State Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe says she expects the current legislature to make what she calls a “significant investment” in basic education.
The State Supreme Court has ordered the legislature to provide full state support for basic public education, but McAuliffe said Thursday that the legislature’s obligation goes beyond complying with the decision in the 2012 case of McCleary vs. Washington.
“The court case only highlights the need to keep the promise of laws passed in 2009 and 2010, to fully fund basic education,” she said. “The children in our schools need smaller class size K-3, all-day kindergarten and adequate funding for transportation and supplies.”
McAuliffe, the ranking minority Democrat on the Senate Education Committee, added, “The investment needed this Legislative session is $2 billion for 2015-2017. This could include compensation for our teachers. McCleary has said that we need fair and adequate compensation to attract and retain the best teachers. It is not about McCleary it is about the kids.”
McAuliffe represents the 1st Legislative District, including most of Mountlake Terrace, all of Brier and Bothell, unincorporated areas of Snohomish County north and east of Bothell, north Kirkland, and unincorporated areas of King County between Bothell and Kirkland.
Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.
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