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Raise a Ruckus in Olympia

CPPS recently got together with a group of South cluster school parents to discuss an exciting prospect: our state's redefinition of basic education, funding reform, and how we parents can support it. You may have already seen their "Mad About School Closure? Call Your Legislator" advocacy flyer.

Mercer Middle School parent, Maggi Johnson, tells us more:

Mad about school closures? Me too. But unlike some of you, I'm not particularly mad at Superintendent Goodloe-Johnson or our School Board. In my view, these people are between a rock and an extremely spiky place.

The state funding has not kept up with rising costs and every year district leadership has struggled to meet student needs on an inadequate budget. Projections show no change in this trend, except that this year is going to be much worse.

Did you know that most of our district funding, by law, comes from the state? Did you know that Washington State ranks 44th of all the states in annual per-student funding? Our State Constitution declares that it is "...the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children". That means our numero uno priority is supposed to be K-12 education - before roads, prisons, viaducts and stadiums. Over the years, state funding for education has declined by many measures. In 1976, when I was in high school, our annual per-student funding hit a high of 113% of the average state's allocation. Now we are at 82% of average. Is it any wonder that only 17% of students who graduate in Seattle are prepared for a four-year college? Even getting a 4.0 doesn't guarantee our high school grads a seat at our four-year colleges. Why?

Let's start with CHRONIC UNDERFUNDING BY THE STATE. Although public school districts statewide actively lobby for increased funding, they need our help to convince our legislature that we deserve "ample provision for the education of all our children." Last year our state legislators and governor made temporary budget improvements for schools. But it's a tough battle for them. Remember the anti-tax frenzy of recent years!

I've talked with a couple of my district legislators. One said, "It would be easier to do good things for schools if we got a lot of pressure from our constituents. Then we could turn to our fellow legislators and say, 'Look at all the pressure we're getting!' But WE DON'T HEAR FROM SEATTLE PARENTS. Every time we try to raise some money for schools, we get lots of calls from Tim Eyman's people." Another legislator said, "It would be really great if you were to talk with friends and relatives in eastern Washington. We need more support from east of the mountains, so have them call THEIR legislators."

Because they don't hear from us, Olympia assumes quality schools aren't as important to voters as fighting taxes. It is up us to change this perception. Can we parents start a movement to popularize the idea of excellent public education in Washington State?

Yes! Let's start a viral marketing campaign - after you have called your legislator today, call five of your friends and ask them to do the same. Can you make a commitment to call each of your legislators three times this session? Try once in December, once in January and once in February. Easy, and you've become an advocate for Washington's kids!

Our legislators did a very good thing last year by appointing the Basic Education Funding (BEF) Task Force to propose a new definition of basic education. Our Washington State education finance system hasn't had an overhaul in over thirty years! This group developed recommendations to restructure school funding, improve our schools and phase in new resources.

The BEF plan can get education in our state on the right track - our challenge as citizens is to get our legislators to pass it. We are in the midst of an economic emergency and the legislature will be looking for cuts everywhere and might be tempted to put the BEF plan on the shelf. But passing the BEF plan is something they can do and feel good about, because the structural changes suggested in the plan can start helping schools now while laying the groundwork for funding reform as economic conditions improve.

So when you call you legislator, tell them 1) How poor funding has affected your school and your community, 2) that we want Washington State to be a leader not a loser in education funding, and 3) enact the BEF plan, now.

See you in Olympia, and call your friends and relatives in eastern Washington!

For more BEF info:
http://www.leg.wa.gov/joint/committees/bef
http://whatittakesforkids.com
www.educationvoters.org

Find your legislators:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx
Join the cause! kerry@cppsofseattle.org

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