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OPINION: Our state’s
'paramount duty' is being short-changed
Rep. Glenn Anderson, 5th District
Our state constitution
says: “It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for
the education of all children residing within its borders...” Our
forefathers saw the wisdom in putting education first and preparing
tomorrow’s leaders for the important role they would play in our future.
Unfortunately, it appears
that the Democrats’ proposed state budget will abandon our duty to K-12
education. Instead, we’ll fund public employee raises, public health
care subsidies, more state government bureaucracies, and other promises
made from last year’s campaign trail. Some important, some not. But none
of them the state’s paramount duty.
In fact, the only real K-12 item in the state budget is an education
finance study – a path we’ve been down before. In fact, in the last 10
years we’ve had 18 studies of our state’s K-12 public school system. Our
children are at an important crossroads, and we’re demanding more from
our kids academically than ever before. Is another “study” really the
best we can do for students at this critical juncture?
Our number-one advantage
in competing in a global economy and defending our democracy is a
well-educated public. After spending nearly $63 billion on education
during 12 years of education reform, we have created a meaningful high
school diploma, a Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL)
achievement test, and alternative tests for students with special needs.
These have laid the groundwork for our children’s future endeavors in a
diverse world. Along the way, hundreds of thousands of children, parents
and teachers have invested their lives in this plan for the future.
And now the Legislature is
preparing to effectively abandon education reform at a time when it is
poised to make the biggest difference in the lives of students.
We can’t let this happen.
Now is not the time for
more studies or rhetoric – it is time for action. “Paramount duty”
clearly means something that should come first. It is imperative we
support the world-class academic standards we’ve set for our students.
Approximately 45 percent
of the state’s $25 billion general fund budget is devoted to K-12 public
education, plus federal and local funds. Over the next six years, state
taxpayers will spend $36 billion to help prepare around 550,000 of our
children to graduate from public schools.
This sounds like a lot of
money – and it is. But all the work and funding we’ve provided to this
point are an empty shell if we now abandon our commitment to making K-12
education our top priority.
Republicans have a clear
and concise plan to help our children succeed in school. We believe it
is essential to:
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Stay on the important
path of high academic standards;
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Ensure children learn
to read at an early age to build skills for future success;
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Help parents help
their children by providing diagnostic achievement testing; and
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Fund, within existing
revenues, an intensive remediation plan to assure all students have
the best chance of graduating.
This will provide a
lifeline for the two-thirds of 10th graders that are anticipated to fail
the state achievement tests over the next six years.
All of these elements – especially our ongoing commitment to education
reform – are essential for student achievement.
There are many demands in
our state budget, especially with a $2.2 billion gap between anticipated
revenues and the state’s spending needs. Yet, our state constitution
makes it crystal clear: K-12 public education comes first.
We cannot walk away from
the educational needs of our children because political promises have
tied our hands. Their future and our grandchildren’s future depends on
it.
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For more information, contact:
Bobbi Cussins, Public
Information Officer - (360) 786-7252
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