Get ready for public hearings on Washington Learns
Washington Learns — the education finance study requested by WSSDA and many others — is entering a critical phase in the next few weeks as it begins crafting the report that will ultimately go to the governor and the Legislature late this year. A key component of this process will be a series of public hearings to be held around the state in September, hearings that will focus on a draft report to be drawn up next month by the Washington Learns Steering Committee and its three advisory committees (K-12, Early Learning and Higher Education). The first hearing will be held Sept. 12; we’ll provide dates and locations for other hearings as soon as they are finalized. School board members are strongly encouraged to attend these hearings and offer their views on the future of education financing in Washington. (Information on the progress of the study is available on the Washington Learns Web site.)

Math under the magnifying glass
Concern over last month’s 10th-grade WASL scores in math has translated into a slough of suggestions, including calls for the Legislature to adopt a statewide math curriculum and proposals to postpone the math section of the WASL as a high school graduation requirement. Meanwhile, the State Board of Education has launched a review of mathematics instruction in Washington with the intent of providing recommendations to the governor. As part of this process, the State Board is asking for ideas and suggestions from school boards and superintendents on how to improve math results. If you’d like to offer comments, contact the SBE at 360/725-6025. For more information, visit the SBE Web site.

Register now for the WSSDA Legislative Assembly
Math will be just one of the many issues under consideration when the WSSDA Legislative Assembly convenes in September. Delegates will vote on upwards of 80 different proposals submitted by school boards and by WSSDA’s elected Legislative Committee. Proposals will then be prioritized by the delegates, the Legislative Committee and finally by the WSSDA Board of Directors. The assembly is your opportunity to shape the association’s position on legislative issues for the coming year — be sure your district is represented. The assembly takes place Sept. 15-16 at the Pasco Red Lion. Visit the WSSDA Web site for information and registration.

Performance audits, legislative preview on the agenda for Regional Meetings
The fall series of WSSDA Regional Meetings is taking shape, with 12 meetings scheduled for late September and October. The upcoming series will include presentations on K-12 performance audits, an update on Washington Learns and a preview of the 2007 legislative session. There will also be plenty of time for networking and roundtable discussions on issues that matter most to you; be sure to contact your Director Area representative on the WSSDA Board of Directors to suggest discussion topics. For schedule information, click here.

OSPI releases new report on improving high schools
A new report from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction aims to help Washington high schools improve by providing a comprehensive analysis of the most current research on how to increase the effectiveness of schools. Written for educators, policymakers and other education stakeholders, The High Schools We Need: Improving an American Institution outlines strategies and best practices that schools and districts can use to help secondary schools meet the high expectations of a global marketplace. Visit OSPI’s research Web page to download the full report.

School directors, superintendents sought for national leadership network
You may recall an item last March about a national leadership network called the 100 District Leaders for Civic Engagement and Service-Learning Network. The group, which started with an initial slate of 44 district leaders (including 4 from Washington state), had its inaugural meeting at the NSBA Annual Conference in Chicago. The Education Commission of the State’s National Center for Learning and Citizenship, in collaboration with NSBA and American Association of School Administrators, is now seeking 56 additional members for the network. If you are interested, visit the ECS Web site for information and an application. The call for applicants is open through Sept. 16. 

Online courses available for fall
A reminder that registrations are now being accepted for the fall series of online courses offered by WSSDA and Seattle Pacific University (SPU). The 6- and 10-week course topics include community engagement, the use of data in decision-making, board-superintendent relations, and the Key Work model. Courses begin Sept. 1; the deadline for registration is Aug. 18. For course information and a downloadable registration form, click here.

News from the education community
Vancouver Public Schools Superintendent Dr. John Erickson has been selected as president-elect of the Washington Association of School Administrators. Erickson will assume the presidency in July 2007 … Melissa Heaton has been named executive director of the Partnership for Learning. Heaton served as an education consultant to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and previously worked with the Partnership as the associate executive director … Recent appointments in the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction include Cathy Davidson as deputy superintendent for teaching and learning, Janell Newman as assistant superintendent for school and district improvement, Alfonso Anaya as migrant and bilingual education director, and Jill Severn as director of communications and educational outreach … Terren Roloff, community relations director for Spokane Public Schools, is now president of the Washington School Public Relations Association … Jerry Bender was recently appointed director of governmental relations for the Association of Washington School Principals. Bender previously served as principal Centralia High School.

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