NEWS suit successful!

The lawsuit filed by NEWS has resulted in a very favorable ruling. It is not yet clear whether the decision at the trial court level in McCleary v Washington will be appealed to the Washington State Supreme Court. Click the link below right for the League of Education Voters for more information.

Join in with AAUW on a Work/Life Blog Carnival

Click the title for more information.

Action needed on Basic Education bills

Those of us who were at Lobby Day yesterday talked with legislators about the need to implement Basic Education Reform. Three bills that follow up on the recommendations of the Quality Education Council are up for action in the House Education Appropriations Committee on Thursday, January 28.

HB 2776 - Regarding funding distribution formulas for K-12 education.
HB 2840 - Examining levy-funded employee-related costs.
HB 2746 - Concerning a comprehensive K-12 education policy.

Please contact your legislator and support these bills. While only legislators on the committee will vote on Thursday, time is short and bills that have broad support have a better chance of making it through the process.

Members of the Committee -- a particular priority --
Haigh, Kathy (D) Chair, Probst, Tim (D) Vice Chair
Priest, Skip (R); Hope, Mike (R)
Anderson, Glenn (R); Carlyle, Reuven (D) ; Haler, Larry (R) ; Hunter, Ross (D); Kagi, Ruth (D) ;Maxwell, Marcie (D);
Nealey, Terry (R);Quall, Dave (D); Rolfes, Christine (D); Wallace, Deb (D)

Hotline is 1-800-562-6000 Get further information on contacting particular legislators at www.leg.wa.gov

Action needed on Paycheck Fairness Act

We all celebrated last year when the Lilly Ledbetter bill passed early in the session.
But a year later, the Paycheck Fairness Act, the essential companion legislation to the Ledbetter bill, remains stalled in the Senate. What a difference a year almost made for women and their families. But there is good news: thanks to your efforts, the Senate leadership just announced that a Senate committee hearing on the Paycheck Fairness Act will be scheduled in the next few months! This is the next critical step toward getting the bill to the floor for a vote.

Even if you have taken action on this issue before, we need your voice now!

Urge your senators to cosponsor and move to quickly pass the Paycheck Fairness Act (S. 182).

http://capwiz.com/aauw/issues/alert/?alertid=12819746

Lobby Day

We had a great Lobby Day today in Olympia. About 60 of us were there including ten BPW members who joined us to hear speakers on education reform, Community College and work force training issues, finance and budget and reproductive health. Our Public Policy Consultant gave us lobbying tips and we fortified ourselves with a delicious lunch before heading to the Capitol to meet with legislators.

Look for cost cutting bills today in Legislature

Heeding a call for early action, both the House and the Senate are considering cost cutting measures today. The House passed a bill basically ratifying $50M in early cuts. The Senate passed a substitute version of the "furlough" bill
(SSB6503) which altered the original by allowing flexibility to agencies in deciding how they would reach compensation reduction targets (total of $69.154 M divided among affected entities) rather than mandating that agencies close one day a month. If the agencies don't submit a plan, they will be expected to close on designated days. The Senate also extended the current freeze on raises and bonuses through June 30, 2011.(SB6382).

The Week ahead in the legislature

MONDAY, 1/25

Senate Early Learning & K-12
Education - 01/25/10 1:30 pm
Public Hearing:
1. Regarding education reform SB 6696
2. SB 6630 - Updating references to the Washington assessment of student learning.

TUESDAY, 1/26

House Education Appropriations - 01/26/10 8:00 am
WorkSession: Review of the Quality Education Council Report and Recommendations.
Public Hearing:
1. HB 2759 - Adjusting local school finance related to nonresident students enrolled in online learning.
2. HB 2893 - Changing school levy provisions.
3. HB 2776 - Regarding funding distribution formulas for K-12 education.
4. HB 2840 - Examining levy-funded employee-related costs.
5. HB 2746 - Concerning a comprehensive K-12 education policy.

House Education - 01/26/10 10:00 am
Public Hearing:
1. HB 2852 - Concerning college-level online learning by high school students.
2. HB 2904 - Concerning the powers and duties of the office of the education ombudsman.
3. HB 2913 - Authorizing innovative interdistrict cooperative high school programs.
4. HB 2915 - Regarding mathematics and science high school graduation requirements.
Possible Executive Session:
1. SHB 1418 - Establishing a statewide dropout reengagement system.
2. HB 2586 - Encouraging kindergarten outreach.
3. HB 2621 - Designating resource programs for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics instruction in K-12 schools.
4. HB 2801 - Regarding antiharassment strategies in public schools.

House Higher Education - 01/26/10 10:00 am
Public Hearing:
1. HB 2930 - Expanding the pool of qualified teachers.
2. HB 1949 - Appointing student members on the board of trustees for community colleges.
3. HB 2973 - Creating resident student classifications for certain members of the military and their spouses and dependents.
4. HB 2979 - Regarding higher education performance agreements.
Possible Executive Session: Bills previously heard in committee.

WEDNESDAY, 1/27

Senate Early Learning & K-12
Education - 01/27/10 8:00 am
Public Hearing:
1. SB 6517 - Promoting early learning.
2. SB 6593 - Transferring the administration of the infant and toddler early intervention program from the department of social and health services to the department of early learning.
3. Regarding eligibility requirements for the early childhood education and assistance program [S-3966.1].

House Education - 01/27/10 1:30 pm
Work Session: Update on Race to the Top.

House Higher Education - 01/27/10 1:30 pm
Work Session: Student Financial Assistance Programs - presentation by Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Possible Executive Session: Bills previously heard in committee.

Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development - 01/27/10 3:30 pm
Public Hearing:
1. SB 6594 - Regarding commercializing research at state universities.
2. SB 6409 - Creating the Washingtoninvestment in excellence account.
3. SB 6358 - Regarding tuition surcharges for students who do not have timely completion of degrees.
Executive Session:
1. SB 6355 - Expanding the higher education system upon proven demand.
2. SB 6359 - Promoting efficiencies including institutional coordination and partnerships in the community and technical college system.
3. SB 6357 - Requiring policies for academic recognition of certain life and learning experiences.
4. All gubernatorial appointees assigned to committee.
Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business.

THURSDAY 1/28

Senate Early Learning & K-12
Education - 01/28/10 10:00 am
Will be broadcast live on TVW - can be watched online or on your tv.

Public Hearing:
1. Regarding the basic education instructional allocation distribution formula [S-3605.1].
2. Regarding the recommendations of the quality education council [S-4023.2].
3. SB 6629 - Convening a working group to make recommendations defining a basic education program for highly capable students.
4. SB 6604 - Providing flexibility in the education system.
5. SB 6620 - Recognizing successful schools and school districts by providing flexibility for schools.

House Education Appropriations - 01/28/10 1:30 pm
Possible Executive Session:
1. HB 2759 - Adjusting local school finance related to nonresident students enrolled in online learning.
2. HB 2893 - Changing school levy provisions.
3. HB 2776 - Regarding funding distribution formulas for K-12 education.
4. HB 2840 - Examining levy-funded employee-related costs.
5. HB 2746 - Concerning a comprehensive K-12 education policy.

House Education - 01/29/10 8:00 am
Possible Executive Session:
1. HB 2904 - Concerning the powers and duties of the office of the education ombudsman.
2. Other bills previously heard in committee.

House Higher Education - 01/29/10 8:00 am
Possible Executive Session: Bills previously heard in committee.