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Your support needed for key education measures in State House, Senate

Business groups urging progress on higher education tuition-setting authority, Race to the Top

The Chamber is working closely with the Washington Roundtable, AWB, WashACE, EnterpriseWashington and other business groups to advance legislation essential to our K-12 and higher education system.


HIGHER EDUCATION TUITION FLEXIBILITY

Higher education is key to our state's economic recovery and long-term prosperity.

With a severe budget deficit this session--and an even bigger gap predicted for 2011--granting our four-year higher education institutions more authority to manage tuition provides them with greater stability in a difficult time.

Two bills regarding tuition-setting authority are under consideration in the Senate and House (SB 6562 and HB 2946). Chamber SVP George Allen testified in favor of SB 6562, praising the legislation’s balanced approach and noting that the bill includes mandates for additional financial aid as well as public accountability through performance agreements.

What you can do
Both bills need your support. To contact legislators on the House and Senate committees considering these bills, use this simple form and sample letter (You will be redirected to the website for our partner organization, Enterprise Washington).

For more information, contact Chamber SVP George Allen, 206.389.7268.


RACE TO THE TOP

The federal government's $4.35 billion Race to the Top competitive grant was created to drive innovation and provide an unprecedented opportunity for education reform in our nation's public schools. Washington is eligible for as much as $250 million of this federal education funding, but only if the legislature enacts meaningful education reforms this session.

A series of bills (SB 6696, HB 3035, HB 3038, HB 3059) take steps in the right direction, but fall short of the reforms necessary to make Washington competitive in the Race to the Top.

Other states have gone farther, faster and are better positioned for federal dollars. In Washington state, programs are needed to improve college and career readiness, revamp teacher compensation and intervene in low-performing schools.

What you can do:
It is important that legislators hear from you! To contact lawmakers, use this simple form and sample letter. (You will be redirected to the website for our partner organization, Enterprise Washington).

Urge legislators to take the following steps.

  1. Embrace the proposals put forward by Governor Gregoire regarding standards and assessment.
  2. Establish a clear approach to measuring student academic growth that is consistent across all school districts.
  3. Overhaul teacher and principal evaluation to include student growth data and ensure it is used as the primary factor in all staffing, tenure, retention and compensation decisions.
  4. Enact the governor's proposal to expand alternative routes for teachers.
  5. Enact the governor's proposal to turn around low-performing schools.
  6. Authorize high quality charter schools.
  7. Maintain high school math and science graduation requirements.
A recent poll by Partnership for Learning shows that voters across the state support these reforms. If we are serious about ensuring all students graduate college and work ready, we need a system that ensures our teachers, principals and schools are up to the task.