Congratulations: the hard work paid off!

Thank you to everyone who made a phone call, sent an email or has been following the push for Basic Education Reform. The months of hard work the Basic Education Funding Task Force put into designing a comprehensive reform package is actually being put to work. It is refreshing to see a study done and actually get results!

HB2261- Concerning the state's education system passed the House with a 61 to 37 vote late Monday night and is now awaiting Gov. Gregoires signature. Washington now has a framework to begin to meet its constitutional duty to provide and fund Basic Education using a model that realizes the needs of todays students. Some of the changes, which will be phased in over the next several years include: all day Kindergarten, funding six class periods in high school (instead of the current 5), and provide funding for gifted programs.

This legislation has critics. There was opposition to the lack of specific funding sources being named. The WSPTAs position is the state needs to fulfill its responsibility to fund Basic Education. Local governments and dollars should be used to cover the extras. The state needed to accurately define Basic Ed. so the funding is being used to achieve the best results.

The next big step is funding. I hope Enatai PTA will work with WSPTA, and all the other groups that came together to get this work done, to keep our legislators on task to find/create funding for these important changes.

Thanks again!
Marie Stark, Enatai Legislative Chair and Linda Mui, unofficial Co-Chair

Legislative update

3/25/2009

Linda Mui and Marie Stark went to Olympia for a public hearing on Early Learning and K-12 Education legislation in the Senate. 

The Senate has adopted the House's version of the education funding bill (HB 2261). There was big turnout, filling a main hearing room plus an overflow room.  90 people signed up to speak.  Only about 40 got the chance during the two hour hearing.  Those testifying were split about 50/50.  Half said they just want the Senators to figure out how to fund basic education.  The other half were in favor of redefining 'basic education', making substantial changes AND find funding sources, all fazed in starting in 2011.

Both sides make some important points and everyone there today cares deeply about the future of our children.  The WAPTA's position is that how the state currently defines 'Basic Education' (and therefore is responsible to fund) is absolutely inadequate.  The recommendations from the Basic Education Task Force should be implemented to bring our schools into the 21st century and these changes need to funded.  The status quos is not good enough. 
Here is a link to  ESHB 2261 - Concerning the state's education system. 

Focus Day: what we learned

Watch this video for a summary of what was learned on Focus Day.