Yes We Can build a comprehensive long-term vision for basic education funding while dealing with the current economic crisis in a way that supports school funding.

Two months ago, I went to Olympia to testify before the Basic Ed Funding Task Force. As the proposal was finalized, I was shocked to learn the policymakers had not been more inclusive of the Full Funding Coalition (WEA, AWSP, PSEW, WASA, WSSDA). The members are essential to any education policy decision. What were you thinking?

Last night, I came home from yet another 12-hour day to a slew of emails from my state association against HB 1410/SB 5444. I don’t expect to agree on every topic, but I do expect my association to refrain from setting up win/lose situations, especially on a policy that isn’t a simple, isolated item. These bills are attempting to address deep inadequacies in basic education funding in a comprehensive way. What are you thinking trying to kill them rather then negotiating through their content?
Legislators and union leaders – We Can Do Better! Our students do not need a political battle to the death that leaves them the losers. They need an honest negotiation of a multi-faceted policy.
That’s the most important message I have, but if you’d care to hear more about a few specifics in HB 1410/SB 5444 and the Full Funding Coalition’s bill SB 5607 that will soon be discussed in Olympia, read on.

Continue reading →

Driving to/from Olympia: 4 hours

Writing and rewriting testimony: 6 hours

Sleep lost due to nerves, obsessive rewriting, and worry
that being in the classroom is more important than speaking on school funding:
3 hours

Preparing for sub: 4 hours

Feeling of having spoken for greater educational equity:
priceless. 

Monday, I testified before the task force on Basic Education
funding. As the proposal moves to the legislature for full consideration, more
teachers need to testify.

Continue reading →

I applaud the authors of this
funding proposal, a group of legislators involved with the Joint Task Force on
Education Funding, for acknowledging, “One of the most pernicious failings in education
is the divergence in educational attainment between children of modest means
and those with more money.” I’m just not sure that remediation is the answer.

Continue reading →

1. 72% of students in my school qualify for free or reduced price lunch. Whether or not you live in an area with entire neighborhoods in poverty, visit them and get to know the issues of students and families there in order to deepen your understanding of perspectives rarely represented at public meetings.

2. Observing how a student increases persistence or treats classmates more respectfully or overcomes reluctance to participate in discussion can be far more valuable in understanding student learning than a test score. . . .

Continue reading →