18th of September 2015
15th of September 2015
Stanford study shows improved charter school performance – especially in urban areas
Even before the state Supreme Court ruled them unconstitutional, charter schools were a topic that engendered heated debate (at least here in Washington; charter schools are perfectly constitutional in 41 other states). Therefore, data, backed up by solid research, provides a welcome relief from the rhetoric. For some years now the Center for Research on […]
8th of September 2015
Possible teacher strike in Seattle centers on pay, instructional time
Seattle Public Schools and the Seattle teachers union agreed over the Labor Day weekend on two items: recess time and pay for substitute teachers. As of this afternoon, however, teacher pay and the length of the school day remain major points of contention. Without a deal today, teachers will go on strike tomorrow – what […]
4th of September 2015
The latest news on teacher strikes
Teacher strikes are dominating local news headlines: The Seattle teachers' union yesterday voted to strike starting next Wednesday, Sept. 9 (the first day of school), if they don't reach an agreement with the Seattle School District. Pasco teachers, who've been on strike since the first day of school in that district on Sept. 1, were […]
19th of August 2015
Improving education, strengthening the economy
Opportunity Washington recently pointed out fascinating research (summarized here) which indicates: “that national average student performance at age 15 on an internationally standardized mathematics test is predictive of that nation’s future economic growth.” It’s yet more proof that a good education is not only empowering and life-changing for individual students, but for entire nations as well. It raises […]
14th of August 2015
McCleary roundup
Big day yesterday with the state Supreme Court “impos[ing] a $100,000 per day penalty on the State” for not producing a plan to achieve, by 2018, full state funding of basic education (as laid out in Article IX, Section 1 of Washington’s constitution – the famous “paramount duty” provision). The court ordered the amount of the […]
6th of August 2015
Manufacturing Jobs: Lots of openings, not enough skilled workers
The Puget Sound Business Journal recently brought together a panel of Puget Sound manufacturers to discuss the problem, verging on crisis, of finding skilled workers. In a nutshell: “Manufacturers can’t find workers to fill open positions.” And these are good-paying blue-collar positions. Things have gotten so bad that several manufacturers, tired of waiting for educators […]