07.23.08 - 07.24.08
Washington State
Board of Education
Regular Board Meeting
Evergreen School District, Vancouver
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06.22.08
Editorial: Reforms Needed in School Funding
In 1889, the new state of Washington declared in its constitution that "It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education ...
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#1: You can change the world by changing our schools.
#2: Skipping math class will cost you $1 million.
#3: You can get a 4.0 and not get into college.
#4: One dollar of early learning reaps $4 of economic rewards.
#5: One out of five kids will drop out of school.
#6: Washington schools need over 1,000 more math and science teachers to meet the demand of students.
#7: A high school diploma alone is not enough to pay the bills.
#8: Half of students entering community college do not have the skills or knowledge to take college level courses.
#9: You can graduate from high school with 2 year college degree.
#10: WA ranks 46th (fourth worst) nationally in class-size.
#11: WA ranks 43rd nationally in per-student funding.
#12: There is only 1 school counselor for every 500 students in our K-12 schools.
#13: WA kids are dramatically behind in math.
#14. An affluent slacker is more likely to go to college than a low-income achiever.
#15. One in five young adults in WA have less than a high school diploma.
#16. The best way to ensure kids have the best chance to succeed in school and in life is to invest early.
#17. WA schools are achieving average results with below average funding.
#18. This current generation of young adults is the least educated age group in WA right now.
#19. Someone else will decide what your options are.
#20. In other cultures, teachers are as respected as doctors and lawyers.
#1: You can change the world by changing our schools.
The League of Education Voters Foundation is working to ensure all students have the opportunity to succeed in school and pursue the career of their dreams. Too many students aren't getting the education they need to thrive in today's competitive economy.
You can improve education for Washington's students, from early learning through post-secondary education by taking action.
TOP#2: Skipping math class will cost you $1 million.
The average high school graduate earns $33,419 annually, which is $25,447 less than the average person with a bachelor's degree. Over a 45-year career, that equals a difference of $1,145,115.
TOP#3: You can get a 4.0 and not get into college.
Washington's high school graduation requirements do not match minimum entrance requirements for public 4-year universities and colleges. Universities require applicants to have 4.5 credits above what is needed to graduate from high school-1 in English, 1 in math, .5 in social science and 2 in foreign language.
Several school districts like Bellingham, Clover Park and Mabton have raised high school graduation requirements to match college ntrance requirements. The state needs to step up and make this change to ensure Washington's students are prepared to enter college or the workforce.
Resource: View Bellingham Public Schools' 2008 Ready Guide for students and their families preparing for college, job training and the workforce.
#4: One dollar of early learning reaps $4 of economic rewards.
Research shows that investing in early learning programs is a good investment for children, their families, society, and the government. Benefits include higher employment and earnings, better health outcomes, lower crime rates, higher levels of verbal and mathematical intellectual achievement, greater success at school (lower special education and higher graduation rates), and higher government revenues due to lower government expenditures and higher economic activity.
The economic benefits of early learning are clear and compelling. Cost-benefit analyses performed on quality early childhood programs show long-term returns of $4 to $8 for every $1 invested.
(Source: National Institute for Early Education Research, 2005)
TOP#5: One out of five kids will drop out of school.
The cohort dropout rate for the Class of 2005 was 19.1 percent, meaning almost one out of five dropped out of high school.
TOP#6: Washington schools need over 1,000 more math and science teachers to meet the demand of students.
For the 2005-06 school year, districts reported openings for more than 1,000 math and science positions. With the increase of the math graduation requirement from two to three credits, districts also project they will need 450 additional teachers to accommodate the new requirement.
TOP#7: A high school diploma alone is not enough to pay the bills.
By 2014, estimates indicate 77 percent of single-earner, family-wage jobs in Washington will be held by people with at least some post-secondary education or training-51 percent by people with a bachelor's degree, 26 percent by people with some college. In King and Snohomish counties, 85 percent of family-wage jobs will be held by people with some post-secondary education.
TOP#8: Half of students entering community college do not have the skills or knowledge to take college level courses.
Of 2006 high school graduates who enrolled at Washington's community and technical colleges in Fall 2006, 52 percent took at least one remedial class.
TOP#9: You can graduate from high school with 2 year college degree.
Running Start is a Washington State program where high school juniors and seniors can take classes at a local state university or (more often) community college or technical college and receive both high school and college credit for those courses. The State pays their tuition, while students are still responsible for fees and book costs.
Sources: Running Start Program Information. Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Running Start 2007. State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. October 2007.
TOP#10: WA ranks 46th (fourth worst) nationally in class-size.
With an average class size of just over 19 students, Washington ranks 46th out of 51.
Source: Washington Education Association. Fall 2007.
TOP#11: WA ranks 43rd nationally in per-student funding.
Washington spent $7,432 per student in 2005 (adjusted for regional cost differences), which was $1,500 below the national average ($8,973) and $4,800 below New Jersey, the national leader ($12,252).
Source: Quality Counts 2008: Washington. Editorial Projects in Education. January 2008, page 12.
TOP#12: There is only 1 school counselor for every 500 students in our K-12 schools.
During the 2005-06 academic year, Washington schools had 2,024 full-time equivalent counselors for 1,013,189 students. This averages to 500.42 students per 1 counselor.
Sources: Washington State Report Card 2005-06. Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
TOP#13: WA kids are dramatically behind in math.
While more than 80 percent of Washington's 10th graders passed the reading and writing WASL in 2006-07, only 50.4 percent passed the math WASL.
Source: Washington State Report Card. Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
TOP#14. An affluent slacker is more likely to go to college than a low-income achiever.
While 77 percent of low-achieving, high-income high school students continue on to college, only 78 percent of high-achieving, low-income students attend college. High-achieving, high-income high school students continue on to college at a rate of 97 percent.
TOP#15. One in five young adults in WA have less than a high school diploma.
In 2006, 18.6 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds in Washington had less than a high school diploma, or roughly 114,267 young adults.
Source: Educational Attainment: Washington 2006. U.S. Census Bureau.
TOP#16. The best way to ensure kids have the best chance to succeed in school and in life is to invest early.
High-quality preschool programs for young children living in poverty contribute to their intellectual and social development in childhood as well as their school success, economic performance, and reduced commission of crime in adulthood.
TOP#17. WA schools are achieving average results with below average funding.
Washington ranked 43rd nationally in 2005 in per-student funding ($7,432 per student, adjusted for regional cost differences), but ranked within the top 16 in 4th and 8th grade reading and math on NAEP in 2007. When compared to the national average, 5 percent more of Washington's 4th and 8th grade students scored proficient on both the reading and math NAEP exams.
Source: Quality Counts 2008: Washington. Editorial Projects in Education. January 2008, pages 5, 12
TOP#18. This current generation of young adults is the least educated age group in WA right now.
In 2006, 81.4 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds in Washington hold a high school diploma or equivalent, compared to 88.2 percent of 25- to 34-year-olds, 89.7 percent of 35- to 44-year-olds, 91.8 percent of 45- to 64-year-olds and 82.8 percent of those aged 65 and up.
Source: Educational Attainment: Washington 2006. U.S. Census Bureau.
TOP#19. Someone else will decide what your options are.
Washington's high school graduation requirements do not match minimum entrance requirements for public 4-year universities and colleges. Universities require applicants to have 4.5 credits above what is needed to graduate from high school-1 in English, 1 in math, .5 in social science and 2 in foreign language.
TOP#20. In other cultures, teachers are as respected as doctors and lawyers.
Teachers are generally respected in many other countries, including Australia, Japan, Switzerland, England, Korea, Austria and Finland.
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