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 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 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
December 01 , 2015 - Mary Strow
November 20 , 2015 - Emily Makings
Charter schools still unconstitutional, but Court slightly limits its ruling
Yesterday afternoon the state Supreme Court released its final decision on charter schools. A majority of five justices decided to delete footnote 10 from the original opinion finding that charter schools are unconstitutional (see page 11). Other than that, the decision stands. Footnote 10 says that "the absence of local control by voters would also violate the article IX […]
November 19 , 2015 - Mary Strow
November 17 , 2015 - Mary Strow
November 09 , 2015 - Emily Makings
New opportunities for Washington students
Sean Gill of UW's Center on Reinventing Public Education has an opinion piece suggesting that traditional public schools may not deserve their monopoly status: Some will say education is a public good – not just something that benefits individual students or families – and I certainly agree. But just because the government pays for it does not […]