New Legislation Rewards Teachers Who Are Certifiable
A teacher friend of ours, who is in fact National Board certified, is all hot under the collar about HB 1410 and SB 5444, two bills that are touted as steps toward education reform elsewhere.
They are part of a trend toward increased teaching competency, which is today's education reform silver bullet. Higher standardized standards for the kids didn't save us, so the push is on for higher standardized standards for teachers. Best of all, it does this with no money: "Creates a new system to pay teachers based on their responsibilities and demonstrated skills in the classroom. Funding source: No revenue source. The bill calls on the Legislature to phase in the new finance system over six years." Not designating a funding source always makes a bill more popular.
Opponents point out that Washington state's class sizes rank 47th in the nation and per pupil funding is 45th. They argue that is what is broken is the legislature's ongoing refusal to fund a library of existing and common-sense education "reforms" calling for smaller class sizes and making sure that students have books.
Agitate against the bills here, or for them here. Or call 1-800-562-6000 and ask for an operator to direct your call. But do it today because they're gonna vote soon and we believe the children are our future.
