Latest News and Comment from Education

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

The Greater Good Campaign - WASHINGTON’S PUBLIC EDUCATION IS AT A CROSSROADS

The Greater Good Campaign:

F IS FOR FUNDING

F_85x85
Washington state is failing at funding basic education. Our state constitution says “It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders” – yet the Supreme Court ruled that Washington has completely failed in this duty by consistently falling short of funding the actual cost of the basic education program.Learn what this means for public school students and what you can do about it.

44% OF WASHINGTON STUDENTS ARE FAILING MATH

Failing_Math_85x85
Only 56 percent of Washington 8th graders passed the Math Measurement of Student Progress in 2014. Washington’s education priorities don’t add up to success for our students or STEM-focused local jobs.

SEATTLE SCHOOLS HAVE ONE OF NATION’S LARGEST EQUITY GAPS

A new study says Seattle Public Schools have some of the widest racial and income-based opportunity gaps in the country, second only to Miami among major cities.

LAWMAKERS LIKELY WON’T FIGURE OUT EDUCATION FUNDING THIS YEAR

lawmakers_85x85
Legislative leaders said it’s a priority, but they still haven’t resolved where to find the money to reform the way the state pays for education, and likely won’t get there until the 2017 Legislature, The Seattle Times reports.

WHAT’S TAKING STATE EDUCATION FUNDING SO LONG?

takingsolong_85x85
The Seattle Times editorial board says Washington state legislative leaders are taking too long to study the state’s education crisis — it’s time to find a solution. Legislators on both sides of the aisle now say they need another year, another task force and pricey consultants to assess funding in its 295 school districts — five months after being fined $100,000-per-day by the state Supreme Court for repeatedly failing to present a plan to fix the funding mess, as required by its 2012 McCleary ruling.