Education

Senator Jamie Pederson, Democrat State Senate Majority Leader, on ESSB -5181, speaks about this bill, which blocks parents from knowing about their student children's medical information, and strips parents of the ability to challenge it.

Pederson says, "Kids over 13 have the complete right to make their own decisions about their mental health care...Parents don't have a right to have notice, they don't have a right to have consent about that."

When talking about 13 year old girls he said, "If they're old enough to get pregnant, they're old enough to make their own decisions about what happens with their bodies. Ok? And parents do not have the right to change that or make a different decision or be notified in advance."

The Democrats are doing this after hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians passed I-2081 - one of the most signed initiatives in state history - they are gutting the initiative.

Democrats are also adding legislation to add more protected classes in Washington schools:

  • ender identity

  • illegal immigrants

Site: Let's Go Washington

The National Assessment of Educational Progress that measures achievement in math and reading produced the results of 4th and 8th grade students.

  • 71% of Washington's 8th graders are not proficient in math

  • this as spending per student shot up significantly

  • in the past 10 years the share of Washington students performing below the basic levels of proficiency increased by 20%.

  • the latest results show a decline in literacy

  • 69% of 8th graders in Washington are not proficient in reading

  • Education in spending in Washington state doubled at the same time

    • per pupil spending increased by 110%

    • the rate of inflation at the same time increased by 35%

  • Growth in Administrative Staff in public schools up 95%

  • Growth in the number of principals up 39%

  • Growth in the number of teachers up 10%

  • Growth in the number of students up 5%

Site: Digest of Educational Statistics, National Center for Educational Statistics

The law in Washington State (RCW 28A.655.070) provides the state's learning standards through the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (Reykdall). These learning standards define what all students need to know and be able to do at each grade level:

  1. Read with comprehension, write effectively, and communicate successfully in a variety of ways and settings and with a variety of audiences;

  2. Know and apply the core concepts and principles of mathematics; social, physical, and life sciences; civics and history, including different cultures and participation in representative government; geography; arts, and health and fitness.

  3. Think analytically, logically and creatively. to integrate technology literacy and fluency as well as different experiences and knowledge to form reasoned judgments and solve problems, and

  4. Understand the importance of work and finance and how performance, effort, and decisions directly affect future career and educational opportunities.

Think about these standards versus where your kids and grandkids are right now, then ask yourself why, then ask yourself what you're going to do about it.

Grading Washington's Education System Results

Dr. Vicki Murray, Director, Center for Education
February 2025

Key Takeaways

  1. Between 2012 and 2024, Washington's education spending increased significantly, jumping from $13,775 to $19,163 per student, a 39% increase, adjusted for inflation.

  2. State data show that in 2023, public schools failed to educate 49% of students adequately to standards in English, 61% of students adequately in math, and 57% adequately in science.

  3. Fourth-grade students in Washington saw a significant decline in math and English proficiency. Between 2013 and 2024, Washington students fell from 10th in the nation in math proficiency to 27th. In English proficiency, students fell from 15th to 18th in the nation.

  4. Eighth-grade students in Washington also saw a significant decline in math and English proficiency. Between 2013 and 2024, Washington students fell from 7th in the nation in math proficiency to 24th. In English proficiency, students fell from 8th to 17th in the nation.

  5. The number of non-teacher public school employees grew at a faster rate than certified teachers, increasing by 28% between 2012 and 2024. Today, nearly half (49%) of Washington public school employees are not certified classroom teachers.

  6. while public school enrollment increased by only 7% from 2012 to 2024, alternative education options expanded at a much higher rate. Homeschooling increased by 76%, and full time online public school enrollment grew by 36% over the same period.

www.washingtonpolicy.org