From our news partners at The Seattle Times: Bills approved Wednesday by the state Senate — unlikely to win approval in the House — would give an A-F grade to schools, let principals veto teachers assigned to their school and require more intervention for 3rd-graders who fail the state reading test. By Brian M. Rosenthal.
OLYMPIA — The state Senate approved nearly a dozen education bills Wednesday, including a few that narrowly passed over strong opposition from minority Democrats.
The package, a priority of a mostly-GOP coalition that took control of the Senate this session, is aimed at spotlighting low-performing schools, giving principals more power over personnel and challenging students to improve.
Democrats agreed with several of the ideas but derided others as simplistic distractions from the Legislature’s top goal of fully funding education.
The bills now move to the Democratic-run House, where passage is far less likely. House leaders generally maintain the state should increase funding before making more policy changes.
Still, supporters framed “education day” as a major victory.
“This package is a targeted first step toward recreating an education system capable of preparing our students for the current job market,” Senate Education Committee Chairman Steve Litzow said after the seven-hour, occasionally heated debate.
Litzow, R-Mercer Island, sponsored two of the most contentious bills: to give A-F letter grades to schools and to give principals a veto in teacher placements.
The grading, which passed 26-23, is touted as a way to give parents more information and pressure schools to improve. Opponents say it is blunt instrument for a complex problem.
“Giving letters makes great headlines,” said Sen. Nathan Schlicher, D-Gig Harbor. “It doesn’t actually make great policy.”
The principal veto, which passed 27-22, is meant to prevent poorly-performing teachers from getting passed from school to school. Opponents say it would make arbitrary personnel moves easier.
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