Many anti-public education policies stripped from governor's budget


2001-2003 Budget Brief: Governor's anti-public education non-fiscal policies removed Background: On April 23, 2001, the co-chairs of the Legislature's Joint Committee on Finance, State Senator Brian Burke and Representative John Gard, announced that they had agreed to remove 150 items in the governor's budget because they did not have a fiscal impact on the state and should be considered as separate policies. Many of the items were opposed by the education community at public hearings the committee conducted during the month of April 2001. WEAC worked closely with Senator Burke in support of removing the non-fiscal items. Senator Burke made removal of anti-public education items his top priority in negotiations. Some of the proposals that were removed would have allowed people with no college degrees to teach; allowed entities other than school districts to operate charter schools; and made issues including choice of health care providers, the school calendar and the layoff or reassignment of staff prohibited subjects of bargaining. One education item that was not removed would set specific dates for school districts to hold referendums. WEAC will continue to work to remove that item from the budget. Non-fiscal policy items could be re-instated into the budget or introduced as bills: Each of the items removed from the budget could be re-instated in the budget at a later time. WEAC and other education groups will continue to monitor the budget very closely to make sure these items stay out of the budget. The proposals could also be introduced as separate bills, meaning they go through the normal legislative committee process and receive greater public scrutiny. This process can help determine whether the policy initiatives will put kids in classrooms that work, maintain quality staff in schools and benefit everyone in the community. Education policy items removed from the budget include: Employment Relations Commission: Creation of various prohibited subjects of bargaining relating to the choice of health care provider, redefinition of QEO health benefits so that only substantially similar benefits be offered and the reassignment of staff when charter schools are created, low performing schools are closed, districts consolidate or when educational services are subcontracted. Public Instruction - Categorical Aids: Changes to the special education process that cut out parents, regular education and special education teachers from having input in the final placement of kids in special education programs. Repeal of requirement that bilingual education be taught by a bilingual teacher. All language dealing with the "expanded flexibility" charter districts where "above average" districts are exempt from DPI laws. All language dealing with the pay-for-performance system that would tie teacher pay to student performance. Public Instruction - Charter and Vouchers: Giving CESAs, UW and WTCS campuses authority to create charter schools statewide. Changes to voucher notification dates (minor technical change). Public Instruction - Assessments and licensing: All of the governor's initiatives to alternatively certify teachers so that anyone with either five years of work-related experience, no bachelors degree or five years of military service could teach. Statutory changes in the levels of licensure and other new teacher license revocation law changes. Public Instruction - School District Operations: School board school closing authority allowing boards to close "low-performing" schools and reassign staff. Subcontracting of educational services statewide. Changes to school start date hearings and the governor's commission to study start date issues. 60-day layoff authority given to administrators after school districts consolidate. Reporting on low-performing schools and other performance reports. Public Instruction - Administrative and Other Funding: Committee to review DPI rules to determine if they "impede progress toward reform." Restrictions on vocational education and distance education rule-making authority of the DPI. Charter school audit authority (minor technical item). WTCS: Prior approval by state WTCS board of local board courses. Changes to various grant programs within WTCS. Alternative certification of instructors at WTCS campuses. Posted April 24, 2001

2001-2003 Budget Brief: Governor's anti-public education non-fiscal policies removed

Background:

On April 23, 2001, the co-chairs of the Legislature's Joint Committee on Finance, State Senator Brian Burke and Representative John Gard, announced that they had agreed to remove 150 items in the governor's budget because they did not have a fiscal impact on the state and should be considered as separate policies.

Many of the items were opposed by the education community at public hearings the committee conducted during the month of April 2001.

WEAC worked closely with Senator Burke in support of removing the non-fiscal items. Senator Burke made removal of anti-public education items his top priority in negotiations.

Some of the proposals that were removed would have allowed people with no college degrees to teach; allowed entities other than school districts to operate charter schools; and made issues including choice of health care providers, the school calendar and the layoff or reassignment of staff prohibited subjects of bargaining.

One education item that was not removed would set specific dates for school districts to hold referendums. WEAC will continue to work to remove that item from the budget.

Non-fiscal policy items could be re-instated into the budget or introduced as bills:

Each of the items removed from the budget could be re-instated in the budget at a later time. WEAC and other education groups will continue to monitor the budget very closely to make sure these items stay out of the budget. The proposals could also be introduced as separate bills, meaning they go through the normal legislative committee process and receive greater public scrutiny. This process can help determine whether the policy initiatives will put kids in classrooms that work, maintain quality staff in schools and benefit everyone in the community.

Education policy items removed from the budget include:

Employment Relations Commission:

Creation of various prohibited subjects of bargaining relating to the choice of health care provider, redefinition of QEO health benefits so that only substantially similar benefits be offered and the reassignment of staff when charter schools are created, low performing schools are closed, districts consolidate or when educational services are subcontracted.

Public Instruction - Categorical Aids:

Changes to the special education process that cut out parents, regular education and special education teachers from having input in the final placement of kids in special education programs.
Repeal of requirement that bilingual education be taught by a bilingual teacher.
All language dealing with the "expanded flexibility" charter districts where "above average" districts are exempt from DPI laws.
All language dealing with the pay-for-performance system that would tie teacher pay to student performance.

Public Instruction - Charter and Vouchers:

Giving CESAs, UW and WTCS campuses authority to create charter schools statewide.
Changes to voucher notification dates (minor technical change).

Public Instruction - Assessments and licensing:

All of the governor's initiatives to alternatively certify teachers so that anyone with either five years of work-related experience, no bachelors degree or five years of military service could teach.
Statutory changes in the levels of licensure and other new teacher license revocation law changes.

Public Instruction - School District Operations:

School board school closing authority allowing boards to close "low-performing" schools and reassign staff.
Subcontracting of educational services statewide.
Changes to school start date hearings and the governor's commission to study start date issues.
60-day layoff authority given to administrators after school districts consolidate.
Reporting on low-performing schools and other performance reports.

Public Instruction - Administrative and Other Funding:

Committee to review DPI rules to determine if they "impede progress toward reform."
Restrictions on vocational education and distance education rule-making authority of the DPI.
Charter school audit authority (minor technical item).

WTCS:

Prior approval by state WTCS board of local board courses.
Changes to various grant programs within WTCS.
Alternative certification of instructors at WTCS campuses.

Posted April 24, 2001