OLYMPIA – Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire on Monday created a new education council to crack the whip on reforms in early learning, public kindergarten through 12th grade and the state’s higher education system.
Gregoire, who recently headed a two-year reform drive called Washington Learns, said she will serve as chairwoman of the new 11-member council, which will include members from across the education spectrum. She said she will also keep tabs on another study panel that is looking at education financing.
The governor said one of the key goals of the new P-20 Council will be to knock down the “silos” that seem to put preschool, K-12, community colleges and four-year schools in separate worlds. A truly effective system has to be seamless, she said.
P-20, her buzz phrase for the whole system, refers to preschool and other early learning opportunities, followed by K-12, college or trade school and, potentially, graduate school or retraining.
“A world-class, learner-focused and seamless education system in Washington requires excellent communication and coordination between all levels of education,” the governor said. “To achieve this, we need to be ambitious but we must also be honest about our progress and be accountable.”
The Washington Learns panel resulted in a new cabinet-level Department of Early Learning, upgraded day-care centers, daylong kindergarten for more kids, more money for public schools, help for students struggling with graduation tests, and a major expansion of the public college system. The construction budget also added several billion dollars for construction of local schools and college buildings.
“The greatest fear is that it ends there,” and the state doesn’t hold the entire system accountable, the governor said.
Breaking down all the institutional barriers is critical, she said. Five years ago, the various sectors weren’t communicating and sometimes were too hung up in turf wars, she said.
Gregoire said she wants the new council to act as watchdog as the state moves forward. Some early priorities, she said, are:
* Improving programs for English-as-a-second-language students.
* Revamping universities’ colleges of education so they produce teachers who are attuned to individualized instruction, technology, online classes and other changes that are required in the new century.
* Making sure students can transition seamlessly from early learning to kindergarten to first through 12th grade and beyond.
The P-20 Council will be composed of Gregoire, state school chief Terry Bergeson and the heads of the Department of Early Learning, state Board of Education, Professional Educator Standards Board, Higher Education Coordinating Board, Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, state Board for Community and Technical Colleges, the Council of Presidents, Independent Colleges of Washington and a tribal education leader.
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