• The Impact of Effective Teachers and Principals
• State Board to Rule on New Graduation Requirements
• Federal Education Jobs Bill Under Fire

Partnership for Learning is pleased to announce the first in a series of reports on how Washington state can build an education system that prepares all students to succeed in college and world of work. Stay tuned throughout the summer as we release a new report every few weeks.

This week: The Impact of Effective Teachers and Principals

What matters most when it comes to increasing student achievement? Small class sizes? Whether a child lives in poverty? A fair and equitable state school finance formula?

While the above, and much more, play a role in raising student achievement, teacher and principal effectiveness has a greater impact on student learning than any other factor in a school system.

To learn more, read the report.

Back to Top>>

State Board to Rule on New Graduation Requirements

Next week, the State Board of Education will rule on the future of CORE 24 and the content of Washington’s new graduation requirements. Partnership for Learning, along with the Excellent Schools Now Coalition, has sent a letter to the State Board urging them to adopt college and work ready graduation requirements for all students. The letter states:

“As things currently stand, too many of our high school graduates are not prepared for community college or apprenticeships — and many do not even meet the minimum admission standards for our public baccalaureate institutions.”

“This is not the time to retreat on the strong graduation requirements that the 2009 Legislature put in motion. We have an obligation to ensure that we set all of our students up for success in college and careers. It’s not just about doing the right thing for our students and their families. Smart reforms to our education system will drive critically needed economic growth and prosperity.”
View the full letter.

The State Board will be taking public comment on the graduation requirements on Tuesday, July 13 at 4:30pm and Wednesday, July 14 at 11:45am at Anacortes ESD 189. Individuals who are unable to attend, but would like to express their written support of CORE 24 can email sbe@k12.wa.us.

Back to Top>>

Federal Education Jobs Bill Under Fire

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Education Jobs Bill—legislation that will provide $10 billion in aid to local schools districts to avert massive teacher layoffs and $5 billion to help the current shortfall in Pell Grants for college students. While the bill protects teachers’ jobs and scholarships, it has drawn significant opposition from the Obama Administration and Department of Education due to an amendment submitted by Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey, which would trim $800 million from the following education reform programs:

Teacher Incentive Fund: cuts $200 million from total budget of $600 million
Designed to make grants to states or districts that agree to reform teacher compensation systems to  reward student achievement.

Race to the Top: cuts $500 million from total budget of $4.35 billion
Competitive grant program that awards funding to states willing to make reforms surrounding four assurances: standards and assessments, teachers and leaders, turnaround schools, and data systems.

Charter Schools: cuts $100 million from total budget of $256 million
Provides grants to assist with start-up costs of establishing new charter schools.

With the bill now moving to the Senate, which is on recess until the week of July 12, the Obama Administration is urging Congress to consider alternative funding means that will protect both teachers jobs and the reform work being conducted by the Department of Education. Without an alternative funding proposal, the Obama administration has signaled that it will veto the entire education jobs bill stating, “The Administration urges the House to include education jobs funding in a version of H.R. 4899 that does not rescind education reform funding. If the final bill presented to the President includes cuts to education reforms, the President's senior advisors would recommend a veto.”

Back to Top>>