League of Education Voters Blog - Education in Washington State

Washington Game Changers Podcast – Olgy Diaz of the National Women’s Political Caucus of Washington

June 14, 2022 by Arik Korman

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 Olgy Diaz, a longtime lobbyist and advocate who is President of the National Women’s Political Caucus of Washington. Olgy talks about getting women of color trained and elected, working as a lobbyist during the pandemic, and how to still have hope in a challenging time.

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Podcast – Inside the Mission to Stop Mass Shootings in America

May 31, 2022 by Arik Korman

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 Mark Follman, National Affairs Editor for Mother Jones, who discusses which supports and warning signs could prevent mass shootings, how to keep bias out of the threat assessment process, and how to know when is the right time to intervene. Mark’s new book is Trigger Points: Inside the Mission to Stop Mass Shootings in America.

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Washington Game Changers Podcast – Joe Hunter, Jr. and Tony Allison, founders of RARE (Roosevelt Alumni for Racial Equity)

May 13, 2022 by Arik Korman

In this episode, League of Education Voters CEO Lauri Hennessey talks with Joe Hunter, Jr. and Tony Allison. They were classmates at Roosevelt High School fifty years ago. But looking back all of these years later, they and many of their peers realized we have not progressed in truly creating schools that are equitable. They created RARE (Roosevelt Alumni for Racial Equity) to give parents and community members everywhere – not just at Roosevelt – a chance to face these difficult issues together, creating a documentary and participating in discussions such as this one.

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Podcast – Luma Mufleh on Her Fight for Educational Justice for Refugee Children

April 21, 2022 by Arik Korman

In this episode, League of Education Voters Communications Director Arik Korman interviews Luma Mufleh, the founder of Fugees Family whose TED Talk on educational justice for refugee families has been viewed more than 1.7 million times. Luma discusses what it’s like being dropped into a classroom when you don’t know English, what supports we should provide to students who are refugees, and how we can focus on the assets that refugees bring to our schools and our society. Luma’s new book is Learning America: One Woman’s Fight for Educational Justice for Refugee Children.

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Washington Game Changers Podcast – Nicky Wilks and Alex Craighead, founders of Journeymen

April 9, 2022 by Arik Korman

In this episode, League of Education Voters CEO Lauri Hennessey talks with Nicky Wilks and Alex Craighead, founders of Journeymen. Journeymen cultivates transformational experiences for boys and men through nature-based rites of passage, mentorship, training, and community events. They discuss helping kids detox from social media, the challenges facing boys today, and what Journeymen does to give boys a connection through nature.

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Letter from the Every Student Counts Alliance to the City of Spokane

April 8, 2022 by Arik Korman

By Kenji Linane-Booey, Spokane Regional Field Director

On March 11^th, Spokane Police Chief Craig Meidl sent a letter to Spokane Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Adam Swinyard stating that he believes teachers across the district are not serving in their roles as mandatory reporters. He then said that this violation can be charged as a gross misdemeanor. League of Education Voters (LEV) and their partner, the Every Student Counts Alliance (ESCA), believe this letter was written to sway the court of public opinion in order to decrease trust in the school district administration and to increase funding for the Spokane Police Department. Because LEV and ESCA believe in the work the school district is doing, we decided to respond to Chief Meidl’s letter directly. Read More

2022 Supplemental Budget Summary

March 23, 2022 by Arik Korman

By League of Education Voters Policy Team

The 2022 supplemental budget makes adjustments to the 2021-23 biennial budget and impacts funding for the remainder of the biennium, which ends in June of 2023. The amounts below are in addition to funds that have already been appropriated in the 2021-23 budget. In the final budget agreement, all amounts are per biennium unless noted.

LEV Legislative Roundup for Week 9: The final state budget

March 12, 2022 by Arik Korman

By Jacob Vela, League of Education Voters Director of Policy and Research

During the late hours of Thursday, March 10th, after a long day filled with passing floor resolutions and saying good-bye to colleagues that are choosing to not return, the Legislature took their final votes ending the 2022 Session. Despite the barriers and complications caused by the virtual session format, legislators were able to negotiate and successfully pass a substantial Supplemental Operating Budget, a Transportation Budget, and a Capital Budget. Logging more than 100 hours a week leading up to sine die, fiscal staff had to be the most relieved to watch the members take their final votes. Despite the overwhelming number of policy bills introduced early in the session, relatively few made it through the process, leading the House to begin referring to the Senate as the “graveyard” during floor speeches. Big thanks to all of you who participated in our Action Alerts this session. Read More

Washington Game Changers Podcast – Regina Malveaux of the Washington State Women’s Commission

February 24, 2022 by Arik Korman

In this episode, League of Education Voters CEO Lauri Hennessey talks with Regina Malveaux, Director of the Washington State Women’s Commission. Lauri and Regina discuss the Women’s Commission, childhood poverty, early learning for kids, and International Women’s Day on March 8th.

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2022 Supplemental Budget Proposal Side-By-Side

February 24, 2022 by Arik Korman

By League of Education Voters Policy Team

The Washington state House and Senate have released their 2022 supplemental budget proposals. The 2022 supplemental budget makes adjustments to the 2021-23 biennial budget and impacts funding for the remainder of the biennium, which ends in June of 2023. The amounts below are in addition to funds that have already been appropriated in the 2021-23 budget. Read More