Last Friday, I noted that education reform dominated the first week of the legislative session. A good op-ed by Dean Allen, CEO of McKinstry Co. and current chair of the Washington Roundtable, explains the urgency.

By 2018, two out of three family-wage jobs in our state will require post-secondary education or training. Yet, on average, nearly 30 percent of our students don’t graduate from high school. Of those who do, 50 percent can’t demonstrate proficiency in math, and 50 percent of students who enroll in our community colleges need remedial training, most often in math.

To make matters worse, Washington is one of fewer than 10 states in the country in which achievement gaps between white students and students of color are growing.

…we can all agree … that changes are needed if we truly desire success for all kids.

He emphasizes the reforms rolled out last week, including better systems of performance evaluation and charter schools. Read the whole thing. Funding questions, he notes, should not preclude action today.

It’s tempting to think that nothing can be done right now, given the budget crises hindering our state and local governments, but we can put ourselves on an aggressive path toward improvement by making certain no-cost or low-cost changes in concert with modest public investments and community and business support.

The News Tribune editorial board reaches the same conclusion.

Washington’s schools do need better funding – but their need for better thinking is more fundamental and more urgent. Especially when money is tight and every possible advantage must be wrung out of every precious dollar.

The schools need a bundle of reforms.

See also this Walla Walla Union-Bulletin editorial supporting charter schools.

Finally, here’s Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn’s statement on education reforms.