Five of Washington’s largest education organizations have reconfirmed last year’s commitment of working together to advance school funding needs.

The Washington State School Directors’ Association, Washington Association of School Administrators, Association of Washington School Principals, Washington Education Association and Public School Employees of Washington are uniting their legislative efforts for a second year around making significant progress toward the state’s full funding of basic education. This push includes calls for: significant class-size reductions, increased staff ratios, salary increases for all K-12 staff, full-day kindergarten, enhanced school safety and funding of non-employee related costs (NERCs).

Additionally, the group will work to influence the development of a new K-12 finance structure that will provide stable, equitable and full funding for the education of all students.

"Our purpose of continuing our collective work and promoting shared priorities is to ensure that the state provide the resources needed for all students to be successful," said John Erickson, WASA president and former superintendent of the Vancouver School District.

The group believes there is an enormous disconnect between Washington’s 30-year old K-12 finance mechanisms and the state’s current standards-based education system.

"Our state needs a finance system that matches resource with basic education needs and objectives," said Ted Thomas, WSSDA president. "We need a funding system that fully supports the state’s ultimate goal of preparing all children to lead productive, satisfying lives as responsible citizens in our democratic society," added Thomas.

WEA President Mary Lindquist says that teachers, support staff, principals, superintendents and school board members know what is needed to increase student achievement. "We need the resources to get the job done right, and we need a funding formula that supports our standards-based education system and our 21st century students," confirmed Lindquist.

While the group acknowledges that Washington students continue to make achievement gains despite the under funding of the system, they agree that the gains are not sustainable without changes to an obsolete funding system.

The education stakeholders will continue meeting and working together during the 2008 legislative to advance their shared priorities.