Senate Democrats
K-12 Education
Recent steps toward increasing educational attainment:
Early learning, invest now to save later: We know early learning increases kindergarten readiness, reduces the need for special education, lowers the crime rate, decreases high school dropouts and therefore lessens overall costs to society. In 2008, WSIPP conducted a review of the research on the long-term impact of providing preschool for low income children.
Estimated cost savings and impacts: By providing early childhood education to low-income 3 and 4 year olds, the state saves $9,225 per child in education and human service costs. On-time high school graduation rates have increased on average 62% to 68%, crime by age 30 dropped from 24% to 17% and the need for special education has been reduced from 12% to 8%.
On average, individuals with a high school diploma earn 33% more than those with less education.
Improving academic achievement in K-12 schools: Overall state funding for K-12 education has increased by 47% since 1999. Through investments in data systems and quality assessment we are able to better identify kids who fall behind and know where to make the most strategic investments.
Estimated impact: Our state has made significant improvements over the last decade, with 10th grade reading scores increasing by over 20% since 1999 and writing scores increasing by 55%. These improvements have occurred despite a rapidly diversifying student body, including an 11% increase in students qualifying for free and reduced lunch rates, as well as a 2.6% increase in ELL students over the last decade.
Increased focus on STEM: Economists anticipate an increase of 55,000 STEM-related jobs in Washington by 2019—a 24% increase since 2009. In order to prepare young people for the labor demands of the future, a significant focus has been placed on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) curriculum throughout the K-12 system.
Estimated impact: A $50,000 annual investment in Project Lead the Way Engineering Teacher Training has increased students receiving engineering instruction from just over 1300 students in 2009-10 to over 3,000 in 2011-12.
Strategic investments and reforms being considered in 2012:
Increase student achievement by focusing on cost effective changes such as using lab schools to help lower-performing schools improve outcomes for their students. (6348 - McAuliffe)
Estimated impact: For every $1 invested in lab schools, there would be an $8 return on investment.
Lower remediation rates by providing incentive funding to school districts demonstrating improvements in preparing students to be college ready. (6375 - Kilmer)
Estimated impact: Indeterminate cost savings. In the 2008-2009 academic year, the state spent $65.7 million (NGFS) for all pre-college course work in the higher education system. If institutions are able to find less expensive ways to deliver remedial educations, savings could be substantial.
Reform funding formula for the state’s school construction matching funds for school districts to differentiate between schools that serve all kids in a bricks-and-mortar environment and schools that are primarily doing online education. (6002 - Kilmer)
Estimated savings: $17 million this biennium from the school construction fund.
Achieve efficiencies by transitioning the Working Connections Child-Care assistance program to a 12-month reauthorization cycle, move to an electronic attendance system, and reduce risk of overpayments. (6226 - Frockt)
Estimated savings: Less than $50,000 per year in administrative savings, which would not achieved until 2013. Additionally, a recent State Auditor report found the program made more than $2.6 million in overpayments to providers due to lack of access to child care records, which could be remedied by an electronic system.
Implement new evaluation systems for district personnel. (6177 - McAuliffe) (6317, 6318 - Frockt??) (6203 - Tom)
Estimated impact: No quantifiable savings and likely some costs to implement a new system in the short term.
Continue review of mandates directed toward school districts that the legislature has not funded. (6323 - Hobbs , )(5191 - Hobbs)
Estimated savings: Up to $10 million per year (NGFS); see SB 5191 for examples of potential savings amounts.