Education

WPC's Center for Education conducts objective research and makes practical policy recommendations to improve Washington State's ability to carry out its paramount duty to educate every child within its borders.

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What's New

WPC's Education Reform Plan: Eight Practical Ways to Improve Schools

July 27, 2012 in Publications
By

Liv Finne, Director, Center for Education

, July, 2012

Public education is in decline. Nearly one-third of Washington public school students fail to graduate, and another third graduate without the knowledge and skills necessary for college or the workplace. Over half (52%) of public school students entering community or technical colleges must take remedial courses in math, English or reading to catch up. 84% of employers say public schools are not doing a good job of preparing students to succeed in the workplace.

PowerPoint Presentation on Education Reform in Washington

As I travel around Washington speaking to groups about education, I am often asked for a copy of the 23-slide presentation I use to explain the state of public education in our state. The full presentation is below; it is based on our published research. Sources are available on request.

Liv Finne
Director, WPC's Center for Education

Powerful Teachers’ Union Elects New President

May 16, 2013 in Blog

On April 27, 1,200 delegates of the powerful state teachers union, the Washington Education Association, gathered at a Representative Assembly meeting in Bellevue to elect new top executives.  The new union leaders will serve two-year terms.  The union president received a compensation package worth $186,000 in pay and benefits in 2010, the latest year for which figures are available.  

SB 5242 would end "Dance of the Lemons" in teachers’ placements

May 16, 2013 in Blog

Every public school principal is painfully familiar with being forced to send children to a classroom where she knows the teacher there is not the best fit, but the teacher's placement has been forced on the school by higher-ups at the central district. In an effort to improve classroom instruction, bad teachers are often shuffled from one school to another, an administrative tactic known among principals as "The Dance of the Lemons."

President Obama declares this week National Charter Schools week

May 8, 2013 in Blog

President Obama has declared the week of May 5-11 as National Charter Schools Week. He called on communities to support charter schools and the students they serve. He described charter schools as “incubators of innovation” and models of reform for other schools. He also said this:

Washington Charter School Commission holds second meeting

May 1, 2013 in Blog

Yesterday, the nine-member charter school commission met in Bellevue for its second meeting. The commission is still getting organized. It has the important job of approving some of Washington state’s first charter public schools.

Tacoma-area parents seek to open charter school

May 1, 2013 in Blog

In the wake of last fall's voter-approved Initiative 1240, parent-led groups interested in opening charter schools in their communities are starting to emerge. Debbie Cafazzo at The News Tribune reports on parents' intentions to pursue charter school applications in their local Tacoma and Peninsula school districts.