FOCUS ON SCHOOLS: 2011 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

 How are we doing?

1. Budgeting sidelines career- and college-ready diploma;
2. Evaluation work is on track;
   
3. Core standards are adopted

Considering the scope of work involved, Washington is holding steady. But implementing new policies remains a challenge – chiefly because funding has not been addressed.

·         Progress is slow on changes to basic education, with some delays due to budget cuts and others due to lack of consensus around new reforms. (Disagreements over hiring, layoffs and compensation.)

·         Progress is steady on educator-led overhaul of evaluations and ways to improve teaching and learning.

·         Initial work is underway to turn around some of our lowest-performing schools. Early reports from the Merit schools have been inspiring (incredibly engaged staff) but we haven’t seen data yet.

·          In general, there are more supports for family engagement written into state law. And for the first time statewide, educators will be evaluated on their ability to communicate with parents and community. How that will be measured remains uncertain.

Following is a round-up and update of our association’s top priorities. We will keep these through the 2012 session, with possible adjustments at our Legislative Assembly this October.

No. 1 Expanding and funding basic education
No. 2 Math and Science Education
No. 3 Literacy screening and instruction
No. 4 Teacher Reduction in Force
No. 5 Fund Education First
No 6 New Model for Teacher Compensation

For more information see FOCUS ON SCHOOLS: 2011 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

http://www.wastatepta.org/advocacy/session_2011/2011_Focus_On_Schools.pdf

-- Ron Scofield, ACPTA Advocacy Co-Chair
With special thanks to Ramona Hattendorf, WSPTA GOvernment Relations