The presidents of the five associations — representing school board directors, superintendents, principals, teachers and support staff — were the first to testify at the inaugural meeting of the Washington State Basic Education Finance Joint Task Force. The task force was established by the Legislature earlier this year to develop options for a new K-12 funding structure and a new definition of basic education.

The five associations — WSSDA, WASA, AWSP, WEA and PSE of Washington — came together at the beginning of the 2007 legislative session to insist that lawmakers address the school funding crisis in Washington state. One of the outcomes of the session was adoption of a law establishing the education finance task force.

In a joint statement presented to the task force Monday, the association leaders underscored the need to develop a funding formula that is in sync with the state’s education reform efforts.

"The brutal fact is that there is an enormous disconnect between Washington’s 30-year-old K-12 finance mechanisms and our current standards-based education system," the statement said. "Our state needs a finance system that provides stable, ample funding, and matches resources with needs and objectives."

The statement noted that Washington has made progress on improving student achievement since the state’s education reform act was approved in 1993, but also emphasized that significant challenges remain — challenges that are "exacerbated by our obsolete funding system."

The associations made it clear that they believe the task force’s primary responsibility is to complete the original mission of Washington Learns, which was to develop recommendations about how the state can best provide stable funding for student learning.

"Our five associations know what is needed to strengthen student achievement," said WSSDA President Cindy McMullen. "We need the resources to get the job done right, and that will take a new formula that supports our standards-based education system and ensures the state meets its constitutional obligation to fully fund basic education."

The task force is developing a work plan to meet the timelines established by the Legislature. A final report with recommendations is due in September 2008.