Hello Readers,

One of WTIA's key policy priorities is a good education system that has high standards, curriculum that maps to those standards and a testing system that provides measurements against those standards.  While education reform has gone very slowly in Washington state, progress has been made.  It will be very interesting to see how our newly elected Superintendent of Public Instruction, Randy Dorn, keeps the promises of education reform.  He was, in fact, one of the original architects of it in 1993 when he served in the legislature.

One of the problems in the K-12 system has been inadequate funding of it, as a percentage of the state operating budget, since 1993.  K-12 now represents about 41% of the state operating budget.  Many other demands are placed upon the state budget, not the least of which is health care.  This is especially daunting as the state constitution says "It is the Paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its border, without distinction or preference on account of race, color, caste, or sex."  Article IX, Section 1, Washington State Constitution

Of course, "ample provision" has different meanings at different times.  Clearly what was adequate 50 years ago is not today as we live in a technologically advanced, globalized world.  The need to be able to read, write and do math has not changed but how schools are governed, how teachers are trained and paid, how technology is used to enhance education must adapt to the world around it and provide for ALL children.

This task is made more difficult by the economic downturn we are experiencing, which is reducing projected tax revenues for the next biennum that begins July 1, 2009.  However, it must be understood that the state will spend more in the next biennium than the current one.  It is just that the obligations and promises are $3.5 billion more than the tax revenue to support them.  The legislature will have to do away with things like paid family leave and possibly the Health Insurance Partnership in order to adequately fund K-12.

A Basic Education Financing Task Force has been meeting and discussing the problem.  A number of different proposals have been floated but this one,  http://whatittakesforkids.com/ should be looked at very closely as it attempts to look at the system holistically and address structural problems.  It was developed by some of the smartest stae legislators on education issues.  Please check it out and read the plan.  The K-12 system does need more money but it needs much more accountablity for its performance, too.

The WTIA will be looking at this plan as well as the other ones being considered by the Basic Education Task Force but at first glance What It Takes for Kids is likely the one that addresses structural and governance problems while improving outcomes and accountability the best.

If you want to know more about the Basic Education Financing Task Force, check out their website:  http://www.leg.wa.gov/Joint/Committees/BEF/

I also came across an interesting article about an idea in New Hampshire for having students ready for college after their sophomore year here:  http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20081107/us_time/shouldkidsbeabletograduateafter10thgrade 

WTIA member and tech industry feedback and input is most welcome.  Do not hesitate to contact me about your thoughts and ideas for improving education.  Lmcmurran@washingtontechnology.org