McCleary bill, with changes, clears Senate committee hurdle
In the continuing saga of legislation to address the state Supreme Court's McCleary ruling on K-12 basic education funding, the Senate Ways & Means Committee on Tuesday took action, approving its version – but not without changes, or controversy. Second Substitute Senate Bill 6195 looks a bit different than when we last wrote about it (here and […]
February 05 , 2016 - Mary Strow
McCleary planning bill making way through Senate
Last week we updated you on the status of legislation to set a timeline for state compliance with the McCleary ruling (which dealt with state funding for K-12 basic education). The Senate Ways & Means Committee held a hearing on the Senate bill earlier this week. In public testimony, several education groups were concerned about moving the […]
January 29 , 2016 - Mary Strow
The latest on McCleary & K-12 education funding
You practically need a flow chart these days to keep track of what's happening on McCleary (the 2012 state Supreme Court ruling – which the Legislature is in the midst of complying with – that said the state is unconstitutionally not paying the full cost of basic education). The big remaining task of the state is […]
January 28 , 2016 - Emily Makings
New brief: Gov. Inslee’s Teacher Shortage Proposal: Good Policy, Bad Timing?
When Gov. Inslee proposed his 2016 supplemental budget, he also proposed a teacher recruitment and retention plan. We take a look at it in a new policy brief: Gov. Inslee’s Teacher Shortage Proposal: Good Policy, Bad Timing? Briefly: Gov. Inslee proposes increasing salaries for teachers and other school staff. Newer teachers would get the largest […]
January 27 , 2016 - Mary Strow
Opportunity Scorecard update: Washington drops to 28th
Opportunity Washington is out with the first update to its quarterly Opportunity Washington Scorecard. The Washington Research Council is a partner with Opportunity Washington on the Scorecard, which is a data-driven analysis of 50-state performance across three categories: Achieve (education quality and outcomes) Connect (transportation efficiency and reliability) Employ (economic vitality) We track 16 variables, using data […]
January 07 , 2016 - Mary Strow
Another charter-school bill is coming
*UPDATE* We've just received a copy of the bill – click here to read it. A bipartisan group of legislators is backing legislation that will allow Washington's public charter schools to stay open. The bill "makes a series of updates which include directing charter school funding to come from the state’s Opportunity Pathways Account, which contains […]
January 07 , 2016 - Emily Makings
WSIPP projects tuition will increase 2.1 percent in 2017-19
Today the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) released a report on tuition growth factors. As enacted by the Legislature last year, the College Affordability Act reduced higher education tuition for school years 2015-16 and 2016-17. For subsequent years, tuition increases will be limited to "no more than the average annual percentage growth rate […]
January 04 , 2016 - Emily Makings
Recommended reading: The current issue of AWB's Washington Business magazine
The current issue of AWB's Washington Business magazine is particularly good. The cover story (beginning on page 32) is about Washington's maritime sector and the challenges it faces (and is written by our former president, Richard Davis). Trade and maritime activity have long defined Washington. And the industry is well positioned to thrive here for […]
December 28 , 2015 - Emily Makings
Will more education funding improve outcomes?
Today Opportunity Washington quotes a recent Seattle Times editorial: Gov. Jay Inslee refers to education spending as an investment, but he and other state officials must demonstrate to taxpayers that the investments are made in a way that actually improves results. Robin Lake, of the Center on Reinventing Public Education, makes the same point in […]
December 10 , 2015 - Mary Strow