Strengthening Washington's Public Schools

Second week of the special legisative session, and still no agreement on a budget or a revenue package. Without new revenue, as many as 4,000 K-12 school employees could lose their jobs in September.

The Senate is stuck on a sales tax increase, which neither the House nor Gov. Gregoire support. WEA and other members of the Rebuilding Our Economic Future coalition are pushing lawmakers to close additional tax loopholes and exemptions. For example, they could repeal the tax exemption for custom software. They also could remove the sales tax exemption for candy and gum.

Or, as the coalition has suggested, the Legislature could eliminate a mortgage-related tax exemption that benefits big banks such as JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Last Friday, the coalition ran this ad in the Olympian and Everett Herald newspapers.

This ad will run in Wednesday's paper.

We're encouraging lawmakers to pass a revenue package of at least $800 million -- which would still result in huge budget cuts to important education and health services.

WEA and a coalition of education advocacy groups are urging the Legislature and Gov. Gregoire to fund four education priorities in the supplemental state budget:

K-4 class-size reduction.

Small class sizes are crucial to a quality education. This program funds more than 1,500 teachers. The typical K-4 class size will increase by as many as five students if this funding is eliminated.

Maintain the enhanced classified employee staffing ratio.

Elementary school students struggling to attain grade level in reading and math will lose hundreds of instructional assistants if this funding is reduced. Other critical school support services would also be lost. Find out how many education jobs we've lost this year already.

All-day kindergarten.

In this time of higher academic standards and expectations, students benefit tremendously from all-day kindergarten. All-day K is especially beneficial for low-income students.

Levy equalization.
Levy equalization funding (local effort assistance) benefits 220 school districts throughout the state and helps fund teachers, classified employees and student programs to help provide a high quality education for all of Washington's children.

The state Senate has passed another revenue package that still includes a general sales tax increase. WEA and other members of the Protect Our Economic Future revenue coalition continue to push for a tax package that focuses on closing loopholes and exemptions.

At this point, it seems highly unlikely the Legislature will approve a budget and revenue package by Sunday night, which means the special session will continue into next week.

WEA and a coalition of education advocacy groups are urging the Legislature and Gov. Gregoire to fund four education priorities in the supplemental state budget. Today, they sent a letter to all legislators urging them to protect these student-focused programs:

K-4 class-size reduction.
Small class sizes are crucial to a quality education. This program funds more than 1,500 teachers. The typical K-4 class size will increase by as many as five students if this funding is eliminated.

Maintain the enhanced classified employee staffing ratio.
Elementary school students struggling to attain grade level in reading and math will lose hundreds of instructional assistants if this funding is reduced. Other critical school support services would also be lost.

(Find out how many teaching and education support professional jobs we've lost THIS YEAR.)

All-day kindergarten.
In this time of higher academic standards and expectations, students benefit tremendously from all-day kindergarten. All-day K is especially beneficial for low-income students.

Levy equalization.
Levy equalization funding (local effort assistance) benefits 220 school districts throughout the state and helps fund teachers, classified employees and student programs to help provide a high quality education for all of Washington's children.

Lobbyists and members from each organization are in Olympia talking to legislators about the importance of preserving education funding. Add your voice to the conversation -- e-mail your legislators here.

The special legislative session started today ... and nothing of note happened. The House and the Senate still must find agreement on a supplemental state budget and a revenue package to pay for it. Here are WEA's budget priorities:

K-4 class-size reduction.
Small class sizes are crucial to a quality education. This program funds more than 1,500 teachers. The typical K-4 class size will increase by as many as five students if this funding is eliminated.

Maintain the enhanced classified employee staffing ratio.
Elementary school students struggling to attain grade level in reading and math will lose hundreds of instructional assistants if this funding is reduced. Other critical school support services would also be lost.

All-day kindergarten.
In this time of higher academic standards and expectations, students benefit tremendously from all-day kindergarten. All-day K is especially beneficial for low-income students.

Levy equalization.
Levy equalization funding (local effort assistance) benefits 220 school districts throughout the state and helps fund teachers, classified employees and student programs to help provide a high quality education for all of Washington's children.

Dozens of WEA members are driving to Olympia Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week to lobby their local legislators in support of these budget items.

For details about the regular legislative session that ended March 11, see the story below.