The League of Education Voters (LEV) had three top priorities: compete for Race to the Top monies, take the next steps on basic education finance reform, and protect BEST (Washington's improved beginning educator mentoring and support program).

1) Race to the Top (SB 6696) = passed. This bill includes many key reforms such as authorization of state intervention in low-performing schools; development of new evaluation criteria for teachers and principals that includes establishing a new four-tiered evaluation rating system; consideration of a single, statewide evaluation model for all teachers and principals; changes to teacher tenure wait time from two to three years; authorization to transfer ineffective principals to subordinate positions within the district; authorization to increase salaries for staff that implement innovative programs which close the achievement gap; addition of four new teacher preparation alternative routes; and authorization of the provisional adoption of Common Core standards (aka Core 21 credits). Due to these impending reforms, Washington State is now positioned to compete for the $4.35 billion Race to the Top federal grant monies.

2) Basic Education (finance ) Reform (HB 2776) = passed

3) Early Learning (HB 2731) = passed

4) Protecting BEST = This issue is still unresolved, but being debated.

 

Of the eighteen 2010 Supplemental Budget items, here is a run-down of what happened in the Legislature:

 

- Working Connections Child Care = no cuts

- Career & Wage Ladder = no cuts

- K-4 class size enhancement = cut $30 million

- Student Achievement Program (Initiative 728) = cut $78.5 million

- Enhanced classified staffing ratio = no cuts

- Levy equalization = added $29.8 million by raising the levy lid by 4%

- All-day kindergarten = added $5.8 million

- National Board bonuses = eliminated bonuses for principals by cutting $810,000

- Highly capable = no cuts

- K-6 ALE programs (on-line learning) = no cuts

- Focused Assistance = cut $2.6 million

- Beginning Educator Support Team (BEST) = cut $348,000

- Achievement Gap Oversight Committee = given $100,000 to continue its mission

- Career & Technical Education (CTE) = cut $4.3 million

- Middle School CTE = cut $209,000

- Navigation 101 = cut $100,000

- State Need Grant = no cuts

- Work Study = cut $7.4 million but increased employer share

 

Even though there are a lot of budget cuts to many significant programs, it does not mean that these programs have fallen by the wayside. For example, BEST still has a $2 million dollar budget; K-4 class size enhancements were cut by $30 million, but K-3 class size enhancements were maintained; and due to Levy equalization those school districts with a lower than average property tax base are still being supported by the 4% levy lid increase. Thank you to the League of Education Voters, Stand for Children, and Partnership forLearning, in conjunction with all the grassroots efforts of parents and the Washington State PTA, who worked so hard to enhance basic education funding in our state and fought for a 32 year overdue education reform package. Folks, this battle has been no less than a second American Revolution! The silver lining, in the dark clouds of our dire times, is that we can achieve positive change when we work together to demand it. The reformation of our education system will not be an easy task, but now we are finally on the right path. The Age of Education Accountability has begun!

This website is published by Liberty High PTSA, P.O. Box 2633, Renton, WA 98056.  Information is for our members and the Liberty High School community. Questions or comments on the website may be sent to LibertyHighPTSA@gmail.com.