Legislators discuss education funding in Kent

March 17, 2009

KENT – A concerned but mostly supportive crowd gathered March 14 at Kent City Hall to attend a forum on education policy and funding.

State Representatives Dave Upthegrove (D – Des Moines) and Tina Orwall (D – Normandy Park), along with Senator Karen Keiser (D - Kent) discussed efforts to revamp the state’s basic education policy so that it better serves all students, even amid the state’s daunting projected budget shortfall. The trio were joined by Rep. Pat Sullivan (D - Covington), who serves as vice-chair of the House Education Appropriations Committee.

“School districts like Kent and Highline struggle to meet the needs of a diverse student population without adequate funding,” Upthegrove said. “We need to make sure they have the additional resources necessary to serve students who are English Language Learners, have disabilities, or live in poverty.”

Sullivan described how a bill, which passed the House on March 12, contains new funding formulas that would better reflect the realities of 21st century public schools. Increased transparency would also help parents and communities better understand where taxpayer dollars for education are spent.

Kent’s mayor, Suzette Cooke, thanked the legislators for their work so far in this difficult legislative session, a sentiment echoed by many in attendance. During the question-and-answer session, many voiced concerns about the effect that potential budget cuts could have on students, teachers, and schools.

One high school teacher described the challenges of having 38 students of wildly varying abilities in some of her classes, calling it a “kid soup.”

Another attendee implored the legislators to take steps to address the “achievement gap” that persists between lower-income students and students of color, and higher-income, non-Hispanic white students.

Increasing parental and community involvement in local schools is also something legislators hope to address as they look to improve Washington’s education system. Orwall, who was elected this past November, is a former “PTA mom” with two children in public schools. She currently serves on the House Education Committee.

“The feedback we received on our education bill at the forum was valuable and confirmed the importance of this work,” Orwall said. “Clearly, we need to design and fund an education system where every child can succeed. This bill is an exciting first step in this direction.”

After the two-hour forum ended, people lingered for the opportunity to speak one-on-one with the legislators. All three came back to Olympia with a clear picture of the struggles teachers and students face on a daily basis.

“I believe closing the achievement gap is a moral imperative of our time,” Upthegrove said. “If we can’t ensure that all students are able to meet state learning standards, we are not serving all students equally.”