Education Advocate April 2016

ED Advocate, League of Education Voters Newsletter, April 2016

Greetings

Chris Korsmo
Chris Korsmo, CEO

Thank you to those who were able to join us at our annual breakfast two weeks ago.  We enjoyed a thoughtful conversation about helping our kids create personal pathways for success with Lake Washington Institute of Technology President Dr. Amy Morrison Goings, Will Sarett, Director of the NewTech Skill Center, and Mike Sotelo, Co-Founder of the Combined Ethnic Chamber, moderated by Washington Business Alliance President Colleen McAleer

Below, you will find a shout-out to our donors from the first quarter of 2016.  If you supported us at the breakfast, watch for your name in the second quarter report.  Thank you!

With the legislative special session over and the fate of this year’s crop of education bills decided, we can now officially celebrate our wins.  Take a look at Jene Jones’ blog post to cheer for your favorite issues.

Thanks for all you do for kids. We couldn’t do it without you.
  Chris Korsmo signature

 

Chris Korsmo

Celebrating Our Donors

Thank youDonations are made to the League of Education Voters (LEV) and the LEV Foundation by individuals, groups, and businesses throughout the community. These generous donations from those who believe in high-quality public education allow us to ensure measurable progress toward LEV’s vision that every student in Washington state has access to an excellent public education that provides the opportunity for success.

We’d like to take a moment to celebrate our supporters who donated to LEV or the LEV Foundation between January 1 and March 31 of 2016. Thank you!

LEV’s Activist of the Month

WA Charters is April 2016 Activist of the MonthAt the League of Education Voters (LEV), we recognize all of the hard work that you do toward improving public education across Washington state. We are pleased to announce our Activist of the Month for April: WA Charters. Learn how WA Charters helped us save public charter schools. Read more

Hear Chris and See Breakfast Photos

Our 2016 LEV Breakfast panelThank you for making the 2016 League of Education Voters Foundation Breakfast a success!  Hear CEO Chris Korsmo’s inspiring speech and see photos from the event. Learn more

GiveBIG is back!

A strong start for all kids.GiveBIG is back! Support the League of Education Voters Foundation on May 3, 2016, as part of our community’s biggest day of giving of the year.

Start now by following us on Twitter and stay tuned for details.

Get Involved

COMING UP

May 17, 2016 | Lunchtime LEVinar on education funding, Watch for info soon!


HELP SUPPORT THE LEAGUE OF EDUCATION VOTERS FOUNDATION
| Donate online


League of Education Voters

League of Education Voters2734 Westlake Ave N
Seattle, WA 98109
206.728.6448
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New Achievement Gap Report Generates Concerns

By the LEV Policy Team

Education Equality Index slide

The recently released Education Equality Index takes a look at the achievement gap in student performance between low-income students and the whole student population. The report assesses the gap in 35 states and 100 large cities across the country, including Tacoma, Spokane, and Seattle. No state fared well on the index. On a scale of ‘no gap’ to ‘massive gap,’ 9 states’ achievement gaps for low-income students rated ‘large’ while the remaining 26 states have ‘massive’ achievement gaps for low-income students.

The index compares the percentage of low-income students that score proficient on a state assessment to the percentage of the entire student population that scores proficient. A rating score is then determined based on this comparison.  The report authors also adjust scores “to more fairly compare schools [and states] serving a higher percentage of FRL [free and reduced lunch] students.” States with a larger low-income student population receive additional points because of the added ‘challenges’ that accompany serving low-income students. And while there are issues with comparing one student group to the whole student population, addressed here, there are larger philosophical concerns with adding points simply for enrolling large populations of low-income students.

Awarding points for having a large low-income student population sets different expectations for schools, cities, and states serving low-income students, and, ultimately, sets different expectations for the students themselves. While poverty is a challenge, we cannot claim that education is the great equalizer if we allow our systems to count different outcomes as success for different populations of students.

This report reaffirms that we have large and unacceptable achievement gaps for low-income students across the country. But it also highlights that we continue to develop measures that do not further our understanding of how to better serve those students. Adding extra points for the mere enrollment of low-income students does not push schools, cities, or states to better serve students. How do we devise a measurement that acknowledges some students will require more resources and supports, without lowering the bar for systems serving those students? How do we determine what schools, cities, and states are giving kids the extra push they need, celebrate them, and learn from them? How do we encourage systems to guide resources towards students that need them the most?

2016 Legislative Session Recap

By Jene Jones, Government Relations

Jene Jones headshot cropped

Great things happened in Olympia for kids this year. Monumental things. And I’m going to celebrate here. So if you want to fill up your emotional bucket with some extra happy today, read on.

After unprecedented funding investments in schools last session, and new money pre-spent before legislators arrived this session in Olympia on necessary emergencies such as wildfires and unexpected prescription drug costs for WA residents, “manage your expectations” was the refrain to all advocates.

We didn’t. And our kids were prioritized. I’ll provide proof. In case this is as much extra ‘happy’ as you need today and you don’t need details before moving on, I am going to say thank you first. Thank you to the hard working legislators who balance the weight of so many issues – present & future. Thank you to the community members who told stories of their kids and talked about their dreams in Olympia. Thank you for listening, acting, and collaborating. Tim McGraw sings “always stay humble and kind.” I witnessed a lot of humanity this year in the halls and offices of the Capitol. This is the result:

For our littlest learners, additional money was invested in family child care providers so that the teachers can improve the quality of facilities and curriculum offered our precious preschoolers, thus assuring they are ready to thrive in kindergarten.

For our K-12 kids, we now have money to make sure we will no longer be suspending or expelling students for discretionary offenses, and will have better statewide data on demographics of kids to make sure the system is working to keep all students on-track and in school. This will happen in part through new discipline frameworks and trainings which are being developed sensitive to culture and positively supporting all students’ growth. Social Emotional Learning is a proactive way to reduce stress and behaviors associated with it, leaving teachers more time to teach, and students more time to learn. Pilots are being tracked statewide.

In addition, policy was passed aimed at providing in-school support for foster youth, including better information sharing with schools and more adult support to help students navigate frequent changes in school buildings. Our homeless student population is getting increased identification for schools, which will help with in-school support for learning and community partnerships for family housing stability. The early data from Tacoma housing/school partnerships shows fantastic academic gains for these students as well as an increased percentage of family member employment. Grants for 15 school districts are now available.

In the individualizing learning and choice bucket, we also re-approved (3rd time) charter schools. Charters are one piece of the puzzle of allowing innovation and flexibility to schools so that kids’ needs and academic growth stay at the center of the conversation. These non-profit public WA charter schools are operating under the top 5 most rigorous state accountability laws in the US.

Finally, and for the first time, near vision screenings will be offered when distance vision is tested in elementary and middle schools statewide. Seeing the numbers and letters on a page correctly dramatically increases academic potential. Duh. This was 17 years in the making, and the victory for kids happened this year.

In higher education, a new college savings plan for families passed as an alternative and addition to the GET program. Another law now assures that higher education students who have learning accommodations will no longer have to wait up to 6 months for those accommodations to start, which provides every student what they need to be successful right away. Yes!

Additionally, more money was allocated to get the students in teacher prep programs scholarships for high-need teaching positions. Test fees for teacher candidates can now be waived, and a central data system is being set up so that districts can see what teachers are out there applying for jobs in Washington. When beginning teachers get to schools, there is now money for peer mentor programs to support teacher quality and retention. Retired teachers are also now allowed to be re-hired as substitutes, which will help the shortage and assure students continue to learn even if their teacher is not in the building that day. And new money is available to train the classified staff who also work with groups of students, so that they have the tools to be a part of the core teaching team.

I have more good news. Next session amazing things will happen for kids. The work has already begun to provide ample opportunities for every student to have a meaningful and personalized learning experience. More options. More choice. More student understanding of how what is learned leads to a successful, prosperous future while raising up WA communities and finding new ways to make WA businesses thrive. That’s my North Star. We will get all kids the tools they need to discover their passions and proudly take leadership in growing WA. That vision keeps my bucket full. Tim, I’ll add one word: “always stay strong, humble, and kind.”

Activist of the Month: WA Charters

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WA Charters is the April Activist of the Month

To save public charter schools in the 2016 legislative session, LEV partnered with the Washington State Charter School Association.  It took a whole lot of people to do the job.  And many stepped up repeatedly to make a call or a bunch of calls, sign a petition or send an email.

Below are some statistics on what WA Charters’ Act Now for Washington Students campaign accomplished.  There is no doubt that this campaign had an incredibly robust grassroots effort that was organized, efficient, and one that made an incredible impact on legislators.

The campaign did the following:

From February 8 through March 10, at least ten callers every day made 15 calls each.  And other calls happened organically.  These calls were made in Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane, East King County, Pasco, Yakima and Walla Walla for a total of 8105 calls.

WA Charters also organized two rallies in Olympia.  The November 11 rally brought 400 people on campus and the February 25 rally brought 575 people to the state Capitol.

Approximately 45 people testified in the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education committee, 70 people testified in the Senate Ways and Means committee and 90 people testified in the House Education committee.

Two parents attended 74 meetings with legislators.

At least five parents visited the state Capitol every day from February 29 to March 9.

Parents made and delivered four dozen cookies to 15 legislative offices.

Parents created and delivered over 300 session survival kits.

Parents created and delivered nearly 200 Thank You kits to legislative aids.

WA Charters mailed over 300 holiday cards to legislative offices and mailed over 300 Valentine’s Day cards to legislative offices.

Parents organically organized six big phone bank nights.

Hundreds of phone calls a day went to the Governor’s office since March 10, the day the bill was passed in the Senate.  These calls were made from parents, students, family members and tireless advocates from Seattle, East King County, Pasco, Yakima, Spokane and Tacoma.

Finally, 300 letters were signed and mailed from Yakima asking Governor to sign public charter schools Senate Bill 6194.

LEV would like to extend a huge Thank You to the Washington State Charter School Association and the thousands of volunteers who stepped up for our kids.  We couldn’t have done it without you!

Photos from the 2016 Annual Breakfast

Thank you for making the 2016 Annual Breakfast a success!

We enjoyed a thoughtful conversation about helping our kids create personal pathways for success with Lake Washington Institute of Technology President Dr. Amy Morrison Goings, Will Sarett, Director of the NewTech Skill Center, and Mike Sotelo, Co-Founder of the Combined Ethnic Chamber, moderated by Washington Business Alliance President Colleen McAleer.

The panel emphasized the need for preparation, support and high expectation for our kids.  Dr. Amy Morrison Goings said, “Two-thirds of all jobs will require a certificate or degree.  We need to ensure that our kids are ready.

LEV believes in providing supports for our kids to graduate from high school ready for college and career.  As aging workers retire, there will soon be tens of thousands of opportunities available in the trades.  We need to make sure our kids see the relevance and excitement of their coursework so they can enroll in and complete two- and four-year degrees and certificates, which will give them more options for a prosperous future.

Here are the questions the League of Education Voters is grappling with:

–        How should we work to expand rigorous Career and Technical Education (CTE)?

–        How do we help our kids get to and complete higher education?

This is an ongoing national conversation.  Career and Technical Education (CTE) is the new “Race to the Top” in education circles, highlighting great opportunities and the challenges of meeting students where they are.

Listen to CEO Chris Korsmo’s speech.  And here are a few photos from the event:

Our rockstar panelists (l-r): Will Sarett, Dr. Amy Morrison Goings, Mike Sotelo and moderator Colleen McAleer
Our rockstar panelists (l-r): Will Sarett, Dr. Amy Morrison Goings, Mike Sotelo and moderator Colleen McAleer
LEV Breakfast (4)
LEV Board Member Thelma Jackson greets guests
LEV Breakfast (6)
LEV staff members Jene Jones and Cindy Raffety at the check-in table
LEV Breakfast (9)
Senator Mark Mullet was among many elected officials from all levels of local and state government
LEV Breakfast (12)
95-year-old Georgie Kunkle was a Rosie the Riveter during WWII and landed helicopters on school playgrounds to show girls they could fly
LEV Breakfast (16)
LEV State Field Director Kelly Munn in action
LEV Breakfast (18)
LEV Communications Director Arik Korman served as MC, asking guests to share thoughts on our strategic planning process
LEV Breakfast (22)
LEV CEO Chris Korsmo emphasizes the importance of helping kids build a bridge from high school to college and career
LEV Breakfast (23)
LEV Board Secretary Vange Ocasio shares her personal education journey

The Opportunity Gap Bill is now Law!

Today Gov. Jay Inslee signed House Bill 1541, which addresses the Opportunity Gap.  Here are highlights from the ceremony at Aki Kurose Middle School library.

Governor Jay Inslee signs Opportunity Gap House Bill 1541 into law, with (l-r) Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self, Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos and Rep. Tina Orwall
Governor Jay Inslee signs Opportunity Gap House Bill 1541 into law, with (l-r) Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self, Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos and Rep. Tina Orwall
League of Education Voters board treasurer Kevin Washington kicked things off as the MC
League of Education Voters board treasurer Kevin Washington kicked things off as the MC
Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, chair of the House Education Committee, talks about the significance of her opportunity gap bill becoming law
Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, chair of the House Education Committee, talks about the significance of her opportunity gap bill becoming law
Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self shares her experiences seeing the opportunity gap firsthand as a middle school counselor
Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self shares her experiences seeing the opportunity gap firsthand as a middle school counselor
Washington state Middle School Principal of the Year Mia Williams talks about the importance of closing gaps
Washington state Middle School Principal of the Year Mia Williams of Aki Kurose Middle School talks about the importance of closing gaps
Governor Jay Inslee addresses the crowd at Aki Kurose Middle School before signing Opportunity Gap House Bill 1541
Governor Jay Inslee addresses the crowd at Aki Kurose Middle School before signing Opportunity Gap House Bill 1541
Governor Jay Inslee congratulates Aki Kurose Middle School students after he signed Opportunity Gap HB 1541
Governor Jay Inslee congratulates Aki Kurose Middle School students after he signed Opportunity Gap HB 1541

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Candidate Forums

Olympia - LEV OSPI Superintendent Meeting

Candidates who want to lead Washington’s school system as its next superintendent will speak at forums around the state.  If you know of any other scheduled OSPI candidate forums, please email info to LEV Communications Director Arik Korman

OSPI candidates advancing to the general election November 8:

  • Erin Jones, a Tacoma Public Schools administrator. Listen to her interview with LEV HERE
  • State Representative Chris Reykdal (D-22). Listen to his interview with LEV HERE
Superintendent of Public Instruction candidates Erin Jones (L) and Chris Reykdal
Superintendent of Public Instruction candidates Erin Jones (L) and Chris Reykdal
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If you are unable to attend a live candidate forum, TVW will carry them. Info HERE

Watch the October 5th Woodinville candidate forum HERE

Note: The League of Education Voters is not promoting or endorsing either candidate.

Public Charter Schools ESSB 6194 as Amended in the House

Many students created their own signs

On March 9th, 2016, the House of Representatives amended and passed ESSB 6194, a new charter school law. On March 10th, 2016, the Senate concurred with the House’s changes and passed the bill. The bill now awaits Governor Inslee’s signature. The bill reenacts provisions of Initiative 1240 and makes changes to the charter school system to comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling on charter schools in September of 2015. This bill will allow the current schools to stay open and new schools to be established in the future, providing more options for Washington’s students and families.

See the details of ESSB 6194 here

Education Advocate March 2016

ED Advocate, League of Education Voters Newsletter, March 2016

Greetings

Chris Korsmo
Chris Korsmo, CEO

It is just three weeks until our Annual Breakfast! Thank you to those who have already registered to attend. If you have not had a chance to register yet, there’s still time!

If you are following the grand finale of our legislative session, make sure you have our education bill tracker bookmarked. You can also sign up to receive my Weekly Roundup Friday emails.

Finally, I would like to extend a big thank-you to all of you who have volunteered over the past 60 days. You make our work come to life.

Thanks for all you do for kids. We couldn’t do it without you.
Chris Korsmo signature

 

 

Chris Korsmo

Don’t miss our Annual Breakfast

Save the date for our 2016 Annual Breakfast: March 31, 2016, at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel.Our 2016 Annual Breakfast to support the LEV Foundation will be held Thursday, March 31, at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel. 

Join us for an inspirational conversation about how we can match our kids’ interests and skills with the needs of today’s workforce with Mike Sotelo, founder of Consolidar and co-founder of the Combined Ethnic ChamberDr. Amy Morrison Goings, President of Lake Washington Institute of Technology, and Will Sarrett, Director of NewTech Skill Center in Spokane, moderated by Colleen McAleer, President of the Washington Business Alliance.  Learn more

LEV’s Activist of the Month

Sharon TaubelAt the League of Education Voters, we recognize all of the hard work that you do toward improving public education across Washington state. We are pleased to announce our Activist of the Month for March: Darcelina Soloria.

Read about Darcelina’s work advocating for public education — especially what public charter schools can do for our kids — and learn about her personal journey.  Read more

Thank you to Representatives who voted Yes on Public Charter Schools Senate Bill 6194

Public Charter Schools Rally Feb 25, 2016Last night, the House voted 58-39 to pass Senate Bill 6194, a long-term solution to keep public charter schools open.  The bill is off to the Senate for concurrence and then to Governor Inslee’s desk.  Here are the legislators who voted yes, in case you would like to thank them.  See the list

2016 Legislative Session: The Home Stretch

2016 Legislative Session: The Home Stretch

Find out the latest on McCleary, public charter schools, the supplemental budget, opportunity gap closure, and which proposals are alive and which are dead. 

Jene Jones, League of Education Voters Government Relations, answered your questions on what we can do to help our goals this session reach the finish line.  We were also joined by Senators Mark Mullet (D-5) and Ann Rivers (R-18).  Moderated by our State Field Director, Kelly Munn.  Watch the archived recording

Get Involved

COMING UP

March 31, 2016 | 2016 Annual Breakfast, Sheraton Hotel, Seattle


LUNCHTIME LEVINARS

March 3, 2016 | The 2016 Legislative Session: The Home Stretch, Online webinar archive recording featuring LEV’s Jene Jones and Kelly Munn, along with Senators Mark Mullet and Ann Rivers


HELP SUPPORT THE LEAGUE OF EDUCATION VOTERS
| Donate online


League of Education Voters

League of Education Voters2734 Westlake Ave N
Seattle, WA 98109
206.728.6448
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