©2011 Washington Education Association, representing 82,000 teachers and public education employees across our state
UPDATE
Over 13,000 sign resolution to “Stop Crowding Our Kids' Classrooms”
More than 13,000 people — from parents to education professionals and others worried about classroom overcrowding — signed the resolution asking the legislature to take money from the failed high school assessment and use the savings for K-4 class-size reduction. On Monday, April 4, the signatures and resolution were delivered to the Legislature as part of the NEA National Day of Action at the state capitol.
The result?
The budget saves nearly $50 million by delaying the science assessment and one of the two math assessments as graduation requirements, and invests $25 million in K-3 class sizes in high-poverty schools. Not everything we were aiming for, but progress nonetheless.
Now we need your help to keep spreading the word about classroom overcrowding.
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Resolution delivered: News clips from the National Day of Action
Teachers ask legislators to end graduation requirements and cut class sizes The Olympian
Teachers Lash Out in Olympia Against Overcrowded Classrooms The Stranger
House budget proposals cut billions Spokesman Review
House Dems outline plan to solve $5.1B state budget shortfall The News Tribune
NEXT STEPS
Tell us why class size counts
The next step is to continue educating elected officials about the impact of classroom overcrowding on Washington's students. That's why we're building a portfolio of personal stories that we can share with the public, elected officials and community leaders. Tell us how many students are in your child's classroom and/or what the impact of classroom crowding has on students and educators in your community. Click here to add your story. Find more information about the issue here.
Share the facts with your family and friends
Download this chart showing how Washington's classrooms are the 3rd worst in the nation, including key facts about the relationship between class size and learning success. Share it with your colleagues, friends and family.
How many K-4 teachers will your district lose?
View a PDF of the numbers here
K-12 Fast Facts," a 1/11/11 presentation to the House Education Committee with stats about test scores and dropout rates key to regarding the high school assessment. View PDF of the Fast Facts here
Share these useful links, too
Tight Budgets Mean Squeeze in Classrooms
Millions of public school students across the nation are seeing their class sizes swell because of budget cuts and teacher layoffs, undermining a decades-long push by parents, administrators and policy makers to shrink class sizes. article
Beyond pass-fail: New WA educator evaluation
How unions help strengthen teacher evaluations. article
Danny Westneat: Bill Gates, have I got a deal for you
Gates' alma mater touts small class sizes! article
Op-Ed: Rage Simmering Among American Teachers
NPR interview with Diane Ravitch: “High-stakes testing warps everything.” article
The Children Must Play - What the United States could learn from Finland about education reform
For starters, less testing, more respect for teachers. article
Ironic Lessons in Education Reform from Bill Gates
He wants larger class sizes! article
The Myth of Charter Schools
The truth about Superman and charter schools. article
