Some sensible steps forward
Published 4:38 pm Monday, April 30, 2012
Despite all the budget cuts the past few years, at least some foundational progress has been made in Olympia regarding the state’s paramount duty, basic education. Plenty of hard work remains, but some rational outlines of that work are taking shape.
A significant achievement this past legislative session was passage of ESSB 5895, refining the evaluation process for teachers and principals to include student growth data among the criteria. The new evaluation system will also move beyond the old pass/fail rating system, replacing it with four meaningful levels: unsatisfactory, basic, proficient and distinguished.
That legislation follows action in 2009 and 2010 to broaden the definition of basic education, the funding of which is the state’s No. 1 duty, according to its Constitution. As it did that, however, the Legislature also cut education funding as the recession blew a hole in tax revenues.
In January, the state Supreme Court blew its whistle, ruling that the state had failed to meet its constitutional charge, and said it will watch to see the Legislature does so by 2018. Getting there will require more money — economic growth is everyone’s preferred source, although reprioritizing current spending, finding efficiencies and instituting tax reform all probably need to be part of the solution.
More spending isn’t the whole answer, though. The steps to ensuring more students graduate from high school prepared for the next step to becoming successful must also be based on sound, flexible policies that have broad support from the public and educators.
A coalition of education stakeholders has formed A+ Washington to help identify those steps. Its goals are simple: adopt sensible approaches to increase student learning and close the achievement gap that still plagues minority students in Washington. Getting there isn’t simple, but the core ideas of A+ Washington do meet the common-sense test:
•Quality pre-kindergarten for every child.
•Excellent teachers for all students.
•Preparing all students for work and college.
•Flexibility to transform schools.
•Accurate measurements and data so schools and teachers can be held accountable for their students’ performance.
A+ Washington has launched an ambitious campaign to flesh out the details. One way it’s reaching out is through panel discussions the public can access live via telephone. The first, in March, drew more than 5,700 participants. The next is scheduled for noon-1 p.m. Wednesday, and will feature a discussion with experts on the importance of high-quality, effective teachers and support mechanisms, such as coaching and mentoring, to help teachers prepare all students for success in work and life. (To participate, call 1-888-863-6102.)
This is just the kind of intelligent, inclusive discussion Washington must have about its future. If you care about education, get involved.
