Nearly 500 parents, teachers and students rallied at the State Capitol today - pushing for increased spending for education.
Gov. Christine Gregoire took the opportunity to unveil a pair of education proposals that she says will give all children access to a quality education regardless of income level, raise instruction standards and provide a focused approach to ensuring high student achievement.
"Our children will face a globally competitive economy when they grow up, recession or not," Gregoire said to reporters in a news conference prior to the rally. "We must give them the tools to succeed."
Dubbed, "All Start," the proposal includes a plan to require all preschools be certified by the state and ensures all 3- and 4-year olds in the state have the opportunity to attend preschool. Additionally it would provide financial assistance for low-income families. Those who make more than two times the federal poverty index would be required to pay for preschool on a sliding scale. As with many other state programs, that limits the availability of services to Washington's working poor.
The plan also calls for the development of criteria and standards to evaluate teachers and principals.
Two huge stumbling blocks stand in the way of the Governor's plan. The first is money. Legislators are already facing a $2.6 billion budget shortfall this biennium and are unlikely to approve new programs. The second obstacle will be the state teacher's union. The Washington Education Association has steadfastly opposed any proposals to evaluate teacher performance. Statutes governing teacher evaluations in our state have not been updated in our state in more than 20 years.
Finally, reading between the lines it would appear "All Start" includes a plan to increase taxes. As part of the Gregoire plan, school districts would use local funds to pay teachers for closing the achievement gap. Next month voters around the state will be going to the polls to pay for increased levies to fund the continuation of existing programs. Where is the money to come from to pay for new ones?
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