March 12, 2007

OLYMPIA – The state House of Representatives today continued its march toward meeting a "Five Point" education promise to students, parents, teachers and other citizens of Washington.

With less than a month and a half to go in this year's session, another round of school bills won House approval. Today's legislation builds on key budget recommendations advanced last month by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education. Lawmakers will continue to consider several additional bills addressing Washington Learns recommendations during the budget process.

These latest education measures maintain the House Democratic emphasis on early learning, full basic-education funding, equal opportunity for every student, professional development for all school staff, and quality work-force instruction.

A pivotal emphasis identified going into this year's session – and re-emphasized in today's package – is the need to jumpstart early learning opportunities for low-income families.

State Rep. Mark Ericks, D-Bothell, sponsored House Bill 2230 "to make sure we don't neglect children who have disabilities when we transition youngsters from early intervention programs into special-education programs." The bill passed unanimously.

"All children need to get their education off to a good start," Ericks said. "We’ve got to provide children and parents with this strong foundation for our youngsters to build their school-careers."

State Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-Lake Forest Park, chairs the House Early Learning & Children's Services Committee. She added that "we need to provide early learning opportunities to many children -- but especially to children who are developmentally delayed. Many of these children, with early intervention, can join with their classmates to start school in a regular kindergarten class rather than special education."

Another school measure, House Joint Memorial 4012, is sponsored by state Rep. Dave Quall, D-Mount Vernon, who chairs the House Education Committee. The bill requests that Congress fully fund the federal No Child Left Behind policy. It will be voted on later this week.

The House also passed House Joint Resolution 4204, sponsored by State Rep. Shay Schual-Berke, D-Normandy Park. The "simple majority" legislation will allow voters statewide to decide whether a simple majority of a school district's voters can pass school levies.

The House passed House Bill 1573 by a vote of 84-13. The bill, sponsored by Quall, will provide grants to help school districts work with their communities to reduce drop-out rates.

Stronger assistance for struggling students is keyed in House Bill 2136 sponsored by state Rep. Bill Fromhold, D-Vancouver. A special-services pilot program for seven school districts, including two districts already doing the pilot, would steer more help toward at-risk students. The measure also seeks to halt inappropriate referrals of students to special-education classes.

State Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, D-Seattle, who is the House Majority Whip, emphasized that "all children can be successful in school when every child is given a fair opportunity to learn."

State Rep. Pat Sullivan, D-Covington, sponsored House Bill 1432 to recognize non-school experience for "crucial education staff members such as librarians, counselors, school nurses, and other professional educators. These men and women are an integral part of our schools' mission to provide a high-quality education for the children of Washington." The bill will help schools recruit more skilled, experienced workers.

The House recently passed House Bill 1096 sponsored by state Rep. Phyllis Kenney, D-Seattle, to expand Opportunity Grants for low-income workers seeking education and training high-need fields.

Two measures sponsored by state Rep. Bob Hasegawa, D-Seattle, follow up on the effort to provide additional aid to low-income students and "reflect the fact that we need to do a much better job providing today's non-traditional and diverse students, who often work while going to school or are trying to raise families, an opportunity to get a higher education," Hasegawa said.

His bills will help part-time students qualify for financial aid, and help reduce skyrocketing textbook costs. House Bill 1179 expands eligibility for state need grants to part-time students, and House Bill 2300 is aimed at reducing the cost of textbooks for community-college students.

Finally, House Bill 2082, sponsored by state Rep. Bruce Chandler, R-Granger, and state Rep. Deb Wallace, D-Vancouver, creates a "Field of Dreams" program that would send more financial help to children in agricultural families who want to go to college.

Wallace, who chairs the House Higher Education Committee, said that "we need college and other post-high school opportunities to be an affordable option for every one of our students."

These education measures now go to the Senate for further consideration.

For interviews, print-quality photos and other information:

Rep. Ruth Kagi, Chair of the House Early Learning & Children's Services Committee - 360.786.7910 or kagi.ruth@leg.wa.gov

Print-quality photo and more information: http://hdc.leg.wa.gov/members/kagi

Rep. Dave Quall, Chair of the House Education Committee - 360.786.7800 or quall.dave@leg.wa.gov

Print-quality photo and more information: http://hdc.leg.wa.gov/members/quall

Rep. Deb Wallace, Chair of the House Higher Education Committee - 360.786.7976 or wallace.deb@leg.wa.gov

Print-quality photo and more information: http://hdc.leg.wa.gov/members/wallace 

Rep. Joe McDermott, House Democratic Caucus Education Policy Leader - 360.786.7952 or mcdermott.joe@leg.wa.gov

Print-quality photo and more information: http://hdc.leg.wa.gov/members/mcdermott

Media Staff: Melinda McCrady, 360.786.7385, mccrady.melinda@leg.wa.gov