Education is always a hot topic in Olympia during the legislative session. This year is no different, but there may be more of a focus this time around in light of the recent
McCleary decision by the state Supreme Court. The court reaffirmed lower court rulings stating that the legislature hasn’t met its constitutional obligations to fully fund basic education.
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Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos gets mic'd up for TVW |
However, the court also reaffirmed that staying committed to sweeping reforms passed by House Democrats in
2009 and
2010 will get us back on track to providing our children with a quality education and fulfilling our constitutional obligations. These reforms provide a cohesive, student-focused funding system that is transparent and easy to understand.
K-12 education funding is only one of the many issues facing lawmakers this session. Other education hot topics being discussed in the House Education Committee include
authorization of charter schools,
teacher and principal evaluations, and
educational opportunities for low-income, at-risk diverse students.
Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos (D-Seattle) discussed the McCleary decision and other issues on TVW’s
The Impact. You can play the embedded video below or
click here to watch the interview.
Update: We've posted another video, this time from
Rep. Ross Hunter, discussing his vision for basic education funding.