Laying the foundation

Washington Learns panel recommends ways to improve schools

The results are in.

The final report stemming from an 18-month comprehensive study of public education in Washington is available online here. Guided by Gov. Chris Gregoire, the Washington Learns task force has recommended five major initiatives for building Washington’s public school system into one of the nation’s best. The initiatives focus on the following key issues:

• Early learning
• Math and science
• Personalized learning
• College and work force training
• Quality and accountability

So why should you pay attention to the Washington Learns report?

The report calls for sweeping changes in the way our public schools teach — and how we pay for it. The changes recommended within this report would signal a major shift in the way our state approaches public education. The goal is to create a globally competitive education system that better prepares students in math, science and the arts. The Legislature charged this blue ribbon panel of educators, business leaders and legislators with the enormous duty of laying a foundation for providing a world-class learning system for all students.

During the 2007 legislative session, Senate Democrats will consider many of the bold ideas in the Washington Learns report, including:

• offering voluntary all-day kindergarten beginning with high-poverty schools, to better prepare students socially and academically for a rigorous education;
• giving our students a competitive edge in math and science education by recruiting more math and science teachers and identifying a statewide list of recommended math and science curricula that engage all students;
• establishing mentor programs statewide to help students plan for their future; and
• investing in our colleges and universities to keep higher education affordable while preparing graduates for high-demand jobs.

This session, Senate Democrats and the governor will be looking to make a significant down payment on K-12 education, while continuing the longer-term effort of revising our state education funding model to be clear and performance-based. The Washington Learns steering committee will present recommended changes to our public education funding system by December 2008.

We hope you take the time to read the final report and share your thoughts with your lawmakers. The recommendations included in this report will affect you: Our communities are healthier, safer and more prosperous when every citizen has the opportunity to pursue a world-class education.