State Senate passes education reform bills
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Washington state Senate on Wednesday approved a series of K-12 education reform bills designed to crack down on poor reading in young students, empower principals and spotlight schools that are not hitting targets.
The measures passed by the chamber are in large part the fruit of a Republican takeover, together with two Democrats, of the state Senate this year.
"We're challenging the status quo," said Sen. Bruce Dammeier, R-Puyallup. "We're looking to in some cases do what I might call disruptive change."
Democrats were supportive of some of the measures and aspects of others but said they wanted to give reforms enacted in recent years a chance to work before making more changes. They also argued that school funding should be addressed before additional reforms are passed.
"We do need to identify low-performing schools and we do need to help them improve," said Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothel. "But we need to make sure the funding is there."
Among the bills passed is one that would require third-graders with inadequate reading skills to repeat a grade, attend summer school or otherwise improve their reading before enrolling in fourth grade. The measure would also authorize K-3 teacher training to help improve students' reading.
A Democratic amendment to nullify the measure if funding is not provided for the teacher training was voted down. The bill itself passed by a 35-13 vote, with 12 Democrats joining a united Republican caucus in favor.
Another bill would give veto power to principals over teachers assigned to their schools. Under that bill, teachers without a school assignment could be deployed as substitutes or used in non-teaching roles and could eventually be fired. It passed by a 27-22 vote, with four Democrats joining all 23 Republicans voting in favor.
Bill supporters said it gives principals the ability to shape their staffs to the needs of students and to weed out problem teachers.
Opponents argued that the state's teacher evaluation process, approved by the Legislature last year, should be allowed to run its course.
"There are principals who shouldn't be principals, and now we're giving them the power to really wreck a school," said Sen. Christine Rolfes, D-Kitsap County.
A third bill would set up an A through F grade scale for K-12 schools. The grading system would be set up as a pilot program in a handful of schools starting in the fall of 2013. After an evaluation, it would be implemented statewide the following year.
It passed by a vote of 26-23, with four Democrats joining all but one of the 23 Republicans in voting in favor.
Bill supporters said that it should be made plain when a school is failing.
"It's a huge symbol, especially to parents," said Sen. Steve Litzow, R-Mercer Island, the chairman of the Senate Education Committee and the bill's sponsor, of a school's letter grade.
Opponents countered that it would be damaging and in many cases unfair to label schools as failures.
The measures passed by the chamber are in large part the fruit of a Republican takeover, together with two Democrats, of the state Senate this year.
"We're challenging the status quo," said Sen. Bruce Dammeier, R-Puyallup. "We're looking to in some cases do what I might call disruptive change."
Democrats were supportive of some of the measures and aspects of others but said they wanted to give reforms enacted in recent years a chance to work before making more changes. They also argued that school funding should be addressed before additional reforms are passed.
"We do need to identify low-performing schools and we do need to help them improve," said Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothel. "But we need to make sure the funding is there."
Among the bills passed is one that would require third-graders with inadequate reading skills to repeat a grade, attend summer school or otherwise improve their reading before enrolling in fourth grade. The measure would also authorize K-3 teacher training to help improve students' reading.
A Democratic amendment to nullify the measure if funding is not provided for the teacher training was voted down. The bill itself passed by a 35-13 vote, with 12 Democrats joining a united Republican caucus in favor.
Another bill would give veto power to principals over teachers assigned to their schools. Under that bill, teachers without a school assignment could be deployed as substitutes or used in non-teaching roles and could eventually be fired. It passed by a 27-22 vote, with four Democrats joining all 23 Republicans voting in favor.
Bill supporters said it gives principals the ability to shape their staffs to the needs of students and to weed out problem teachers.
Opponents argued that the state's teacher evaluation process, approved by the Legislature last year, should be allowed to run its course.
"There are principals who shouldn't be principals, and now we're giving them the power to really wreck a school," said Sen. Christine Rolfes, D-Kitsap County.
A third bill would set up an A through F grade scale for K-12 schools. The grading system would be set up as a pilot program in a handful of schools starting in the fall of 2013. After an evaluation, it would be implemented statewide the following year.
It passed by a vote of 26-23, with four Democrats joining all but one of the 23 Republicans in voting in favor.
Bill supporters said that it should be made plain when a school is failing.
"It's a huge symbol, especially to parents," said Sen. Steve Litzow, R-Mercer Island, the chairman of the Senate Education Committee and the bill's sponsor, of a school's letter grade.
Opponents countered that it would be damaging and in many cases unfair to label schools as failures.
Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell. It is your party that had continually voted notÂ
to fully fund BASIC EDUCATION. In fact the courts had made several such aÂ
judgements on numerous occasions, but until the latest court ruling that actually hadÂ
teeth regarding noncompliance, your party continued to totally ignore the true needsÂ
regarding the funding the basic education of our youth.
One can only hope that with the GOP finally gaining some traction that the situation
might change, but I lack trust in both of the major political parties at this time.
Yea-a-ay! Good for the Republicans! We have to realize, the teachers have been educated in the same idiotic system and aren't able to teach either. Dumb teachers = dumb students. I doubt the teachers can operate an I-pod as well as their students. Return to the 3 R's and grading A-F. Redo a grade if they don't get it. Teach phonetics instead of memorizing and dump the "new math". Dumping more money to upgrade a school's outward appearance does nothing to improving teaching skills...fire the "babysitters" and keep the good ones. I'd like to have 3 mos. vacation a yr. and lifetime benefits too plus a raise every year I boycott the school year.
Despite being the ranking member of the Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee, Rosemary McAuliffe's contributions/accomplishments to education in this state have been limited and have yeilded very little.
Hey Komo, editing sucks. And if you fall below the fold, you can't see what you're typing. Can we get this corrected please.
Audio Cat stop whining! Wouldn't it be nice to be able to get rid of our boss each time they told us to do something we didn't want or like to do.
I also like the repeating a grade. You know some children really do need more time. I held my son back in 1st Grade, while it devestated me, he had no problems, never shed a tear. He flourished and became an outstanding student. I also like the grading, there is nothing wrong with letting a child know they have a failing grade. Not everyone wins! Dealwith h it and make it better. Encourage children they can!!
@Magicalwoman Wait a sceond! Your son could spell his name and read in kindergarten. Where did you fail as a parent in two years? Did you decide to homeschool? A child will resent an overbearing parent later in life. Maybe when they become a teenager. If not, kudos to you.
It is about time...finally! Why does it have to be about money, money, money for a teacher to recognise that a student needs to spend more time with a book instead of watching a Disney film? The only problem I see with this is the teacher will pass the student on for the sake of looking good. One of the largest reasons that "wealthy" districts do well over "poorer" districts is what the home has to offer. Family values, play a huge part in a child's life. Will they do well in school, yes if someone cares, will they become good citizens, yes if someone cares, will they focus on a career or college, yes if someone cares. Sometimes you have to give a bit more in your job, this includes teachers. Stop showing all the Disney films to pass tht time. Hit the books!!!
@Magicalwoman Do you know what a copyright license is? Districts pay hundreds of dollars for them. Disney is the most expensive and enforces it. Spending some time in your local school volunteering may give you some insight with what happens day to day.
And what about weeding out problem principals?
Any way of paying for these reforms? Clearly the poorest performing schools are going to need significant resources to improve student progress. Exactly where will this money come from?
Across the country the best performing schools are high income areas and the worst performing schools are low income areas. Are we really to believe the teachers in rich school districts are just better teachers? Sure you can find a diamond in the rough and an exception to the rule, but lets send the Mercer Island teachers to Rainier Beach and the Newport teachers to Tyee and let's see how they do at those schools.
@Sanctuary While I support the idea of improving education, as you say financing is the key - do these republican bills cover that?
And using a one size fits all grading system is a monumental error in logic. Poorer districts WILL grade lower than ones in rich districts. There needs to be some weighting scale to adjust for the inequities in funding.
And most of the better teachers I have known gravitate towards the schools that are doing the worse - often at personal sacrifices in pay and facilities. They do this because they ARE TEACHERS...
sorry orcas thunder. I'm calling ya bull poo poo on this one. When we sent our youngest son to school in grade K, he knew how to write his name and basic sentences. He could read. The teacher didn't know what to do. Each week I would send in lessons she could give him everyday to keep him busy while she attended to her other students. Point in fact, she had no idea what to do with a child that parents paid attention to. She retired the next year.
@MagicalwomanSo one teacher didn't meet your standards...and therefore automatically ALL teachers are insufficient? Talk about using a one size fits all measure!
And mr-sandman is correct, who were you to send "lessons" in for the teacher to modify her lesson plan just for your son? You wanted to be sure he got those lessons, take the time from your own schedule and teach them yourself at home! Even if it cuts into your social time...my neighbor has 2 young girls and had been schooling them after school from before the started school - and she's still doing it even while living in a hotel after their house was destroyed by fire last Friday.
@Magicalwoman So why didn't you home school? By who's authority did you send in lessons? There's a ciriculum to be followed.You are not the reason your son's teacher retired.
Yes...the ONLY answer that you have is for more $$$$$...yawn! Public education is a joke and always will be as long as liberals and Democrats have their hands in it.
@Magicalwoman Which is a far cry from blaming the teachers' union.Â
I feel as well that educational, social, and legal services would not be strained as hard if we weren't a sanctuary state. I believe in immigration; in others coming to this country to be part of it - only they should really be part of it - legally. Become part of the tax base, and invest in the country they want to be a part of. 3 of my grandparents immigrated here - legally. And we made a life for ourselves as a family, and became soldiers and civil servants.
It is the siphoning off of resources that bugs me.Â
And it is also about the 20 baby havin', welfare check collectin', eatin' my pork and ham  with Billy Graham Republican voting morons that bug me as well. So it's not a racial issue. It's a trash issue.
I feel for those in hard times - that is why we do have programs in place - but it should be a stop gap, not a lifestyle.
@sometimesright You are the one that stated it was not about money, implying that you have an idea on what it is instead? So?
Back up your statement!
@sometimesright or he wants to curve the grading thru a "weighting scale" so underachievers are on the same level as overachievers ("No child left behind", a holdover from the Bush era).....ridiculous. One thing Orcas Thunder does know well is "monumental error(s) in logic"....so maybe we should listen....
stop with the excuses. If you are unwilling or incapable of doing your job, get out and let someone else do it. Furthermore, if you ae speaking about schools that are filled with illegal immigrants, whose fault is that? Maybe Olympia should have the balls to address illegal immigration, and perhaps some issues would correct themselves.
Audio...whatever the difference is, it is not money!
@sometimesright So if it is not about the money, then back to the original comment - if you took a school full of teachers from an upscale 'hood, and traded  them with teachers from a brokedown urban school - how would it go? Would the lack of tools make a difference? WOuld a better environment make a difference? If the teachers from both schools are all trained the same in college, what would make the difference?