Washington Education Association

Strengthening Washington's Public Schools

Rethink Education Funding: Take the lead
  • Special Education In Washington


    Special Education Boot Camp 2009

    Sign Up Today - Spaces still available!
    Earn 30 clock hours or 3 SPU credits

    June 22-26, 2009 - Federal Way

    July 20-24, 2009 - Moses Lake

    August 3-7, 2009 - Ocean Shores


    (Contact: Janie Moxley at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it     )

    Presented by the Washington Education Association Special Education Cadre

    2009 Special Education Training For All (Special Education Boot Camp)

    For a registration fee of $250, you can receive a full week of training -- five days of focused information emphasizing the responsibilities of all educators working with students with disabilities. Certificated and classified personnel, general and special educators, parents, administrators and community agency personnel are all encouraged to attend. Please share this information with your members!

    Training Dates and Locations:

    June 22-26, 2009 in Federal Way
    Washington Education Association Headquarters
    32032 Weyerhaeuser Way S., Federal Way, WA 98001

    July 20-24, 2009 in Moses Lake
    Best Western Lake Inn & Conference Center
    3000 West Marina Drive, Moses Lake, WA 98837

    Aug. 3-7, 2009 in Ocean Shores
    Best Western Lighthouse Suites Inn
    491 Damon Road N.W., Ocean Shores, WA 98569

    Registration deadline is June 5! Register now!

    For more information, please contact Janie Moxley at 253-765-7074, 800-622-3393, Ext. 7074.

     

    Loan Forgiveness Incentive

    Up to $17,500 for New Special Ed Teachers

    www.ed.gov/policy/highered/guid/secletter/060301a.html 
     
     
  • Helping Your Child Excel

     

    When parents are involved in their children's education at home, those students will do better in school.

    Parents' attitudes can help children thrive at school.Washington is blessed to have excellent public schools and dedicated, professional school staff. WEA's members are devoted to helping every student reach their dreams. But the simple fact is that school employees see your child for seven hours a day at best -- and your child is one student in a larger class.

    That?s why your focus on education is so crucial. As your child?s first, and most-important teacher, you are the one who can help a child gain a curiosity about the world and develop a love of learning. Your example will be the strongest factor in your child?s success at school: Studies show that attitudes at home and the importance placed on learning are more important to student achievement than income, education level or cultural background.

    WEA knows that our members can help students the most when they come to school ready to learn. That includes understanding basic skills as your child enters kindergarten, but it also means working to foster attitudes that will allow your child to listen, participate, problem-solve, explore and collaborate in his or her classroom.

    WEA has included several resources to help in your journey:52 Ways to Help Your Child Learn

  • School Quality & Funding

    Teacher of the Year 2003 Veronique Paquette. Nothing is more important to having great public schools than having well-trained, well-qualified educators.WEA’s mission is to make public education the best it can be for students, staff and communities. We share your desire to rest assured that your child -- and all of Washington's children -- can attend a quality public school.

    Research shows there are some essential elements in achieving those goals.

    • Nothing is more important to improving the quality of public schools than having well-trained, well-qualified educators teaching our children. With higher academic standards than ever before, our schools must provide competitive compensation to attract and keep great educators.
    • Research also shows that smaller class sizes improve student learning. Recent class-size reduction efforts have helped, yet Washington’s class sizes remain the fourth largest in the U.S. Small class sizes allow teachers and aides to provide the individualized attention students deserve.

    In Washington, the state makes key decisions that affect teacher pay, class size and school funding in your local district. That's why WEA believes stable and adequate funding for public education is essential to the continued success of local schools -- and your child. The Legislature must continue to invest in public schools, while local school administrators need to make sure their budgets give priority to students and teachers in the classroom.

    "If public education is freedom's classroom, voting is democracy's test," notes Virginia B. Edwards, editor and publisher of Education Week, a national education journal. "The public believes it has a bigger role to play in improving the quality of schools by becoming more informed and more politically engaged."

     

Take Action

Learn about the key education policy decisions that can shape our schools and your job -- and find out how you can help with Our Voice!

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News & Issues

Public TV stations have honored this year's Golden Apple Award winners. See a 5-minute highlights video from KCTS.

> Read More

 

Two-year college faculty are fighting for something that's nearly taken for granted by other school employees in Washington: the right to collectively bargain for better pay.

> Watch video

Resources & Links

Get a deeper understanding of why teacher diversity is so important.

> Read More

 

Meet Susan Johnson at Cle Elum Roslyn High School, the 2009 Washington State Teacher of the Year.

> Watch video

 

Kathie Axtell didn't ask to become an ESP leader, but she has. See her touching story.

> Watch video