2023-25 Biennial Budget Summary
By League of Education Voters Policy Team
In the 2023-25 biennial budget compromise, all amounts are per biennium unless noted.
2023-2025 Biennial Budget Side-By-Side
By the League of Education Voters Policy Team
The Washington state House and Senate have released their 2023-2025 biennial budget proposals. See how they compare with Governor Inslee’s budget proposal: Read More
Podcast – Isolation and Restraint in Washington state Schools
In our Putting Students First podcast, we interview policymakers, partners, and thought leaders to spotlight education policies, research, and practices so that together we can create a brighter future for every Washington student.
Isolation and restraint in schools hurts our most vulnerable students. In this episode, League of Education Voters Acting CEO Arik Korman discusses alternatives to isolation and restraint of students, policies that can be implemented at the school district level to support school leaders and staff, and direct impacts of isolation and restraint on students.
We were honored to interview:
- Justin Hendrickson, Principal at South Shore PreK-8 in Seattle Public Schools
- Liza Rankin, Vice President of the Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors
- Dorian Taylor, a survivor of isolation and restraint practices who now works to advance disability justice at the county level
- Chris Baglien, a survivor of isolation and restraint practices who now is a father and a student in a postsecondary automotive program in Skagit County
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Spreaker
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Washington Game Changers Podcast – Dr. Tonya Drake of Western Governors University
Washington Game Changers with Lauri Hennessey features leaders who give back to our community, drive innovative solutions, and inspire others in making our state more equitable and just. This podcast is a one-on-one conversation with these powerful leaders in a time when we need to hear about more good in the world.
In this episode, League of Education Voters CEO Lauri Hennessey interviews Dr. Tonya Drake, Chancellor and Regional Vice President of Western Governors University. Dr. Drake talks about higher education, equity, and the importance of lifelong learning.
Listen:
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Spreaker.
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Why We Need Inclusive Education
By Washington LYAC – Micah Fitzgerald, Hiro Hirano-Holcomb, Natasha Kalombo, Stacy Osoria, and Shreya Shaji
Guest Bloggers
This year, the Washington Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC) is proud to introduce an important education bill into session: Senate Bill 5441. This bill implements inclusive education for students written by students of the LYAC.
(Note: Although SB 5441 did not advance in the 2023 Legislative Session, key elements of it were amended into Senate Bill 5462)
The Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC) is a group composed of 24 geographically, ideologically, and socioeconomically diverse students aged 14-18. We are the first official nonpartisan voice of youth in the Washington state Legislature and work under the Lieutenant Governor’s office. Our goal is to improve the quality of life for youth all over Washington state by making sure their voices and opinions are heard in the Legislature.
The whole idea behind writing this bill was that education inherently should be something that is inclusive and has diverse perspectives and histories interwoven into the fabric of curriculums. Read More
Student Voice Video – Rahma Mohammed on Her Advocacy Journey
Former South Shore PreK-8 student Rahma Mohammed shares how she developed her leadership qualities and what her career plans are for the future.
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LEVinar Wrapped – Highlights from the Most-Watched LEVinars of 2022
Our LEVinar panelists are students, educators, administrators, parents, caregivers, advocates, scholars, and more. Watch what we have learned from them in 2022.
Superintendents from Across Washington state on Mental Health and How This Year Will be Different, featuring:
* Chetan Soni, a junior at Lincoln High School, Seattle Public Schools and member of the Association of Washington Student Leaders (AWSL)
* Superintendent Ron Banner, Clover Park School District
* Dr. Adam Swinyard, Spokane Public Schools
* Dr. Shelley Redinger, Richland School District
A Discussion about Critical Race Theory in K-12 Classrooms, featuring:
* Ruby Coulson, a senior at Sequim High School in the Sequim School District and Chair of the Washington state Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC)
* Dr. David Stovall, Professor of Black Studies and Criminology, Law & Justice at the University of Illinois at Chicago
* Dr. Verónica Vélez, Associate Professor of Secondary Education and Education & Social Justice at Western Washington University
* Tracy Castro-Gill, Executive Director of Washington Ethnic Studies Now
Special Education in Washington state, featuring:
* Mia Crump, a senior at Roosevelt High School in Seattle Public Schools
* Jeremiah Audet, a sophomore at Rogers High School in Spokane Public Schools
* Dr. Tania May, Assistant Superintendent of Special Education Services at the Washington state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
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Podcast – Dana Miles, the 2023 Washington state Teacher of the Year
In our Putting Students First podcast, we interview policymakers, partners, and thought leaders to spotlight education policies, research, and practices so that together we can create a brighter future for every Washington student.
In this episode, League of Education Voters Communications Director Arik Korman interviews Dana Miles, the 2023 Washington state Teacher of the Year, about why language is so important to students in the deaf community, strategies for preparing students in the deaf community for what comes after high school, her personal education journey, what she would change if she were in charge of our state’s education system, and why she loves the Harry Potter saga.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Spreaker
Listen:
Watch:
Washington Game Changers Podcast – Author Karen Pruett on Media and Amanda Knox
Washington Game Changers with Lauri Hennessey features leaders who give back to our community, drive innovative solutions, and inspire others in making our state more equitable and just. This podcast is a one-on-one conversation with these powerful leaders in a time when we need to hear about more good in the world.
In this episode, League of Education Voters CEO Lauri Hennessey interviews Karen Pruett, who just co-wrote a book about Amanda Knox, a Puget Sound woman you may have heard of when she was accused of murder in Italy more than a decade ago. Karen’s new book, Trial By Liar, looks at the injustice of Knox’s imprisonment, the news media, our tendency to gossip and share bad information on social media, and the inspiring positive outlook of Amanda Knox today.
Listen:
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Spreaker. Read More
Podcast – Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones
In our Putting Students First podcast, we interview policymakers, partners, and thought leaders to spotlight education policies, research, and practices so that together we can create a brighter future for every Washington student.
In this episode, League of Education Voters Communications Director Arik Korman interviews Dr. Brent Jones, Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools, about his priorities for Seattle Public Schools and how he measures success, how the district is supporting student mental health, his personal education journey, and what he would change if he were in charge of Washington state’s education system and there were no budgetary constraints.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Spreaker
Listen: