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What are the goals of First Class Education for Washington? |
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In a global, information-age economy, Washington kids will not enjoy a first class economic future without a first class education in their immediate present. We need every student in Washington to have the opportunity of a first class education. A first class education can only be achieved if we change our educational priorities to achieve this.
Our goal is simple, intuitive and reasonable -- keep local control of education but demand statewide accountability by requiring Washington school districts to direct 65 cents of every education tax dollar to instruction in Washington 's classrooms.
- Ensure that the state and all districts use a common, national definition or benchmark for budget expenditures
- Generate greater public awareness of, and involvement in, K-12 education funding and expenditures
- Create transparency in the budget process to identify inefficiencies within the current system and move existing funds to classroom instruction
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What is Washington currently spending for classroom instruction? |
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Regrettably, only 59.5 cents of every dollar are dedicated to classroom instruction in Washington, according to the June 2005 report by the National Center for Education Statistics. By moving just five and a half pennies and increasing to 65 cents would mean an additional $404 million a year for instruction in Washington’s classrooms -- without a tax increase!
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What are the specifics of the proposal? |
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- School Districts that currently fall below the 65% goal shall be required to increase that percentage by a minimum of 2% each year until the 65% goal is met.
- School Districts would be required to send their annual proposed budgets to the Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction to ensure that the 65% goal or 2% annual improvement is being made.
- School Districts that believe they cannot meet either the 65% goal or 2% annual improvement can petition the Superintendent of Public Instruction for a one-year waiver along with their proposal of what can be done to achieve the 65% goal.
- The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall have 30 days to either deny or grant the one-year waiver or grant a partial one-year waiver short of the 65% goal or 2% annual increase.
- The State Auditor will be charged with auditing districts to determine compliance
- The Legislature will be left with the opportunity to determine what punitive action may be taken if School Districts do not comply with the requirements
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What does “classroom instruction” mean? |
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First Class Education for Washington would require Washington School Districts to allocate at least 65% of operational expenditures on classroom instruction. “Instruction” includes activities dealing directly with interaction between students and teachers, or other classroom and instructional personnel, special education instruction, tutors, books, classroom computers, general instruction supplies, instructional aides, and class activities such as field trips, athletics, arts, music, and multi-disciplinary learning. |
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Are school construction costs in the 65 cent goal? |
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The First Class Education for Washington 65% goal is for K-12 educational operating budgets. Capital outlays such as construction costs and major school repairs and improvements are not impacted.
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Who benefits from the passage of First Class Education for Washington?
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Teachers – sorely lacking resources will finally be available for classroom instruction!
Taxpayers – tax money will be spent more wisely and with greater accountability!
Parents – education funding will be more discernable and transparent, encouraging greater involvement!
Students – classroom instruction will once again become the first priority of Washington education!
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How will the extra funds for classroom instruction be spent? |
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Local school board members will remain in control of deciding how to spend the additional funds for classroom instruction. The extra funds could possibly be used for items including new classroom computers or additional instructional opportunities like music, the arts, physical education or foreign languages. |
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Will this guarantee better academic results? |
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According to the Independence Institute, the percentage of dollars reaching the classroom has five times greater impact on NAEP 4th & 8th grade test scores than does increasing total education spending. This is intuitive – placing the focus on classroom instruction as evidenced by the percentage of money provided for classroom instruction produces better test scores. Interestingly, the Independence Institute also found a negative impact on test scores based on increased spending outside classroom instruction. |
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What will non-performing school districts need to do to accomplish the 65% goal? |
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Through a combination of placing their annual budget increases towards classroom instruction and better management of funds already allocated, school districts will need to spend a minimum of 65% of their budgets on the reason they exist – to provide more classroom instruction opportunities for students. Some districts will need to examine their levels of administration, their spending on perks like car allowances and out-of-state travel and seek savings through common business practices such as outsourcing of certain services and competitive bidding. But more than anything else, an attitude change must take place to ask and answer a simple question before any dollar is spent outside the classroom – “could this dollar be better spent for classroom instruction?” |
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What if a school district simply can’t make the increase?
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The First Class Education for Washington proposal provides school districts an opportunity to ask for a renewable one-year waiver from either the annual 2% improvement or the 65% goal if it can demonstrate a legitimate reason to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. |
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What penalties will be imposed on school districts that don’t comply? |
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The State Legislatures will be specifically left the task to set penalties to encourage compliance to the measure.
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Have other states enacted a 65 Cents goal? |
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Legislatures in Louisiana and Kansas have adopted 65 cents legislation. Texas Governor Rick Perry has issued an “executive order” to require districts to meet the 65 cents goal. Voters in nearly a dozen states may have the chance to pass First Class Education at their November 2006 ballot. From Washington to Florida, from Arizona to Ohio, concerned parents, teachers and taxpayers are getting involved in the First Class Education movement.
65 cents of every tax dollar dedicated to classroom instruction: a simple, intuitive and responsible solution. |
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What about rural and small districts? Aren’t they adversely affected? |
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While one would think economies of scale would mean smaller or rural school districts would have a harder time reaching the 65 cent goal, such a conclusion cannot be reached. Many small and rural school districts around the country and around Washington are able to spend 65%, 68% even well over 70% in the classroom, while the largest school districts in many states fall well short. Big or small, rural, urban or suburban, what dictates the amount of money spent on classroom instruction simply comes down to making classroom instruction the first priority.
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What about local control of schools? |
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School boards are free to spend on anything they wish – so long as the priority of spending 65% on classroom instruction is met. Local control is very important, especially when matched with statewide taxpayer accountability.
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Who’s behind this effort?
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Concerned citizens, parents, and educators are joining together from around Washington State. A Washington born and bred entrepreneur now stay-at-home father, Brian Janssen is the Chairman of First Class Education for Washington. Both Brian’s parents were teachers in Washington, so he understands and values the hard work and sacrifice of Washington’s teachers. Brian is joined by a growing list of Washington entrepreneurs and business leaders who understand that Washington’s economic future is dependent on its education present – and that it’s time to bring a common-sense business approach to education spending in our state.
The Chairman of the First Class Education National Board of Advisors is Dr. Patrick Byrne, founder and President of Overstock.com.
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How can I get involved?
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We encourage you to join this grassroots effort along with other parents, teachers, taxpayers and concerned citizens to make a difference and ensure that every student in Washington receives a first class education. We are looking for pledges of time, talent and financial support and we welcome your participation.
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Brian Janssen, Chairman
www.firstclasseducation.org/washington
300 Lenora Street #259
Seattle, WA 98121
206.652.3343
Paid for by First Class Education for Washington
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