What's NEW(S)
NEWS trial date rescheduled to June 1
The NEWS lawsuit, originally scheduled for trial in March, has been rescheduled to begin on June 1. King County Superior Court Judge Paris Kallas set the new trial date because the March date conflicted with a major criminal case over which she is presiding, the retrial of accused Jewish Federation gunman Naveed Haq.
NEWS adds new members
The Federal Way School District, Federal Way Education Association, Clover Park School District, Clover Park Education Association, Shoreline School District, Shoreline Education Association, San Juan Island School District and San Juan Island Education Association all voted in late September to join NEWS. They will be officially accepted into membership at the Dec. 5 general membership meeting. Welcome to our newest members!
Questions re: K-12 school finance for political candidates
It's election season, and candidates for public offices in Washington are now holding meetings, forums and fundraisers across the state. Here are some suggested questions you might ask them to gauge their position on the critical issue of K-12 public school financing.
· Washington’s constitution says it is the State’s “paramount duty” to make “ample provision for the education of all children.” Do you believe the State is living up to this constitutional mandate? What specific evidence can you cite to support your response?
· As an elected official, you pledge an oath to support the State constitution. Will you agree to make public education your “paramount” or number one priority above all other issues, as the Constitution mandates?
· What will be your first action to improve public education if and when you take office?
· The Network for Excellence in Washington Schools has filed a lawsuit to force the State to better fund education. Given that, historically, lawsuits have been the only successful way to prompt real change in K-12 school finance, do you support or oppose the Network’s efforts?
· Since the 1990s, when the State established the Essential Academic Learning Requirements as the education standard for all students, basic education funding has not even kept up with inflation. Washington now ranks 43rd in the nation in per-pupil spending. As large numbers of our kids continue to fail to meet those state standards, how do you propose to increase school funding to help them succeed?
· What, specifically, will you do to advocate for improvements in school funding?
Full Funding Coalition issues report
The Full Funding Coalition issued a report in June 2008 outlining its proposals for improving K-12 funding, accountability and student performance. Coalition members include the Association of Washington Principals, Public School Employees, Washington Association of School Administrators, Washington Education Association and Washington State School Directors Association. The Coalition's report concluded:
- The state defines basic education through its performance expectations of students and schools.
Public education funding lawsuit proceeds to trial
The NEWS lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial in King County Superior Court in March 2009.
In August 2007, King County Superior Court Judge Paris Kallas denied NEWS' motion for a summary judgment in the case that claims the State of Washington has not upheld its constitutional obligation to fully fund public education for all children. NEWS filed the summary judgment motion in May 2007 with the hopes of avoiding a prolonged trial in the case. We advocated that the existing evidence is sufficient for the state to act now and determine the cost of fully funding public education and how it will fund that cost.
Summary judgment motion
The hearing for the motion for summary judgment was held in August 2007. Read the full text of the Respondent's Supplemental Opposition to the Motion for Summary Judgment and NEWS' Petitioner Closing Brief.