Most of my update is taken from "Focus on Schools:  2011 Legislative Session" on the Washington State PTA website:  http://www.wastatepta.org/advocacy/session_2011/index.html . I have also attached an informative summary on where our state education dollar goes.  

I urge you all to take a look through the document since it has detailed information with many links to the groups working on the different issues.  In addition to explaining what was accomplished, it highlights the work on WSPTA priorities, even when those priorities didn't result in legislative action. 

Here is a VERY brief summary of changes that were passed:

Prototypical school funding model:   

This model illustrates the resources needed to fund a typical school.  Districts decide how to distribute the funding and are not bound by the model.  

Early Learning

It is considered essential but not part of the definition of basic education.  Senate Bill 5427 will expand WaKids, a program to gauge developmental progress in kindergarteners to identify needed instructional support.  The state is pursuing federal funds through the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge to build a early learning program.  You can provide a letter of support for these efforts by going to WAChallenge.org . 

Evaluations

No legislative action on this issue.  The salary plan originally outlined in the basic education funding reform bill did not make it into the final bill.  The final bill set up a work group to design a new salary allocation model.  The state is half way through the Teacher and Principal Evaluation Pilot (TPEP).    This fall districts are trying the evaluation systems.  In summer, the state superintendent will make recommendations to the legislature.  The TPEP oversight committee is researching and making recommendations on a number of issues that will address student growth, evaluator training, and inter-reliability.  

Common Core Standards

This summer, Common Core Standards were adopted by the state with a four phase implementation strategy.  These adopted standards will change the graduation requirements, with some starting with the class of 2013 (currently 11th graders). Assuming these standards remain in effect, all the changes will impact the current elementary school students.

Outside of WSPTA, groups (League of Education Voters, WEA, AFT of Washington, etc) continue to push education reform, with a special focus on preserving funding levels, levy equalization, challenging I-1053, and addressing the "last in, first out" basis used to determine which teachers will be cut as school budgets are reduced.  

Rena

Legislative VP

Franklin PTA