Strengthening Washington's Public Schools

Thousands of WEA members took action during the 2012 regular and special legislative sessions.

For the first time in three years, the Legislature didn't cut funding for K-12 and higher education.

We defeated legislation that called for a state takeover of K-12 health care and eliminated our right to bargain health benefits at the local level. The final health care bill, SB 5940, does make some changes, but maintains bargaining rights.

The Legislature also passed legislation making more changes to the teacher and principal evaluation system.

Now it's time to focus on the fall elections. For additional information, go to WEA's political action page.

Olympia update, January 23, 2012

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. SB 6442 was introduced today. Sponsors are Senators Hobbs, Litzow, Keiser, Holmquist-Newbry, Hatfield, Hewitt, Kastama, Schoesler, Tom, Fain, Hill, Zarelli,Hargrove, Kline, Murray, Shin, Sheldon, Fraser, Haugen, Morton and Honey ford. WEA members will receive a postcard about the bill this week.

The snowstorm closed schools last week, but the Legislature remained open for business. WEA lobbyists, along with many others, testified against charter school legislation. House Bill 2428 and Senate Bill 6202 both divert funding from existing public schools to create new charter schools.

Monday, Jan. 23, legislators are hearing bad bills that attack collective bargaining and interfere with the work underway to strengthen teacher and principal evaluations by tying them to layoffs, transfers and teacher assignments. WEA lobbyists are testifying against the bills. Senate Bill 6203 is being heard today; its companion bill, House Bill 2427, will be heard tomorrow.

Also today, WEA is supporting SB 6239 and companion bill HB 2516, which establish marriage equality.

Later this week, legislators are hearing a slew of bills, including:

HB 2492 requires the State Board of Education to provide fiscal impact statements before making rule changes

HB 2231 saves money by reducing student assessments

HB 2411 focuses high school graduation requirements on core skills and knowledge

HB 2543 makes new high school credit requirements voluntary unless fully funded by the Legislature

Thursday, WEA will be supporting, HB 2493, which adds WEA-appointed practitioners to the State Board of Education.

Take action on these important issues at www.OurVoiceWashingtonEA.org.

The Washington Legislature convened Jan. 9 for its 2012 regular legislative session. To take action, visit www.OurVoiceWashingtonea.org.