Archive for Schools

Drunk drivers would pay child support to their victim’s children under proposal

By Christina Salerno | February 8, 2013 | 0 Comments

On Thursday’s “Legislative Review,” we look at a proposal that would require drunk drivers who kill someone to pay child support to the victim’s children.

Also, several family members of people who have committed suicide testified at a House education committee — including the aunt of Kurt Cobain. They were testifying in support of a bill that would require school counselors and nurses to undergo suicide prevention training.

Plus, highlights from a hearing on the Yakima River Basin project — including opponents who say the plan would put their homes under 20 feet of water.

For a wrap-up of the week’s legislative activities, catch tonight’s edition of “Legislative Review” at 6:30 and 11. It’s a full half-hour recapping all of the week’s highlights.

Categories: Education, Schools

Hundreds of community college students rally at the Capitol

By Bill McKee | February 1, 2013 | 0 Comments

More than 250 students from Washington’s community and technical colleges rallied in Olympia on Friday with the message: “We are the future, don’t cut the future.” The 2013 Community Student Legislative Rally organized the event at the Capitol Rotunda to bring attention to rising costs of tuition, programs, class selections and textbook prices.

“We’re here today to ask our lawmakers to stop raising tuition and cutting our funding,” said Kailene Sparrs, president of the Washington State Community and Technical College Student Association. “We want our students to be able to get an education so they can go out and get jobs and be contributing members of the community.”

“When you look at compounding costs for students, tuition has actually increased by approximately 100 percent over the last four years,” said Highline Community College trustee Dan Altmayer. “We need more money for the system so we can do this without putting on the backs of our students.”

Administrators from several community and technical colleges spoke at the rally, along with students and state legislators.

“My goal is to make sure that every single person who wants a higher education in the state, gets an education, and gets a job in their field afterward,” said Sen. Barbara Bailey (R-Oak Harbor), chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee.

Joshua Armstrong, a student from Edmonds Community College, said he may not be able to finish school because of the cost.

“My biggest fear is to not be able to continue my education due to rising tuition costs,” Armstrong said.

Categories: Education, Schools

Legislators consider ‘sip and spit’ law for state’s viticulture students

By Chris West | February 1, 2013 | 0 Comments

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Lawmakers are considering a piece of legislation that would allow some Washington students to take a sip of wine – as long as they don’t gulp it down.

House Bill 1459, sponsored by Rep. Larry Haler (R-Richland), would allow college students between 18 and 21 years old and enrolled in a viticulture or enology program to sample alcoholic drinks, but not ingest them.

Other restrictions would apply, including tasting the alcoholic drinks only during class time and under the supervision of an instructor who is at least 21 years old.

Washington State University currently offers a viticulture and enology degree for students interested in wine-grape growing and wine making at their Pullman and Tri-Cities campuses.

Similar bills, often labeled academic “Sip and Spit” laws, have passed a handful of states, including Illinois, Colorado and Rhode Island.

The bill will receive a hearing in the House Government Accountability and Oversight Committee next week.

Categories: Schools, WA House

House higher education committee considers recommendations

By Bill McKee | January 15, 2013 | 0 Comments

The House Higher Education Committee met this morning for the first time this session to address the problems facing higher education for Washingtonians.

Committee Chair Rep. Larry Seaquist (D–Gig Harbor) began the meeting with a simple question – why is Washington state under-educated?

“Washington’s 25-year-olds are less educated than their parents, and less educated than the 25-year-olds in many other countries,” said Seaquist.

After introductions of the committee members, the Student Achievement Council presented their strategic recommendations. The council was created by Legislature last year primarily for the purposes of increasing the level of education attainment for Washingtonians and to identify improvements to the education process.

“We believe that to increase the higher level education attainment, you have to look at the entire system – how it’s aligned, how it’s integrated, how the students at every level are ready for the next level of education,” said Brian Baird, chair of the Washington Student Achievement Council.

The Council presented recommendations developed to address the biggest issues facing higher education:

student readiness
the affordability of higher education
institutional capacity and student success (student-teacher ratios and the effect on student performance)
technology (eLearning)
funding

Following the presentation by the council, the committee heard from students from both four-year institutions and 2-year community and technical colleges.

(more…)

Categories: Education, Schools
Tags: Larry Seaquist

Guns, charter schools and live legislative preview

By Christina Salerno | January 9, 2013 | 0 Comments

Here’s our mid-week round-up:

Several lawmakers appear to be considering new gun laws in Washington state in the wake of the Sandy Hook mass school shooting. Rep. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, told The Seattle Times he believes there’s bipartisan support for tougher gun laws for juveniles and committing dangerous individuals — but not much else. Meanwhile, Rep. Liz Pike, R-Camas, wants to allow trained teachers to carry guns in the classroom. Read the story here.
Schools chief Randy Dorn wants state lawmakers to amend the charter school law so that his office oversees the new schools. The law, which voters approved in November, creates a new commission charged with supervising charter schools — a move that Dorn says is unconstitutional. Dorn will discuss the issue, among other topics, on this week’s “Inside Olympia” with Austin Jenkins on Jan. 10 at 7 & 10 p.m.
Rep. Gary Alexander, R-Olympia, is among three candidates in the running to replace Kim Wyman as Thurston County auditor. Wyman leaves the office next week to become Secretary of State. Thurston County Republicans named Carol Person as their first choice for the job, Alexander as their second choice, and Yelm Mayor Ron Harding third, according to The Olympian.
TVW will be live Thursday with the Associated Press Legislative Preview starting at 9 a.m. The event includes a leadership panel with presumed Senate Majority Leader Rodney Tom and Senate Democratic Leader Ed Murray, as well as an education funding panel and Gov.-elect Jay Inslee. Watch live on TV, or at this link.

Categories: Education, Schools, TVW, WA House, WA Senate

Watch the latest Inside Olympia right here

By Christina Salerno | April 27, 2012 | 0 Comments

On this week’s edition, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn discusses K-12 education, and Sen. Rodney Tom (D) and Sen. Andy Hill (R) talk about higher education.

Categories: Schools, TVW

Q&A: State Superintendent of Schools Randy Dorn on teacher evaluations

By Christina Salerno | April 25, 2012 | 0 Comments

I spoke with state Superintendent of Schools Randy Dorn about the new teacher evaluation measure passed by the Legislature earlier this year, and what’s being done to prepare for its implementation starting in 2013.

Two years ago, the state adopted an evaluation system that ranked teachers as either satisfactory or unsatisfactory. The new law replaces that with a more centralized system that ranks teachers as a level 1-unsatisfactory, 2-basic, 3-proficient or 4-distinguished.

Dorn will also be a guest on this week’s Inside Olympia talking about his re-election campaign and issues related to K-12 education. Watch Thursday at 7 & 10 p.m.

What’s going on behind the scenes to prepare for the new evaluation system?

There are nine pilot programs looking at different types of teacher evaluations — eight are school districts and one is consortium of small districts outside of Spokane. I will pick three evaluations this summer. Those evaluations will be the framework and somewhat standardized, so that there will be similarities between all the school districts and how they evaluate teachers. A “3” teacher in Olympia will be a “3” in Othello. The evaluations basically give us definitions and an understanding of what good teaching is. Going forward, all the school districts will be in negotiations of which one to pick.

So the individual school districts will then be able to choose which of the three evaluations they want to use.

Yes, and it was a positive step by the Legislature. They could have said, ‘Just one evaluation.’ But we’re a state of local control, and it adds to the discussion when it is not just the Legislature saying, ‘This is the one you’re going to do.’ School district leaders and teachers will chose which one fits them best, and which one works for their teachers and students. You get a more robust exchange of ideas.

We’ve seen other states do it from the top-down level and it has become a very tough time in those states. We may be a little tortoise and the hare nationally, but the tortoise wins. So I’m going to bet on the tortoise. We’re going to get it right.

What has been the reaction of teachers and principals to the new evaluations?

It’s been mostly positive. The big concern by teachers is trusting that this is really about improving the profession, rather than just getting rid of bad teachers. A lot of principals are concerned about this shift of their workload. Over the past three years, many vice principals and deans of students have gone away. So they have less personnel to do the evaluations today compared to four years ago.

(more…)

Categories: Schools

Week 1 of Session: Let’s Review

By Christina Salerno | January 13, 2012 | 0 Comments

The 2012 Legislative session kicked off on Monday, and we covered lots of ground here on the blog and on Legislative Review, our 10-minute wrap-up of the day’s events that airs nightly at 6:30 p.m. on TVW. Here’s a quick look back at what happened this week.

Monday: Opening ceremonies got underway with speeches from Reps. Frank Chopp and Richard DeBolt. TVW aired a two-hour opening day special of “The Impact” with interviews from the Governor and dozens of lawmakers, who touched on everything from the budget to gay marriage and medical marijuana.

Watch Monday’s Legislative Review here.

Tuesday: Gov. Chris Gregoire gave her final state of the state address, calling for a $3.6 billion transportation package that would include a $1.50 fee per barrel on oil produced in Washington. Sen. Joe Zarelli, R-Ridgefield, delivered the Republican response. That was followed by a news conference where several Republicans said they were concerned that the Governor’s proposed oil fee would cause prices to rise at the gas pump.

Watch Tuesday’s Legislative Review here.

Wednesday: After three years of delivering gloomy economic forecasts, the state’s chief economist Arun Raha announced he was resigning to take a new job in Cleveland — but not without cracking a few of his signature “Arun-ism” jokes first. We kept an eye on two environmental bills — one would ban plastic grocery bags in Washington state, and the other would ban petroleum-based plastic bottles. And, the Senate took a look at a proposal that would consolidate the healthcare benefits of K-12 public school employees under one insurance plan.

Watch Wednesday’s Legislative Review here.

Thursday: A bipartisan group of lawmakers held a press conference to announce their plans for education reform, including a bill that would authorize charter schools in Washington state. Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, D-Burien, held a press conference to promote his version of a bill that would ban plastic bags. The employment department and chief economist Arun Raha gave an update on how the state’s economy is doing.

Watch Thursday’s Leglative Review here.

Friday: The Sandusky scandal prompted the Senate to hear a bill that would hold certain higher education employees responsible for reporting suspected child abuse. Also, the Senate honored Sen. Scott White , who died in October of a heart attack. Friday’s edition of Legislative Review airs at 6:30 p.m. on TVW.

Categories: Budget, economy, Governors Office, Republicans, Same sex marriage, Schools, TVW, unemployment
Tags: Arun Raha, Environment, gay marriage, Gov. Gregoire, Legislative Review, Schools

Education reform group announces package of bills including charter schools, teacher evaluation

By Niki Reading | January 12, 2012 | 0 Comments

“We’re here because we believe that education is truly the answer,” said Rep. Eric Pettigrew, kicking off the education reform press conference where he and a handful of other lawmakers are unveiling their ideas for the session. He said 11 students per hour drop out in this state, and many fourth graders aren’t reading or doing math at grade level. He said the coalition of lawmakers is proposing a group of bills that would aim to help those struggling students now.

Pettigrew said he knows education reform is an emotional subject, but when it’s done with the right reasons, “it’s well worth the fight … All we’re asking for is an honest, open dialogue.”

Sen. Steve Litzow took the mic. “We know that our schools are not keeping pace with the needs of a dynamic and growing international marketplace,” he said. “There are 920 schools that are designated Title I” — that’s 40 percent of Washington schools where students aren’t meeting adequately yearly progress.

Litzow said the single most important factor in a child’s education is a quality teacher. “We need to do everything that we can do to make sure that everyone … has the opportunity to succeed.” He said that includes a more robust method to evaluate teachers that can help develop quality teachers — and weed out those for whom teaching might not be a good fit. (more…)

Categories: Public Policy, Schools
Tags: school reform

Proposed benefit plan would consolidate benefits for K-12 employees

By Christina Salerno | January 11, 2012 | 0 Comments

This morning the Senate Health and Long-Term Care committee heard details about an overhaul of the healthcare benefit system for nearly 200,000 public school employees.

The proposal would consolidate the healthcare plans of 295 school districts, and include medical, dental and vision. Life insurance and long-term disability would be left to the individual school districts.

The plan could save the state an estimated about 1-2 percent of the current billion dollars that is currently spent on public school employee benefits, according to a report by the Health Care Authority.

Sen. Steve Conway said that although the cost savings was important, that’s not the only issue at hand. “What we’re trying to do is get a good product to the people who work in the school districts,” Conway said.

Randy Parr of the Washington Education Association said that they oppose any plan that would give a government board power over employee healthcare plans.

“This is a genuinely seriously subject and you are talking about 200,000 lives,” Parr said. “I hope you understand the importance and magnitude of decisions” that could affect people’s healthcare coverage, premiums and choice of doctors, Parr added.

Categories: Schools
Tags: benefits, education, healthcare, Schools

Gov. Gregoire discusses sales tax hike, gay marriage and medical marijuana

By Christina Salerno | January 9, 2012 | 0 Comments

We just wrapped up an interview with Gov. Chris Gregoire as part of our special opening day edition of “The Impact.” You can catch the rebroadcast at 7 p.m. tonight, and we’ll post web clips as they become available.

Gregoire spoke about her proposal for a half-cent state sales tax hike, gay marriage, education reform and medical marijuana.

The Washington Supreme Court’s recent decision on the McCleary case — which said that the state isn’t doing its duty to fully fund education — emphasizes the need for a sales tax increase, Gregoire said.

“The court put an exclamation point behind my recommendation,” Gregoire said during the interview.

Gregoire said she hopes to get a gay marriage bill out this week, and possibly as soon as today. The bill would make gay marriage legal in Washington state.

Current domestic partnerships would transition to marriages within two years, she said, unless those partnerships are dissolved. Heterosexual or homosexual couples over the age of 62 who are in a domestic partnerships for financial reasons will be able to continue that relationship if they choose, she added.

She also spoke about her continuing efforts to get the federal government to reclassify medical marijuana as a Class II drug, which would give it accepted medical uses.

Categories: Budget, Governors Office, Same sex marriage, Schools
Tags: gay marriage, Gov. Gregoire, medical marijuana, sales tax

Rep. Larry Haler: “We have reached the breaking point”

By Erin Flemming | January 9, 2012 | 0 Comments

In just a few minutes TVW will be on air with legislators with discussions spanning the topics of the budget, jobs, and higher education.

So far, we’ve spoken with Senators Ed Murray and Mark Schoesler about the budget and Senator Derek Kilmer about job creation.

In our discussion about higher education with Representative Larry Haler, he said “we have reached the breaking point,” regarding cuts to higher education. He said he is in talks with higher education officials and has called for a “zero percent increase” in tuition, or as close to that as is feasible, he added.

All of the interviews today will be on air at 7 p.m. as well.

Categories: Budget, Schools, TVW, unemployment
Tags: Derek Kilmer, Ed Murray, Higher Education, job creation, Jobs, Larry Haler

Today on TVW

By Erin Flemming | January 9, 2012 | 0 Comments

We’ll be interviewing legislators from 10 a.m. until noon on air. We have interviews lined up with Governor Chris Gregoire, budget writers, and legislators working on same-sex marriage, higher education, transportation, K-12 education, and more! Stay tuned, and right after that, you can watch the opening ceremonies live on TVW starting at noon.

Categories: Budget, Governors Office, Same sex marriage, Schools, transportation, TVW

Gov. Chris Gregoire unveils her education reform proposals

By Niki Reading | December 13, 2011 | 0 Comments

Gov. Chris Gregoire, unveiling her education reforms, said the current evaluation system for teachers and principals isn’t working. She’s proposing a new, four-tiered plan where low-performing teachers and principals can be fired if they don’t improve over a set period of time.

She said as with any profession, sometimes teachers or principals “just aren’t cut out” for teaching, and the state should work harder to weed out the field. “We owe it to our kids,” she said. She said modest funding would need to accompany this plan so that schools could be trained on how to effectively implement the new evaluation system.

Another reform idea: Take six lowest-performing schools and turn them into “lab schools.” Each low-performing school will partner with an area college of education, responsible for turning around the schools.

She’s also proposing an “Office of Student Achievement,” a cabinet-level office to be created in July 2012. “The office will focus on students in high school through graduate school,” and focus on raising the level of learning.

“These are reforms with real outcomes,” she said. “These reforms will help our kids and our businesses in the years ahead,” she said. And when the recession is over, Washington students will be prepared for the job market.

To read the governor’s press release on the proposals, click through to the jump. (more…)

Categories: Public Policy, Schools
Tags: Governor, Schools

The 12th grade could soon become a “launch year” for budding professionals

By admin | March 23, 2011 | 0 Comments

A bill that would turn the 12^th grade into a “launch year,” where students could earn credit toward anything from a professional certificated to a baccalaureate degree, is getting its second public hearing this morning.

The idea was proposed by Gov. Chris Gregoire as part of her sweeping reform plan for the education system and introduced as a bill by the House on February 2. It passed out of the House 70-27 and is now under consideration by the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education committee, which plans to vote on the bill Thursday.

Rep. Kristine Lytton, a sponsor of the bill, said only 35 percent of students are taking a full course load their senior year. “As a parent of college-age students, I can appreciate that during these tough economic times they can save on college tuition,” she said.

“We also see it as a way for parents to be engaged in their students’ education,” said Lucinda Young of the Washington Education Association. A lot of students, she said, don’t have the confidence that they can do the work to get their dream job. But a launch year, she said, would show them that they are capable of achieving greater things.

The League of Education Voters supports the measure. “There is great opportunity here,” said a spokesperson for the League. “It is the most effective use of public resources.”

“We think that this emphasizes rigor,” said a representative of Gregoire’s office. “We think that this emphasizes opportunity.”

“Additional growth in kids attending college will come from these alternative pathways,” said another supporter of the bill.

Under the measure, high schools would be required to use existing resources to work toward the goal of offering enough courses to give students the chance to earn the equivalent of a year’s worth of postsecondary credit. In order to earn that credit, like an apprenticeship certification or a four-year degree, seniors would need to take advanced high school courses and pass college-level proficiency exams or demonstrate their competency. Schools would have to make sure that students and parents know about the opportunity.

Colleges would also have to develop a list of postsecondary courses that could be fulfilled by taking the AP, IB or other recognized proficiency exams.

Categories: Schools
Tags: education reform, launch year

State Superintendent reacts less than enthusiastically to Governor’s sweeping education proposal

By admin | January 5, 2011 | 0 Comments

It is safe to say that Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn did not break out the champagne this morning when he heard Gov. Chris Gregoire’s plans to reform Washington’s education system. Her proposal would include folding all of the state’s eight education agencies into one and appoint a Secretary of Education, who among other things would be Dorn’s new boss.

“This isn’t a new idea. I’ve been a legislator, and every governor I’ve known has wanted more power. They’ve tried to abolish offices. That is not in our Constitution. Ours is direct election by the citizens of this great state,” he wrote in his reaction statement released to the press.

“I am an elected official: my boss is the people of the state, not the Governor. That is state law, explicit in Article III of the State Constitution. Would the Governor also suggest that the other elected officials report to a Governor-appointed official?”

The Superintendent’s full statement can be read here.

Categories: Schools
Tags: education reform, Governor, superintendent of public instruction

Q&A with Secretary of State Sam Reed: Referendum 71, the Heritage Center and more

By admin | August 13, 2009 | 1 Comments

This week’s Q&A is with Secretary of State Sam Reed. I interviewed Reed in his office this morning, and have included the entire interview below.

Q. What are the challenges facing your office now?
A. Right now, the number one would be this Referendm 71. We’re checking the signatures on petitions now. One reason it’s a challenge is that they are very close – they’re going to be very close to qualifying – either just a little under or a little over. So both sides are just watching this intently and their observers are of course very nervous and questioning us. And we even expect some litigation to come of it. That is clearly our biggest challenge.
The second big challenge, which, in the long run is more significant and a higher priority is the Washington State Heritage Center, where we’re going to have a new building on the capitol campus housing the state archives, state library, a museum, there will be a place for a learning center for children. And that passed the Legislature in 2007 but then, because of the economy taking a dive and the bond market getting dicey and some of the fees supporting it getting dicey, the Legislature decided to delay it. So we are working very hard to move ahead and be ready by the 2010 Legislative session. (more…)

Categories: Schools, Uncategorized
Tags: Q&A, Sam Reed

A first look at Referendum 71 — all 114-pages-in-one

By Niki Reading | June 10, 2009 | 0 Comments

As you may recall, Referendum 71 — the one to repeal the everything-but-gay-marriage bill — faced a big challenge: How to get 114 pages of the text of the bill onto one, readable page (as is required by state law).

Well, they figured it out and here’s a first look, courtesy of Dave Ammons from the Secretary of State’s office: ref
r71type r71back r71front

They have until July 25 to collect about 120,000 valid voter signatures. Go here for more info.

Categories: Schools, Uncategorized
Tags: Domestic partnership, referendum 71

More debate on redefining basic education

By admin | April 16, 2009 | 1 Comments

Sen. Mark Schoesler: “We still do not have accountability. This bill does not give us accountability … nobody is held accountable for poor performance in this bill, we just go on to study (the problem),” he said.

Sen. Tim Sheldon: Yesterday’s tax protesters “represent thousands more people across this state who care about dollars and cents,” he said. He is advocating for a “pay as you go” system, where the state doesn’t commit any money that it doesn’t have.

Sen. Chris Marr said he can’t support the bill because it represents aspirations — but without the money to fulfill those aspirations.

Sen. Randi Becker said she spoke to a school administrator who said if you don’t have the money, don’t pass the bill because it would amount to an unfunded mandate for schools.

Sen. Rosa Franklin: Said you don’t always have all the money for something when you make plans and set goals. She said this bill amounts to making a plan — and the state should get started on it now, not wait until they have the money. (more…)

Categories: Public Policy, Schools
Tags: education reform

“It’s not alright o have a drop-out rate of between 20 and 30 percent.

By admin | April 16, 2009 | 0 Comments

Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe: “Without this bill or with this bill, it doesn’t matter. (The teachers) will show up every day and they will be committed to every child’s learning,” she said. “But this bill … gives them the tools they need … it’s not OK to have a definition that is 30 years old… It’s not alright to have a drop-out rate of between 20 and 30 percent.”

McAuliffe said the bill would do great things for education.

Categories: Public Policy, Schools
Tags: education reform

The Capitol Record