For The Kids - Really?

By Liv Finne, Director, Center for Education

Washington Policy Center’s Public School Accountability Index rates the quality of more than 2,075 public schools across the state. The Index is based on data compiled by the State Board of Education’s 2011 Achievement Index, using results from the 2010–11 school year.

The purpose of the Index is to determine whether and to what extent school officials are fulfilling their paramount duty to provide a quality education for every child residing within the borders of the state. The Legislature stated:

The SBE [State Board of Education] has responsibility for implementing a statewide accountability system that includes identification of successful schools and districts, those in need of assistance, and those in which state intervention measures are needed.

For the past two years, the SBE has been working on accountability, and on January 15, 2009, it adopted a resolution to develop an accountability index, work to build the capacity of districts to help their schools improve, establish a process for placing schools and districts on Academic Watch, and continue to refine the details of the accountability system.

Note: Laurie Rogers has provided permission to reprint her words, but is not affiliated with Citizens for Responsible Taxation, and has not endorsed the "No on Levy's Campaign".

I do believe taxpayers should vote for school levies IF the dollars are critical to student outcomes, and IF the district is efficient, academically sufficient, thrifty, accountable, truthful, honorable and law-abiding. Does your district fit these parameters? What if the “vote yes for kids” signs instead said:

• Vote yes for administrator salary increases and benefits
• Vote yes for an unproved, unfunded, arguably illegal federal takeover of public education
• Vote yes for union political activity that goes by its own rules
• Vote yes for wasted dollars, on things that don’t help children learn
• Vote yes for deceitful presentations of student outcomes and manipulative district behavior
• Vote yes for substantial remediation for your child at the local community college

Levy dollars definitely drive the district trains. Those trains are going in a happy little direction for the adults, but – for the kids – they are seriously, woefully off the tracks. This year, for the kids, please ask questions, please weigh the veracity of the answers you get, and then please vote by Feb. 14.

By Laurie H. Rogers: Betrayed - Why Public Education Is Failing

Note: Laurie Rogers has provided permission to reprint her words, but is not affiliated with Citizens for Responsible Taxation, and has not endorsed the "No on Levy's Campaign".

In Eastern Washington, voters are being asked to approve school district levies in a Feb. 14 election. Spokane residents might have seen one or two or 10 billion signs about it strategically placed around the city. I saw a “vote yes for kids” sign at City Hall, tacked to the incoming side of the city bulletin board. I mentioned it to a woman at the counter, and she took it down.

Twice on its front page, The Spokesman-Review published pro-levy material that (to a journalist), can only be seen as full-page advertisements. First was “Anatomy of a Levy.” Then there was “Faces of a Levy.” Where can it go from there? Ears of a Levy? Elbows of a Levy? Butt-cheeks of a Levy?

Meanwhile, the union president published a pro-levy article in the KIDS Newspaper, and the school district helpfully delivered that pro-levy article to elementary schools and students across the city.

Clearly, the district, union and newspaper want us to support the levy. Some local advocates would rather we not. Whatever you decide, please don’t just stay home. If just three people vote on the levy, it will pass or fail based on the three votes. As you’re bombarded with a heavy emotional campaign to “vote yes for the kids,” however, here are a few things to consider.

From the Washington Policy Center:

Fewer students are dropping out of Spokane-area schools, and taxpayers didn't have to spend an extra $30 million to make it happen.

Spokane Public Schools says its on-time graduation rate improved by almost 8% in 2010.That means the district's graduation rate increased to 70%.

Other Spokane-area school districts saw similar improvements, including East Valley, which saw its graduation rate improve an astounding 27%.

Last year, advocates tried to pass a property tax increase to create a Children’s Investment Fund. They said an additional $30 million was needed over the next six years to improve Spokane's dropout problem. The measure failed by a 35-65% margin, and yet the graduation and dropout numbers are improving. How could this be?