Make your voice heard on Washington Learns
Washington Learns is an opportunity that doesn’t come around very often — an opportunity to make significant improvements in our state’s education system and the way we pay for it. That’s why it’s so important that local school leaders review the draft recommendations from Washington Learns and make your opinions known to the Washington Learns Steering Committee, the group leading this 18-month education reform effort. Six public hearings will be held around the state this month, and your input will help shape the committee’s final report and recommendations to the Legislature in November. For more on the preliminary recommendations and a public hearing schedule, click here.

State Board developing accountability system
School board members will want to pay close attention as the State Board of Education develops proposals for its role in administering a statewide public education accountability system. In other states (and under NCLB), accountability has translated into state-level interventions ranging from withholding dollars to school or district takeovers. Here in Washington, the SBE is working on a strategic plan that includes goals related to its authority and responsibility for "system oversight." This is an important issue for school boards, so much so that the upcoming WSSDA Legislative Assembly will consider a position making it clear that any accountability system should preserve local control over mandated corrective actions. The SBE is now providing highlights of each meeting on its Web site and via e-mail. For the report on last month’s meeting, including the draft strategic plan, click here.

Sign up now for WSSDA Legislative Assembly
Accountability will be just one of many issues on the agenda as the WSSDA Legislative Assembly convenes in Pasco Sept. 15-16. Be sure your district is represented as the association formulates positions on key legislative issues such as WASL-related graduation requirements, math curricula and many more. The last day for discounted pre-registration is Friday, Sept. 8. Visit the WSSDA Web site for details and online registration.

Student achievement task force to hold its first meeting this month
The new WSSDA Task Force on Student Achievement will hold its first meeting Sept. 14 at the Pasco Red Lion (in conjunction with Legislative Assembly). Members of the task force, as announced at last month’s WSSDA Board of Directors meeting, are: Martha Rice (Yakima), Brenna English (Griffin), Karen Madsen (Everett), Lorenzo Garza (Sunnyside), Russ Pfeiffer-Hoyt (Mount Baker), Carl Johnson (Central Kitsap), Frederick Striker (Battle Ground), Dean Kinzer (Pullman), Mike King (East Valley/Spokane), Vicki Collins (Bremerton), Brita Butler Wall (Seattle) and Lynn Fielding (Kennewick). The appointments were reported to the board by task force chair Anne Golden (Walla Walla). The task force will focus on providing resources and best practices specifically geared toward helping school boards fulfill their roles in promoting student achievement.

WSSDA Regional Meetings kick off Sept. 28
The schedule for the fall series of WSSDA Regional Meetings is now complete, with 12 sessions scheduled around the state between Sept. 28 and Oct. 30. These meetings will feature presentations on K-12 performance audits, the upcoming legislative session and other hot topics, plus the always-popular networking and roundtable discussions. Look for a meeting in your area and sign up today.

Award deadlines approaching
• Submissions for the WSSDA Boards of the Year and Diversity Awards are due soon. Boards of the Year submittals must be received by Sept. 15; Diversity Award applications are due no later than Sept. 29. All entries must be submitted online at wssda.org/awards.
• Application packets for the National Superintendent of the Year Award are due Sept. 30. For more information, visit www.aasa.org.

RETURN TO TOP