K-12 Education
2007 Legislative Update
Gov. Chris Gregoire and legislators from both political parties worked to fund various investments in K-12 education this session. Highlights from this session include new budget and policy initiatives that:
Increases investments in K-12 education by a total of $1.8 billion. Increases per student funding by 15 percent over the previous biennium.
Helps struggling students pass the WASL. Provides a variety of intensive learning options, test preparation and tutoring to students who have been unsuccessful on one or more of the 10th grade WASL tests in reading, writing and math and extends this assistance through 12th grade. Provides additional resources to school districts for instructional staff, consultant teachers, special instruction programs, tutoring and counseling for all students through the Learning Assistance Program. $12.7 million GF-State, $16.2 million Education Legacy Trust
Increases student achievement in math and science. Provides additional time for teacher training and coaching assistance. Aligns curriculum and testing to international standards. Provides loan forgiveness programs and specialized preparation programs for professionals with math and science expertise. This high-quality, rigorous, comprehensive package will ensure that teachers are well-prepared and students are well-taught – ready to succeed at higher education, training, and career. $14.6 million GF-State, $58.4 million Education Legacy Trust Account
Expands hands-on science learning. Expands the Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform (LASER) program into about 500 additional K-8 classrooms across the state. LASER is a public-private partnership that provides complete toolkits for research-based, hands-on science learning activities with teacher training and community support.
$6 million GF-State
Rewards outstanding teachers. Teachers who earn a certificate from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards will receive a $5,000 raise for achieving this high standard, plus another $5,000 salary increase for teaching in schools with students needing the most help. $7.4 million GF-State
Increases student achievement. Lowers class size, increases professional development opportunities, provides extended learning opportunities for students by increasing the per student funding from the Student Achievement Fund, consistent with Initiative 728. $139.9 million Student Achievement Fund
Raises pay for teachers and other educators and provides more equity among school districts. Increases salaries for teachers and other K-12 staff by 3.7 percent in the 2007-09 school year and 2.8 percent in the 2008-09 school year, consistent with Initiative 732. In addition, at the request of Governor Gregoire, the budget addresses long-standing inequities among school districts by providing additional salary increases to teachers in those districts that have, for over two decades, received less funding for teacher salaries than the top thirty-four districts. Raises pay for educational staff associates. Increases the salaries for school nurses, guidance counselors, speech and language pathologists and other educational staff associates by recognizing prior relevant experience in determining the salary they receive as school district employees. $447.5 million GF-State
Personalizes learning in the early years. Demonstration projects will use best practices based on developmental research to provide students in kindergarten through third grade with varied experiences to develop their learning skills in reading, math, science, art, social studies and foreign languages. Students will be grouped based on their abilities and interests rather than their age, and smaller learning groups will allow more individualized instruction and attention. $3 million Education Legacy Trust Account
Supports special education. Offers more opportunities for students with special needs through new funding formula components. $63.6 million GF-State, $14.6 million Education Legacy Trust Account
Coordinates instruction for English-language learners. Creates pilot programs to evaluate emerging best practices and provide time for bilingual education teachers and classroom teachers to coordinate. Identifies essential competencies that all teachers need to assist English-language learners. $2.2 million GF-State
Improves professional licensure and development systems. Strengthens math skill requirements for all teachers, provides more in-depth knowledge for math teachers, creates a state-level assessment to ensure teachers meet preparation expectations at both the initial and professional certificate level. Recognizes that top teachers and school leaders play a vital role in school success with a public-private partnership for a new principal and superintendent leadership development program. $1.7 million GF-State
Invests in school construction. Provides nearly $1 billion for school construction, including almost $75 million to create four new vocational skills centers. $965 million Capital
Provides additional resources for school districts. Increases pupil transportation funding while the new funding formula is being developed. Provides funding to update and improve districts’ technology resources and support the use of technology in improving instruction. $37.4 million Education Legacy Trust Account
Outlines next steps to redesign basic education funding methodologies for school districts.
- Develops options for basic education formula changes. Directs the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to support a joint task force that will develop funding formula options before the 2009 session. $435,000 GF-State
- Develops a new transportation funding formula. Follows the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee’s recommendation by directing the Office of Financial Management, in consultation with the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, to develop options for a new school transportation funding formula. $280,000 GF-State
Provides enhancements to career and technical education programs. Replaces and upgrades equipment for school district vocational programs and Skills Centers and enhances funding to middle school vocational programs. Removes financial disincentives for high schools to allow students to attend Skills Centers and allows Skills Centers to expand program offerings. $10.7 million GF-State, $9.4 million Education Legacy Trust, $400,000 Student Achievement Fund-State
Increases number of students earning high school diplomas. Establishes a grant program for comprehensive dropout prevention and retrieval programs through school districts. Creates pilot programs at two community and technical colleges that will allow students to continue their studies at the college and earn a high school diploma at the same time. $6 million GF-State
