By the end of the summer, most parents across Washington State can expect to receive letters from their school district explaining that their children’s school is failing because “not every child has passed state reading and math tests.” School districts must also inform parents with children who receive federal Title 1 funding that, due to the failing status of their children’s school, they “have a right to transfer their children to more successful schools.”
The letters are the direct consequence of Democrats in the state legislature bending to the will (and money) of the union lobbyists at the Washington Education Association (WEA) and blocking a bill that would have implemented a requirement from the U.S. Department of Education that “teachers be evaluated, in part, by their students’ performance on tests.” Even worse, Washington State school districts also lost control of $40 million in federal funding for underprivileged students.
The State Senate bill that would have secured the funding by meeting the federal teacher evaluation requirement seemingly had enough support from both sides of the aisle to pass, despite the WEA’s vigorous arm-twisting of Democrats who depend on its campaign cash. Sens. Sens. Steve Litzow (R) and Rosemary McAuliffe (D) struck a practical deal—a straight-forward bill to meet a straight-forward requirement.
However, even after she went as far as to publically support the use of test scores as a part (just a “part”) of teacher evaluations and introduce the agreed upon legislation, McAuliffe folded under the pressure of the WEA (which throughout 2013 was helping her retire a significant campaign debt to herself ). Ultimately, McAuliffe voted against her own bill, taking enough Democrat votes with her to cost the state $40 million in funds.
In the end, it is the actions one of Jay Inslee’s biggest donors (the WEA put $1 million donor toward his 2012 campaign effort) that cost Washington State control of $40 million and resulted in need to have letters of schools’ failure sent to parents. The WEA, and the legislative Democrats whose dependence on the powerful teachers’ union for campaign contributions made them too afraid to cross it, showed clearly that they care little for the children in the classroom – it’s all about the adults.
The WEA remains unapologetic and out-of-touch regarding the problems it is causing our state. One union representative told lawmakers that they should not worry about the possible loss of control over nearly $40 million because school districts have a “huge amount of money.” That, after the McClearly decision.
About one month ago, Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn sent a request to the Department of Education asking that most schools in Washington State be exempt from having to send letters of school failure to parents. The Department of Education denied his request, a response Dorn apparently expected. According to the Seattle Times, Assistant Secretary Deborah Delisle “wrote that the letters will give parents other useful information, such as why their school is judged as sub par, what it is doing to raise achievement, and how parents can get involved.”
An additional piece of useful information for parents to receive is the truth behind why they are receiving a letter that their children’s school is failing. Dorn thoroughly summarized the debacle of the situation when he said, “Unfortunately the teacher’s union felt it was more important to protect their members than agree to that change and pressured the Legislature not to act.”
I have few problems. 1. How can Washington DC, or Olympia for that matter, know what is best for my child? Children from different neighborhoods have different needs. It should be the business of the parents and the local school to figure out what is best, then proceed from there.
2. How can you hold a teacher accountable for the performance of a child whose innate ability, home, study location and support, diet, sleep, clothing are under the control of other persons? It is the Principal’s job to monitor and assess the teacher’s teaching skills.
3. I do believe that Unions have over reached their usefulness. They were needed years ago when teachers were not paid commensurate with their education, experience and skills. They were also needed to help be sure a teacher was not fired simply because a school board member had a friend or relative who wanted the job.
4. Education is not the Federal Government’s job under the constitution. They should be using their resources to secure our borders. The money they collect and then deal back out to the states and communities would go much farther without the Federal level of bureaucrats to be paid.
OldTeacher, you sound like one of the “good teachers.” I strongly agree with all your points. We pulled both our kids out of public school after this year. Their school has 10% pass rate out of grade 6 level math, but somehow found the time to watch 22 1/2 hours of Hollywood movies during school time. The homework they came home with was a joke. I’m not thrilled about paying 15k a year for private school (while still supporting the public school with our taxes), but what are we to do? The public school system is an abysmal failure in my opinion, and until the feds get out of the education business, I believe it will never change.
Too bad, your kids fell outta a rotten tree…..
Genetic nightmares, no doubt ??
Andy (NO) Wood = Dog Crap- Mt Vernon Wa AKA- the 12 year old furnace
filter changer, with no point, life, or success… Just jealous, I guess
!!!
Opened a business + lost the business = Wood “sucksess”.
LMAO !
Libel is great, thanks for guaranteeing my pay rate !!!!
AHAHAHHAHAAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHAHAHAH !
You really need to call your handlers at 1-800-Useful idiot and get their latest update on attacks and insults
Biff, he’s just a fat old dude with no life and the IQ of a 4 year old. To call him a useful idiot would be an insult to idiots…
Speaking for idiots, cAndy Azz Wood ?
They are in good hands… HAHAHAHAHAAHAH !
Kill another business, blame ANYONE else !!
^ Thank you for making my point …
No problemo, but give God credit for your pointy head, cAndy Azz Wood….
HAHHAAHAHAHAHA ! Thank you (comma), cAndy.
Geez, just looked at the Costello “castle” on 2nd Ave S in White Center. No wonder you are bitter….
If you’ve nothing better to do, than stalk me…. That speaks volumes.
Ps- Wrong house…
HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA !
1) Exactly right house 2) your beat up Ford Truck 3) You; Bwwwhahhaa. Knowing you are a fat, bitter loser who lives in a ghetto shack with an ugly woman: PRICELESS
Whatever you need to believe, cAndy AZZ Stalker Wood….
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA !
Yep, you know where I live & I don’t right DUMMY !!!
Wanna bet ? Oh right, U BROKE !!
Judge is gonna love this stalker lawsuit !!!!
HAHHAAHAHHHAHAHA !
Knowing WHY you lost your “business”, LAUGHABLE !!! Meanwhile, I make money being ME / HAPPY !!!!
HAHAHAHAHAAHHAHA !
Poor “woodless” wrote= little runt….. skinny little runt…….scrawny
I have spent less than an hour here and made maybe 40 posts.
HAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAAH ! Free rent in your empty life & head !!!
Imagine the childish hypocrisy of cAndy No Wood “man”. Guess, cons are not bound by ethics, morals, or any sort of code of conduct. You are the most childish, vile person I have seen on these blogs. What a loser…What’s actually funny is your room-temperature I.Q. It’s obvious she spends a large amount of her time on here whining because of a sad little life.
Thats when I thought you were the skinny little runt in the picture. Come to find out, that is Charlie, your flaming grandson. Easy enough mistake, who would have thought a senior citizen could be so juvenile?
“That”s” a tough word, for a cAndy Wood turd…..
WHAT no acceptance of the BET !? WOW ! Not a man, huh ??? HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAH !
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA !!!
Who would have “thought” a moron stalker would be a moron…?
Try again, do better with your moronic guesses, since your “life” is so dull, just like your wit, dip sh*t !!
HAHHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHA !
Imagine the childish hypocrisy/stupidity of cAndy No Wood “man”. Guess, cons are not bound by ethics, morals, or any sort of code of conduct. You are the most childish, vile person I have seen on these blogs. What a loser…What’s actually funny is your room-temperature I.Q. It’s obvious she spends a large amount of her time on here whining because of a sad… little…..loser…. life.
I’m not stalking you Fat Pat, I’m making fun of you. Liberal imbecile…
You’re NOT accepting the wager, STALKER COWARD !!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH !
Imagine the childish hypocrisy/stupidity of cAndy No Wood “man”. Guess, cons are NOT bound by ethics, morals, or any sort of code of conduct. You are the most childish, vile person I have seen on these blogs. What a loser…What’s actually funny is your room-temperature I.Q. It’s obvious she spends a large amount of her time on here whining because of a sad… little…..loser…. life.
Want a furnace filter changer ?? Call cAndy Wood @ I-WILL-STALK YOU !
( “I don’t care who ya are, that’s funny right there”)
I can’t believe I have to share the same planet with idiots like you. Judging by your fitness level though, it won’t be much longer. Now, isn’t there a few dozen cheeseburgers calling your name?
Want a furnace filter changer ?? Call cAndy Wood @ I-WILL-STALK YOU !
( “I don’t care who ya are, that’s funny right there”)
Judging by the Costello “estate” you don’t have much to wager, grampa. And no, I will not take your wife on a bet.
Judging by your moronic post, you’re a COWARD that stands behind your words by several miles…
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA !!! I’d take your wife, but I’m adverse to lines.
How did I know, YOU’D OFFER EXCUSES !!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAAH !
Want a furnace filter changer ?? Call cAndy Wood @ I-WILL-STALK YOU !
( “I don’t care who ya are, that’s funny right there”)
Challenge to what, fatso? About the only thing you could beat me in is a doughnut eating contest…
I KNOW YOU’RE A F’N BUSINESS FAILURE, woodless !!!!
BORING/REPETITIVE…. Can’t even read, you’re so f’n upset !!!
How did I know, YOU’D OFFER EXCUSES !!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAAH !
Want a furnace filter changer ?? Call cAndy Wood @ I-WILL-STALK YOU !
( “I don’t care who ya are, that’s funny right there”)
Another incoherent post from Fat Pat Costello. If you had two brain cells to to rub together, you might be dangerous…
Another moronic post, from cAndy Azz Woodless, the furnace “business” killer, stalker mess….
HAHHAAHAHAHAHA !
Want a furnace filter changer ?? Call cAndy Wood @ I-WILL-STALK YOU !
( “I don’t care who ya are, that’s funny right there”)
Why not make moronic muttering up…Powerful, right ??
HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA !
You’re right Andrew, this Robin Hood is an ignorant fool on the dole, wishes he was a union member but none want him…take that back, maybe transit workers will take him! Just a POS that doesn’t believe in capitalism because he can’t hack it in the professional world!
Poor cAndy,
Does this work on your “woodsy” pals ??? Go back to Lew’s, he NEEDS you.
“HUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNN ! Yeah, thanks cAndy.”
Free head rent is developing new meaning…
HAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!
(Same punctuation errors, pal.)
Knowing WHY you lost your “business”, LAUGHABLE !!! Meanwhile, I make money being ME / HAPPY !!!!
Tough to be happy, cAndy ? TOO RIGHT !!! Make Lew happy, it’s a “business”, right ?
HAHAHAHAHAAHHAHA ! HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA !
Your biggest “problem” seem to be integrity. You post under “OldTeacher”, but claim to have a child ???
Seems, when first you start to deceive, you’ve destroyed your own position.
Numbering your numb scullery was “pretty”… PRETTY MORONIC !!
^ Robin Hood must think we are as stupid as he is. This is obviously his post, so he logged out and logged in under “Smarter Parent” to make another incoherent post. What an imbecile!
I see your weak attempt at cross posting failed…..
Maybe, cross dressing is your “strength” ?
Funny, you blather a lot, but none of it make any sense. Are you on anti-depression medications, because you seem NUTZ !!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAH ! Come outta your closet, cAndy No Wood !!!
Seriously fatso, you are freaking WEIRD. Either that or just dumber than a box of rocks….
Another moronic post, from cAndy Azz Woodless, the furnace “business” killer, stalker mess….
HAHHAAHAHAHAHA !
Want a furnace filter changer ?? Call cAndy Wood @ I-WILL-STALK YOU !
( “I don’t care who ya are, that’s funny right there”)
Good post, Smarter Parent… Funny, how the blathering idiots never address the points, huh ? When you have no intelligence, you have less argument, I guess….
Thank you for making my points.. ..
Hmmmm ?
Old teacher, with a child ???
WOW !
Seems moronic to even write that blather, when you start with dishonesty. As for different needs, how about parents address the needs & paid professionals address that education.
Unlike you, THEY have teaching training.
How can every parent know more than paid professionals ???
Heck pal, build your own roads, you know what you’d like, right ??
Good question, since teachers & school administrators have training & you had sex… .
Guess, you have weakazz “logic” too…right ???
“The letters are the direct consequence of Democrats in the state
legislature bending to the will (and money) of the union lobbyists at
the Washington Education Association (WEA)”
….and for all the Republicans who voted against the bill, what reason do they have?
“Sens. Sens. Steve Litzow (R) and Rosemary McAuliffe (D) struck
a practical deal—a straight-forward bill to meet a straight-forward
requirement.”
Is there any evidence that Rosemary McAuliffe ever agreed to support the Litzow bill?
“Ultimately, McAuliffe voted against her own bill,”
No, she didn’t. She wasn’t a sponsor of the bill that failed. You know this already, of course.
It’s still amazing to me, every time you post about education, how deep in the pockets of the Obama Administration ShiftWA seems to be.