The legislature passed several education reform bills this year, which we consider in this policy brief. Significantly, as part of the budget compromise, legislators finally repealed I-728. By doing so, they helped clear the way for basic education funding needs. They also improved the 2013-15 fiscal situation by removing I-728 from the maintenance level. In The Drag of Unfunded Commitments, we wrote about I-728 in detail. (Note that the governor has not yet signed the bill repealing I-728.)

A bill that strengthens teacher evaluations was enacted during the regular session. Some teachers and principals will begin to be evaluated under the new system by the 2013-14 school year; by 2015-16, they must all be under the new system. The other enacted policy changes concern the Washington kindergarten inventory of developing skills, collaborative schools for innovation and success pilot projects, efficiencies in higher education, and creation of the Student Achievement Council.