Washington Learns

Our public schools need you

Led by Gov. Chris Gregoire, a group of stakeholders including business leaders, educators, minority groups, lawmakers and community leaders has spent the past year examining the funding and structure of our early learning, K-12 and higher education systems. The goal of the group, Washington Learns, is to establish our state’s highest priorities for building a world-class, learner-focused education system.

The recommendations of this panel (draft recommendations are available here) are expected to play a major role in shaping state education policy for the 2007 legislative session and beyond. We know that there is simply not enough public money to do everything proposed in this ambitious report, so we need your input to prioritize what we should do with the resources we have.

Beginning this week, Washington Learns is taking its show on the road in a series of public hearings around the state. We need to hear from you — the parents, students, educators and citizens of our state — about what you expect from your public education system. How can we best provide an education that gives every Washington student the tools they need to compete in today’s global economy?

Listed below are the times, dates and locations of the public hearings. Please take the time to share your insight and help shape the future of education in our state.You can also share your questions and comments about the report online at: http://www.washingtonlearns.wa.gov/contact/comment.htm

• Sept. 12 - 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  Olympia Capitol Campus - John L. O'Brien Building - House Hearing Rooms A & B
  
  Note: This hearing will include remote links to three video conference sites:
  
  Grays Harbor College
  Building 450, Room 455 (Overflow in the Administrative Building Boardroom)
  
  Wenatchee Valley College
  Batjer, Room 8030 (Overflow in the Library, Room 9103)
  
  Yakima Valley Community College
  Deccio Higher Education Building, Room C152
  (Overflow in Deccio Higher Education Building, Room C158)
   
• Sept. 13 - 6 to 9 p.m.
  Spokane - Gonzaga University, Jundt Auditorium, Art Building
   
• Sept. 14 - 1 to 5 p.m.
  South Seattle Community College, Olympic Hall
   
• Sept. 19 - 6 to 9 p.m.
  Vancouver - Washington State University, Lecture Hall 110, Student Services Building
   
• Sept. 20 - 1 to 5 p.m.
  Mt. Vernon - Skagit Valley College - McIntyre Hall Conference Center
   
• Sept. 21 - 1 to 5 p.m.
  Pasco - Columbia Basin Community College - CBC Theatre in Performing Arts Center