORM-EVALUATIONS, SB 6696:

Hi advocates,

More food for thought (and not revenue, this time) … Wash State PTA is part of the state’s Teacher/Principal Evaluation Pilot oversight committee. At the committee’s last meeting, the Measure of Effective Teaching project was cited. I found the project’s website site interesting and thought you might as well. I particularly like that it looks at the substantive nature of teaching – not just test scores.