Senate passes college-school collaboration bill

SEATTLE — The state Senate has approved an education reform bill championed by the governor, but ridiculed by some lawmakers as not doing enough to help kids.

The collaborative schools proposal would authorize a five-year pilot project enabling up to six schools to partner with the colleges that train future teachers. The colleges would train teacher candidates at the schools and also mentor teachers already in the classroom.

The focus would be on working with struggling kids. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk.

Several lawmakers expressed concerns that the bill only would help six schools when every school in the state deserves some extra guidance for working with struggling schools. But Sen. Christine Rolfes of Bainbridge Island said the program will help kids around the state by improving the training of their future teachers.