The Washington Learns Steering Committee has scheduled six hearings around the state to take comments on its draft report. Comments will be considered as the Committee prepares a final report and recommendations to the Legislature. The study is scheduled to be completed at a special
"education summit" Nov. 13 in Seattle.
The following information is for school board members who may wish to testify at one of the hearings.
If you are unable to attend a hearing, you may also submit comments online at
the Washington
Learns Web site.
Background
WSSDA and many other organizations have been requesting a comprehensive K-12 finance study for the past several years. In response, the 2005 Legislature passed a law (SB 5441) requiring a study of "early learning, K-12 and higher education." The bill created a steering committee, chaired by Gov. Chris Gregoire, and three advisory committees — early learning, K-12 and higher education.
The full text of SB 5441 is available on the
Legislature’s Web site. It is important to note that the bill requires that the study include "recommendations about how the state can best provide stable funding for student learning" at all levels. The bill also specifically calls for "comprehensive K-12 finance study." This study is to include, among many things:
An analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of current state and local finance formulas and their relationship to student learning goals and requirements;
Identification of local and regional funding challenges faced by individual school districts throughout the state; and
Potential changes to the current finance system, including allocation methods, funding levels, and how student achievement is affected.
Draft reports
Last month, the Washington Learns Steering Committee released a preliminary report providing insight into the progress and vision of the study. The Committee’s draft report outlines eight objectives, which it describes as "bold reforms," designed to transform the current system into a seamless integration of early learning, K-12 and higher education. The objectives address areas such as early learning, math and science, technology, accountability and efficiency, community involvement, and arts education.
This report, which has undergone some revisions since it was first released, is now posted on the Washington Learns Web site as a "Draft Report for Public Comment."
Meanwhile the K-12 Advisory Committee has formulated draft reports containing a series of findings and recommendations regarding K-12 finance and investments. This information is also posted on the Washington Learns Web site.
The key suggestions from the K-12 Advisory Committee include:
Redefine Basic Education based on the goals and learning requirements enacted under HB 1209, and reaffirm that the state is responsible for fully funding this definition.
Fix current structural problems within the funding system, including elimination of levy and salary grandfathering.
Allow simple majority approval of school finance issues.
Restructure allocations and expenditures in a way that is transparent and intuitive.
Ensure accountability for use of new resources.
Develop a new teacher compensation system; increase base salaries.
Add two days of teacher development each year until the state pays for 10 days.
Invest in professional development to ensure all teachers can teach to the standards.
Provide additional learning time and resources for struggling students.
Phase in full-day kindergarten.
Phase in targeted class size reductions.
Phase in mentors and instructional facilitators.
Develop a statewide curriculum menu, with resources for districts.
Implement adjustments to special education formula and accounting methods.
The hearings
Six public hearings are scheduled around the state. Olympia (9/12), Spokane (9/13), Seattle (9/14), Vancouver (9/19), Mount Vernon (9/20) and Pasco (9/21).
Videoconferencing is also offered from remote sites for the Olympia
hearing. Schedule details, including times and location maps, are
available on
Also posted on the Washington Learns site is a document "Guidelines for Public Testimony." Presenters are asked to keep their comments to five minutes and to limit their remarks to the Steering Committee Draft Report.
Presenting at the hearings
The WSSDA Board of Directors is encouraging school board members — as leaders in their districts and their communities — to attend their nearest hearing and provide comments. Before doing so, we strongly recommend that you review both the Steering Committee’s Draft Report for Public Comment and the reports of the K-12 Advisory Committee.
When providing comments, keep in mind that the greatest impact will be had by "localizing" your story to your schools, your district or your region. You may want to talk about challenges you’re experiencing and how they relate to the current K-12 finance structure and/or the proposals under consideration by Washington Learns. You may also want to talk about accomplishments you’ve achieved with limited resources. The important thing is to identify the issues you feel most strongly about and comment on them as concisely as possible — in your own words.
WSSDA is making a series of points in its presentation to the Committee. These "message points" are provided here to stimulate thinking about the issues you may want to address in comments to the Committee. Please do not use these points verbatim in your presentation.
We appreciate the work of Washington Learns and its integrated approach to early learning, K-12 and higher education.
The K-12 system has made huge improvements since education reform was first adopted in 1993. Improvements have been made "doing more with less."
In the last 30 years there have been tremendous changes in education. We have a larger, more diverse student population. Standards and learning requirements have been set, and expectations have increased.
The world has also undergone dramatic change, especially in the economy and technology. Today’s students must be prepared to succeed in the global economy.
Meanwhile, except for some minor tweaks and band-aids, the K-12 finance system is largely unchanged since it was first adopted in the late ‘70’s.
The level of state resources provided under Washington’s present K-12 finance structure is not, and never has been, based on an analysis of student education needs and the amount of funding that is necessary to meet those needs.
Washington’s K-12 finance system is obsolete given the job we have to do. We need a funding system that is predictable, stable and equitable, matches resources with needs, goals and objectives, and prepares our students for the future.
Under state law, Washington Learns is required to provide recommendations about how the state can best provide stable funding for student learning at all levels. The law also specifically calls for comprehensive K-12 finance study.
Many of the recommendations of the K-12 Advisory Committee go to the heart of the study requirements set forth by the Legislature and to the core problems in the finance system.
We recognize that additional resources mean additional responsibility. School board members support accountability. We believe K-12 education is highly accountable and school leaders have been good stewards of taxpayer dollars.
We look to the Steering Committee to seize this opportunity to transform our antiquated finance system and help us build a world-class education system that ensures our children are equipped with the skills they need to participate in our democracy and to lead happy, successful lives.
