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

Rep. Carlyle bill would help foster youth stay on track for graduation

April 16, 2013 in Blog

Representative Reuven Carlyle’s (D-Seattle) bill to help children in state foster care finish their education continues to advance in Olympia, passing the House and now under consideration in the Senate. This commonsense idea has broad bipartisan support. The bill passed the House March 8th by a vote of 86 to 12.

SB 5496, enhancing access to online learning, passes House

April 16, 2013 in Blog

Yesterday, SB 5496, “Authorizing Approval of Online School Programs in Private Schools,” passed the House of Representatives, 97-0. The Senate passed it last month, 47-0. The bill now goes to the Governor for his signature.

Another school district signs up to become a charter school authorizer

April 15, 2013 in Blog

Education officials at the Yakima School District have signed the district up to become an authorizer of charter schools, making a total 13 districts, up from the 12 districts I reported on April 2. The State Board of Education has updated its website to include the Yakima School District.

Governor Inslee confirms his support for A–F grades for schools

April 10, 2013 in Blog

Readers of this blog know Washington Policy Center recommends creating A–F letter grades for school performance in Washington, as eleven other states do, to inform parents and the community how their local school is doing. Yesterday, Seattle Times reporter Brian Rosenthal, who has stayed on top of the issue, wrote that Governor Inslee confirmed his support for letter grades for schools.

USA Today reports on charter school benefits

April 5, 2013 in Blog

USA Today published an editorial Monday about new research showing students attending high-quality charter schools, like KIPP, learn better than similar students in conventional public schools. USA Today says Mathematica Policy Research reports that at KIPP charter schools:

Rewarding excellence in the schools: SB 5901

April 4, 2013 in Blog

Breaking news: Reform-minded Senator Litzow (R-Mercer Island) and Senator Tom (D-Bellevue) just introduced a bill to reward excellence in the schools. It is SB 5901, available here. I am reading through it now. Here is what the bill does that jumps out at me:

WEA attacks six senators for trying to improve schools

April 3, 2013 in In the News
Daily Sun News (Sunnyside)
Source: 
Daily Sun News (Sunnyside)
Date: 
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Link: 
http://www.dailysunnews.com/DSNOpinion3.shtml

12 school districts sign up for charter schools

April 2, 2013 in Blog

Yesterday the State Board of Education announced the school districts which have expressed interest in allowing students in their communities access to charter schools.

There are 12 districts: Battle Ground School District, Eastmont School District, Kent School District, Peninsula School District, Sequim School District, Sunnyside School District, Bellevue School District, Highline School District, Naselle School District, Port Townsend School District, Spokane School District and Tacoma School District.

"Changing the Odds" Lunch

April 1, 2013 in Events
Date: 
Friday, April 26th, 2013
Time: 
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Place: 
Sheraton Seattle
1400 6th Avenue
Seattle, Washington
Google Maps

Washington Policy Center is pleased to co-present this education lunch event with Stand for Children, Washington.

Join us in welcoming Geoffrey Canada, president and CEO of the Harlem Children’s Zone and passionate education advocate, to Seattle for Stand for Children's "Changing the Odds" lunch. 

WEA union attacks six reform-minded senators

April 1, 2013 in In the News
The Snohomish Times
Source: 
The Snohomish Times
Date: 
Monday, April 1, 2013
Link: 
http://snohomishtimes.com/snohomishNEWS.cfm?inc=story&newsID=2784