One million Washington K-12 students are counting on you to pass ESHB 2261 and reform basic education.

Today’s students face unparalleled competition from every corner of the globe. Our state can no longer condone poor math and science achievement, unconscionable achievement gaps, and a 30% drop out rate.  The goal of ESHB 2261 is to ensure that all students have ample opportunity to graduate from high school fully prepared for college, rigorous job training or the workforce.

Support ESHB 2261 as passed by the House, 71 – 26.

ESHB 2261 redefines and expands the definition of basic education to include:

• Raising high school graduation requirements to 24 credits
  • 6 periods in both middle and high schools
• All-day kindergarten, and early learning for at-risk children
• More resources focused on closing the achievement gap
• Fully staffed schools, including librarians, counselors and nurses

Washington schools need ESHB 2261 passed this session.

Proposed budget cuts will drive many districts to the brink of financial crisis. Schools will be forced to lay off several thousand newly recruited teachers. Class sizes will rise. Every special program will be slashed or eliminated. As the state’s economy recovers, ESHB 2261 is the blue print we need to rebuild a stronger K-12 system.

Without new accountability, millions of federal stimulus dollars are at risk.

ESHB 2261 will ensure Washington State is better aligned with federal requirements by:

• Focusing basic education on college and work ready standards
• Directing the State Board to build an accountability/intervention system
• Supporting the development of a data system to track student learning
• Developing performance-based teacher certification and evaluation

If our state is to receive its full share of federal stimulus ARRA dollars, and if we want to compete for millions of innovation dollars, we need to pass ESHB 2261.

ESHB 2261 would phase-in implementation as the economy recovers.

The legislature must make basic education an on-going funding priority. ESHB 2261 would dedicate 50% of revenue growth over 5% to fund basic education. Implementation of the expanded definition of basic education would be phased in 2011 – 2016.

For more information, please contact:

George Scarola

League of Education Voters

George@educationvoters.org

206-409-5096

Kim Howard

Washington State PTA

khoward@wastatepta.org

(253) 241-7187

Jim Kainber

Washington Stand for Children

jim@kainber.com

(360) 292-8074