Sunny Hills Elementary PTA
Basic Education Funding
What is it? Why is it the Top PTSA issue? What can I do about it?
Public schools across the state are funded with a combination of federal, state, and local dollars. It is expected that most of the funding should come from the state. In fact, in our state constitution, it is the “Paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children residing in its borders…” and it calls for the Legislature to “provide for a common and uniform system of public schools”. Read more...
YOUR SUPPORT IS NEEDED TO CHANGE PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING
The under-funding of K-12 education is a CRITICAL issue in nearly EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT. We are ranked 42nd in the nation for spending per student. High class size is part of this challenge – Washington is ranked 46th in the U.S. in this category. (It means that our teachers are getting about 1 ½ minutes with each child!). We spend $548 less per student in public schools since 1992. Since 1995, Washington State’s contribution to public higher education costs has fallen more than 16%. Washington is 36th in B.A. degrees per capita and has the 3rd lowest college entry rate in the U.S.
The Washington State Board of Education is working on several key initiatives to ensure all students are prepared to succeed in postsecondary education, the 21st century workforce and citizenship, including:
A Meaningful High School Diploma: preparing students for life after high school no matter what path they choose – postsecondary education, gainful employment or citizenship.
World-class math: providing students with the math foundation they need to succeed.
Exemplary science: fostering science education to expand students’ minds and broaden horizons.
A system of accountability: ensuring all students receive a high quality education
To this end, on April 28, 2008, NEW K-8 MATH STANDARDS were approved. http://www.k12.wa.us/CurriculumInstruct/Mathematics/RevisedStandards/k-8-washingon-08april28.pdf Training on Washington’s approved revised math standards and content for K-8 began in June 2008 for more than 10,000 K-8 math teachers. Starting in the spring of 2010, math tests at all grade levels — end of course or the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) — will assess whether students have learned the mathematics content contained in the revised standards.
On July 24, 2008, the State Board of Education took the following major action:
1. The 3rd credit of high school math rule was passed as originally proposed at this meeting without further amendments. The complete rule is available on the State Board of Education website. http://www.sbe.wa.gov/maththirdcredit.html Basically, this third credit, which will be Algebra II for most, but with the ability to choose a different course if another one would fit better with the student’s high school and beyond plan, will apply to students in the class of 2013.
2. The Core 24 framework was passed. This program would increase the number of credits that the state requires for graduation from 19 to 24 and sets out a variety of pathways for accomplishing this. http://www.sbe.wa.gov/mhsd.htm This framework itself is still in flux and will not be implemented unless sufficient funding is secured from the state for implementation. Of note, the State Board will form an implementation task force to continue work on this proposal.
3. The Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II standards proposal was approved and is now going back to OSPI for fine tuning. http://www.sbe.wa.gov/documents/FinalRevisedHSStndJuly142008.pdf
Carol Stamper
Sunny Hills PTSA Legislative Chair
