Strengthening Washington's Public Schools

Welcome to WEA Ed Wire, a compilation of public education stories from around the state, found in countless media sources. The WEA does not endorse all opinions expressed. If you're receiving this publication for the first time, welcome, we hope you enjoy it. Clips below cover some of the April 28 – May 10, 2012 coverage.

School funding and compensation

Local lawmakers react to state budget’s passage
It took all night and untold cups of coffee, but Washington state legislators came out of a month-long special session April 11 with a budget that local legislators on both sides of the aisle grudgingly accepted as an imperfect compromise. Read more on Sammamish Review …

SPS considers changing school bus schedules, parents not happy
It may save money but parents say a school bus schedule shakeup would have them dragging their kids out of bed before sunrise. Read more on KOMO …

Survey to find out why school bond failed
Later this spring, if the phone rings, it might be someone asking you to take part in a survey. That would be to help the Mercer Island School District learn about the recent bond measure failure. Read more on Mercer Island Reporter …

State universities list double-digit tuition hikes
People celebrated last month when the Legislature said it wouldn’t have to make college any more expensive in Washington state, but many forgot that lawmakers had already put plans in place for a double-digit tuition increase next school year. Read more on The Olympian …

Evaluations, reform, school improvement and testing

Wash. students beat national average in science
Washington eighth graders did better than the national average on a science test that is given to kids across the country, but two-thirds of the middle school students who took the national science assessment still aren't proficient in the subject. Read more on Seattle P.I. …

National AP surges as tool for schools raising standards
Not long ago, Advanced Placement exams were mostly for top students looking to challenge themselves and get a head start on college credit. Not anymore. Read more on Tri-City Herald …

Member spotlight

Things to do this week: Appreciate a teacher
Whether it was your high school English teacher, your junior high science teacher, or your favorite college professor, take a minute or two this week to fondly remember your favorite teacher. Read more on KOMO …

Bellingham School District honors teachers, staff
Bellingham Public Schools announced their 2012 Districtwide Awards winners this week, and the 16 teachers, staff members and parents were surprised by Superintendent Greg Baker with the honor. Read more on KOMO …

Puyallup educators named Teachers of Year
Kris Diamond and Buddy Keller attract a swarm of supporters. The Puyallup School District Board of Directors presented them with respective Teacher of the Year awards on April 23. Read more on The Puyallup Herald …

Miscellaneous

Gregoire signs teacher health care bill
Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a teacher health care reform bill into law, though school district administrators and teachers said the effects of the legislation aren't fully known. Read more on The Bellingham Herald …

Yakima school unions press for public support in talks
Working without a contract for more than eight months, members of five Yakima School District unions are putting public pressure on administrators to agree to more of their terms in contract negotiations. Read more on Yakima Herald-Republic …

Mitt Romney as president: Where would he stand on education?
President Barack Obama and Republican hopeful Mitt Romney haven't been talking much about education's toughest questions aside from recent attention on student loan interest rates. Read more on The Huffington Post …

Teachers to meet to resolve grievances
The Kiona-Benton City School District and teachers union representatives plan to meet to resolve a number of grievances filed against the district in the past year. Read more on Tri-City Herald …

Ellensburg schools work to meet needs of homeless students
At least 17 students in the Ellensburg School District might find themselves without a place to sleep tonight. Read more on Daily Record …

Video shows teenager choking fellow middle school student
A choking incident at a local middle school left one teenager in the hospital and another in juvenile detention. Read more on KOMO …

Letters, commentary, opinion etc.

Blog
A state that just says ‘no’ to charters, other reforms. Read more on The Washington Post …

Blog
1st Dt. endorsements: Ruderman v. DelBene. Read more on Seattle P.I. …

Editorial
Stop 'paddling' in schools. Read more on The Herald …

Editorial
Online-education lawsuit misfires on state funding. Read more on The Seattle Times …

Opinion
Thanks to citizens for supporting students. Read more on The Herald …

Opinion
Legislature shows its commitment to funding education. Read more on The Olympian …

Opinion
Americans need plentiful, affordable education. Read more on The Herald …

Opinion
Just swap teacher for gun instructor. Read more on The Herald ...