State of Washington Archives: on Education

Christine Gregoire: Unify Department of Education; prepare students to succeed

Unify the state's eight education agencies and 14 major education plans into a Department of Education. Focus all department activities on students and student learning from early learning to higher education.

Washington state does not have an education system but multiple agencies and plans that deal with education. If students are going to succeed as they progress from early learning through higher education, then every level of education must work together from pre-school on up.

Source: 2011 Wash. gubernatorial press release #1645 Feb 1, 2011

Dino Rossi: Honor Catholic schools' faith-based instruction

WHEREAS, Catholic school educators have been teaching in Washington state for more than 140 years; and
WHEREAS, Catholic schools have more than 29,000 students currently receiving their education in 9 secondary schools throughout the state; and
WHEREAS, Catholic schools have trained many of the finest leaders in professions and occupations throughout this state and nation; and
WHEREAS, Catholic schools greatly help relieve the financial burdens placed on public school systems by providing options for parents and students seeking alternative educational opportunities; and
WHEREAS, Catholic schools uphold the dignity and sanctity of human life;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the Catholic schools of Washington State and honor their academic excellence and faith-based instruction during this celebration of Catholic Schools Week, January 26, 2003, through February 1, 2003.

Source: State of Wash. legislative record Feb 19, 2003

Dino Rossi: Honor home schooling as viable alternative

WHEREAS, The state of Washington recognizes the critical importance and fundamental right of parents to be actively involved in the direction of their children's education & character development; and
WHEREAS, Home schools can provide families the opportunity for their children to receive a sound academic education; and
WHEREAS, Studies confirm that children who are educated at home score exceptionally well on national achievement tests; and
WHEREAS, The state of Washington appropriately recognizes, by law, the right to home education as a legitimate and viable educational alternative; and
WHEREAS, Teaching children at home was the predominant form of education for much of America's early years; and

WHEREAS, Washington now has more children being educated at home schools than ever before; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington Senate hereby honor, thank, and celebrate the home-educating families in the state. Source: State of Wash. legislative record Feb 5, 2003

Jay Inslee: $1.2B for automatic COLA adjustments for teachers

[In the recent court ruling] the court wrote that it wants to see "immediate, concrete action, not simply promises." I agree. Promises don't educate our children, and promises don't satisfy our constitutional and moral obligations. We need to put several billion dollars more into funding our K-through-12 education system. I propose a plan to make an investment of about $200 million in our schools this session. Most of that will go directly to your local school districts. It will also fund a long-overdue cost-of-living adjustment for our educators this session. Washington voters spoke loudly in 2000, saying that educators should get this COLA every year. Yet repeatedly that mandate has been shunted aside. We're going to live up to that promise this year. Last year I proposed a $1.2 billion down payment on our obligation to schools, funded mostly by closing tax breaks. The court now says what we did wasn't enough and the need for immediate action could not be more apparent. Source: 2014 Wash. State of the State address Jan 14, 2014

Semi Bird: Facilitate school choice including private and home schools

Ensure parents and families are not marginalized or isolated from their children's education.
Facilitate School choice to ensure that all families have access to quality education systems, included but not limited to public, charter, private, and home schools.
Ensure that all Washington schools are held accountable for student education outcomes, through responsible oversight and performance requirements.

Source: 2024 Wash. Governor campaign website BirdForGovernor.com May 23, 2023

The above quotations are from State of Washington Politicians: Archives. Click here for definitions & background information on Education. Click here for other issues (main summary page).
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