Update from Olympia

We have received inquiries regarding what is currently happening in Olympia. Here is an overview:

CHARTER SCHOOLS:
After voters have defeated charters THREE times, this time the proponents are calling them “public charters.” But there is still nothing “public” about them, except the funding. They are publicly-funded private schools that divert inadequate public school funding to private schools. If charters get a foot in the door and grow, most districts, including Northshore, would likely face some neighborhood school closures.

Do charters perform better than public schools, for students? The most comprehensive study of this, comparing charters serving 70% of charter students with their local public schools, found that they do not. Using test results (what else?), they found that half have results no different; that 36% show results significantly inferior to public schools; and that 17% did better. (A link to this report, the “CREDO” study, embedded in the summary below.)

A one page summary we have provided to our NSEA Teacher PTSA Liaisons about charters that busts 5 myths about charters, with links to sources, is available online (click here). Last week, WEA lobbyists, along with many others, testified against charter school legislation. The charter bills are House Bill 2428 and Senate Bill 6202 .

TYING EVALUATIONS TO STUDENT TEST SCORES, ELIMINATING JOB SECURITY:
WEA lobbyists are testifying against bills that attack collective bargaining and interfere with the work underway to strengthen teacher and principal evaluations. The bills (Senate Bill 6203 and its companion bill, House Bill 2427) would tie student test scores and evaluations to layoffs, transfers and teacher assignments. WEA lobbyists need your help.

ATTACK ON HEALTH CARE AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING:
SB 6442 is an egregious attack on collective bargaining. The bill eliminates the current K-12 health care system and replaces it with a new state-run bureaucracy that will cost more, provide less, and limit health care choices for school employees. SB 6442 eliminates local collective bargaining around health benefits. The bill was introduced yesterday.

We hope you are WEARING RED today and every Tuesday. Our lobbyists can’t do this alone. From your home computer, please go to OurVoiceWashingtonEA.org to contact your Legislators. Urge them to vote NO on these bills. Or, from your CELL phone during lunch (or home phone) you can leave them a message to vote NO on these bills. The Legislative Hotline is: 1-800-562-6000; it is open until 8:00 PM.