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Funding Washington Schools |
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Our Schools, Our Students — Our Choices for Funding Their Futures |
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Why This Website? WA Schools Are In Crisis: A State Problem Playing Out Locally Welcome to FWS, a resource for learning how Washington State funds its K-12 public schools. All Washingtonians are impacted by the chronic funding issues eroding our public education principles, and the opportunities for Washington students. Fully fund the laws in practice, or change the laws—reform arrives via all vehicles. The FWS 2009 Guiding Principles K-12 Finance: Washington's Schools Are Underfunded Rising costs and declining State funds have strained our local schools to the breaking point - common questions. There is Opportunity for a Solution — ESHB 2261 education reform bill in progress. Advocacy Works — inform and support policymakers as they debate ed funding issues. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Current Events Feb. 04: BREAKING NEWS! Judge John Erlick ruled in NEWS' favor on all elements of our lawsuit against the State of Washington! The court declared the State out of compliance with the Constitution and ordered the State to determine the actual cost of providing an ample education to all K-12 students and to determine a stable and reliable source of funding—the full Ruling doc. Gov. Gregoire’s statement on the ruling. Seattle Times article Feb 4th, Seattle Times Feb. 5th, Tacoma Tribune Feb 5th, Tribune Feb 7th, King 5 News Feb. 4th, Seattle PI Feb. 4th, The Olympian Feb. 5th, The Columbian Feb 5th, Yakima H-R Feb. 8th. More at Network for Excellence in Washington Schools (NEWS) Trial . Jan 14: OSPI School District Data from ‘08-09 now available: specific reports include Funding per Pupil per District (9 pg PDF, avail. as Excel also plus a re-sort showing District ranking), Statewide Average Financial Tables and Charts (13 pg PDF) and State Summary School District Financial Reports (42 pg PDF). Jan. 13: New docs: Gov. Gregoire’s Book II Budget : QEC’s Final Initial ESHB 2261 Report; Supt. Dorn’s 2010 Supplemental Operating Budget proposal; OSPI Supt. Dorn responds to Gov. Gregoire’s Dec. 10th proposed budget to close $2.6 billion shortfall. Jan 11: 2010 Regular Session begins —the budget is the main topic. The session cutoff dates are adopted the first day of the session and will posted here: House bills hearing schedule, and Senate bills schedule. Nov. 12: The WA State Supreme Court overturns the King County Superior Court ruling brought 3 years ago by the Federal Way School District — cost-of-living inequity ruled constitutional: education reform lost out in the case. History of Recent Breaking News & Current Events Current Activities: Education Reform Bill #2261 is now law and in-progress to implement The K-12 Education Funding Reform Bill of 2009, of the decade, ESHB 2261, became law in May— its various components are being implemented in stages by various work groups and committees (primary oversight committee is the Quality Education Council (QEC)). The bill marks the first major change to the definition of Basic Education in over 30 years, with much of the work still to be done by the bill’s work groups … especially in the areas of finding an adequate funding source for implementation and the evolution of teacher compensation / career professionalization. · The Quality Education Council (QEC) panel— the on‐going oversight entity, has an initial report due to legislature and Governor by Jan 1, 2010; all the QEC meeting docs; link to QEC members’ Web sites. · K‐12 Funding Formula Technical Working Group recommendations regarding the funding formulas, an implementation schedule and funding sources for implementation. · State Board of Education Accountability System proposal and timeline to the legislature for implementation. · Department of Early Learning to develop a proposal to phase in a program of early learning for all children. · Outline of 2261 & Work Group Chart as passed by Leg. & signed by Gov. - by LEV / George Scarola Two WSPTA resources: 1) Education Finance Reform (2261) Follow Up Tool, a summary describing the bill’s main features and lists the work groups and agencies, plus web links; 2) Master Meeting Schedule—all are open to the public. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - May 20: Governor Gregoire signed ESHB 2261 into law . The Governor exercised her right to veto two bill sections: Veto 1) The creation of a safety net for gifted education; Veto 2) The Early Learning part of the bill. May 20: What’s Next for 2261 by Barbara McLain, Analyst, Office of Prog. Research, WA Hse. Of Reps. Apr. 20: Bill ESHB 2261 as passed by Legislature; and Governor Gregoire’s Veto Message (Go to more info). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - More background on the evolution and transformation of education reform in WA State is available on ESHB 2261—2009’s Education Reform Bill, the History of Funding K-12, the Basic Ed Finance Joint Task Force, more Basic Ed Finance Topics, and the Basic Ed Finance Docs .
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"It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders...." WA State Constitution
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Understand the consequences of underfunded K-12 students |
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Education Advocates in Washington State Children's Alliance - Fund Our Future WA - League of Education Voters - Network Excel. WA Schools - Stand For Children - WA State PTA |
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19% of WA 9th graders ultimately earn a college degree…. |
