Celebrating Educational Achievements in Washington

1. November Kickoff  Highlight the great work your district has been doing!  Share your vision of public education!  Build community support!

2. NATIONWIDE:According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, the school dropout rate has been declining since 1972. African American, Hispanic, and Native American graduation rates are improving the fastest.

3. NATIONWIDE:National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores in 4th and 8th grade math and reading have never been higher than they are today.

4. NATIONWIDE:The 2014, 46th Annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll of the Public’s Attitudes Toward the Public Schools indicates that 67% of America’s parents gave the school their oldest child attends either an “A” or “B.”

5. NATIONWIDE: According to a 2013 study of charter schools by CREDO at Stanford University: • 50% of charter schools nationwide had no better results in reading and 40% no better in math than public schools. • 31% of charter schools in math and 19% in reading were significantly worse than public schools.

6. STATEWIDE:In 2013, Washington ranked 7th in the nation on the combined 4th and 8th grade NAEP reading and math scores.

7. STATEWIDE:In 2013, for the tenth consecutive year, Washington students have scored above the national average on the ACT college entrance exam. Students in the class of 2013 finished ahead of 39 other states, with an average composite score of 22.8.

8. STATEWIDE:Washington students’ 2013 average SAT score was fourth highest in the nation among states where more than halfof the eligible students took the tests. (Generally the more students who test, the lower the state’s scores.)

9. STATEWIDE:Washington’s SAT participation rate of 55% is the third highest among western statesand beats the national average.

10. STATEWIDE:Washington’s on-time high school graduation rate was 76% in 2013, compared to 65.7% for the class of 2003. That is a 10 percentage-point increase during a decade that witnessed dramatic increases in graduation requirements.

11. STATEWIDE:While test scores are one important measure of success, they must not be the only metric on which success is determined. Kids—like adults—are whole people with a diversity of interests that are not always reflected in a single test score.

12. STATEWIDE:Washington’s founders mandated in our constitution that it is the “paramount duty” of the state—not local communities—to “amply” fund our public schools. In January 2012, the Washington Supreme Court ruled that the “State has not complied with its … duty to make ample provision for the education of all children” and further directed the Legislature to reach full compliance by 2018.

13. STATEWIDE:In December 2012, the Court found the state’s progress to date to be inadequate.On September 11, 2014, the Court found the State in contempt of court for failing to submit a “complete plan for fully implementing its program of basic education for each school year between now and the 2017–18 school year.”

14. STATEWIDE:The State’s funding plan must demonstrate how over $2 billion in local levy funding that is currently paying for basic education costs will be paid by the State.For the 2014–15 school year, [ ] spent a total of [$________] on such basic education expenses. Of that amount, [$__________] was spent to provide additional staffing to lower class sizes and better serve the students of our community.

15. DISTRICTWIDE:Innovation abounds in Washington Schools today. (Provide examples in your own school district.)

16. DISTRICTWIDE:A commitment to continuous improvement must be a shared goal in which the educator, student, parent, and community at large are engaged.

17. DISTRICTWIDE:Our students need—and our schools have earned—the continued fiscal investment that citizens provide through local levies. That support is vital for teachers and staff to provide the best for students in their care.