Public Policy |
2009 Agenda
The private, independently funded school community of Washington State is comprised of over 500 approved schools serving a richly diverse population of more than 80,000 students. This diversity is reflected in the full spectrum of economic, cultural, familial, educational and religious traits of our enrolled families; families whose collective dual sacrifice as responsible tax payers and tuition contributors saves this state over $500,000,000 annually.
The Washington Federation of Independent Schools (WFIS) is honored to bring together these uniquely varied educational institutions in order to fulfill its mission to strengthen educational quality in Washington while serving as the advocate and voice of independent schools. Representing schools enrolling the vast majority of students attending private institutions in Washington , WFIS is truly a representative voice and the only full time, statewide forum for Washington's privately funded, independent school community. Our expectation is to participate to the fullest extent in all levels of the state's collective educational dialog.
To assure school-focused input and perspective, WFIS by-laws call for local school heads to be elected by member schools to its Board of Directors. Each fall, WFIS holds regional gatherings throughout the state to guide the Board of Directors in establishing direction as well as its educational policy agenda. As a result of this process, the bulk of our 2009 agenda in support of the state's independent schools will be focused in the following areas:
EQUITABLE PARTICIPATION AND EQUITABLE APPLICATION
While the debate continues over interpretation of language that would allow state directed resources to be used in schools under religious auspices, it remains clear that numerous programs are already available on the local and federal level. Unfortunately, not all of these opportunities make their way to the children for whom they were intended. The erroneous assumption that state constitutional language also applies in these situations often causes confusion for local application.
WFIS will continue to advocate for private school student access to all programs designed to enhance the quality of education in this state. In addition, we will seek resolution in cases where local application results in double standards or inequities.
FEDERAL The re-authorization of the educational entitlements in the No Child Left behind Act includes newly strengthened provisions for private school student inclusion. We will work for seamless application of those programs in all districts within the state. The re-authorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) has been successfully monitored for opportunities to increase the overall level of funding for children of special needs and for greater flexibility for their parents to choose the provider of those services.
STATE - WFIS supported the Educational Reform Act of 1993 and the right for independent schools to voluntarily participate. The final legislation leaves the decision to participate to each independent school board. We will continue to insist that a school's curriculum is best determined at the local level in concert with a community-discerned mission and vision. At the same time, WFIS believes that where the independent school community finds resonance with the goals and performance objectives crafted for the state-operated schools, they should be welcomed and encouraged to embrace and fully participate in the resources available to ensure quality implementation. Further, students and families attending private schools choosing to link to the reform movement and/or assessment process should not be billed additional fees in order to do so.
The Early Learning Department will continue to be a major WFIS focus. With the vast majority of early childhood providers coming from the private sector, WFIS will continue to partner with this new department to assist in establishing policies, regulations and legislation to serve all of Washington's pre-kindergarten students. We will also advocate for pre-schools whose mission is being compromised by DSHS regulations.
LOCAL - We actively encourage counties and municipalities to exercise their leadership role to the benefit of all children within their jurisdiction whether they are enrolled in public or private schools. While these local charters exclude any specific role in K-12 education, the regulations they enactspecifically in land-use, the new health and safety proposed regulations, and parks and recreationoften neglect to include the perspective of private school students and their families. The creation and application of these policies must be evenly maintained.
EDUCATIONAL LIBERTY
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Today, millions of Americans exercise their right to choose schools. This freedom, however, depends on their ability to pay tuition at a privately funded school or to live in neighborhoods where the state-controlled system meets the needs of their children. WFIS believes that while parents with children enrolled in private, independent schools value a strong public school system and willingly accept their responsibility to contribute to the common good, our state's constitution does not equally affirm their parental right to educate their children in the school of their choice. The U.S. Supreme Court has demonstrated how locally supported choice programs could successfully meet federal constitutional restrictions.
Recognizing the increasingly diverse background of the families we serve, WFIS will continue its efforts in the pursuit of additional legal opinions that will pave the way for funded educational choice programs for families who so desire to participate. These programs must include both: (1) a priority for assistance to low and middle-income families, providing increased educational options for their children; and (2) an inclusion of private and religiously affiliated school options among those choices. Our goal would be to craft any choice program in a way that benefits both the public and private school systems. We continue to support Tax Credit legislation that would empower businesses to make tax deductible donations to all K-12 programs statewide.
MONITORING TRENDS
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WFIS takes seriously its role in helping shape the face of K-12 education in this state. To that end we will continue to monitor and, when appropriate, speak to specific initiatives and trends in the public forum. Areas we are closely watching include:
(1) Teacher Supply, Certification and Professional Development - WFIS stands in concert with the belief that a quality professional teaching and administrative staff is one of the most critical elements for a successful educational program. To that end, we actively support state proposals designed to recognize, support and enhance professional instruction in Washington's public and private schools.
In previous sessions, WFIS has supported the need for significant increases in state teacher salaries, benefits and incentives in order to help attract and retain the caliber of educator required for educating a world-class student of the 21st century. We have advocated for strategies to keep this workforce motivated and updated to successfully meet the needs of our growing student populations. In support of the 4,500 state certificated teachers (and the hundreds of other alternatively certified and competent instructors and paraprofessionals) employed in Washington's private schools, WFIS participates in efforts of the State Board of Education (SBE), Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB), the Early Learning Department and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to coordinate the standards for teacher preparation, professional certification, continuing education and leadership cultivation.
Specifically, we believe that any resources directed to support, enhance or augment the professional teaching ranks of this state should be accessible to all practitioners. Directing such resources through providers (e.g. colleges and universities) rather than through beneficiaries (e.g. districts) is a viable avenue. We continue to advocate for an increased role by preschool and K-12 practitioners in the development and approval of teacher and administrator preparation programs.
At the same time, WFIS believes that all school sponsors (whether a publicly elected board or private institution) should have the ability to attract and retain the professional staff that best meets their local mission and educational philosophy. Each system is ultimately accountable to the families it serves and has a responsibility to hire the best staff possible with the resources available.
(2) Governance We continue to follow with interest the growing sentiment that educational governance in Washington needs change. The families of Washington can best be served with a streamlined system that directs resources to the classroom and away from regulation, burdensome administration and maintaining the status quo. Any serious proposals must not only retain but also enhance avenues for full choice among alternatives. We will work hard to retain our proportional voice and place at the table.
(3) Tax Restructuring and Resource Development No discussion of economic stability for the state in general, or education in particular, proceeds very far before the topic turns to retooling the collection of state revenues. The Basic Education Taskforce report will be considered by the 2009 Legislature. WFIS would strongly advocate for the kind of creative leadership that would support innovative proposals benefiting all of Washington's children. A personal and/or business tax-credit solution, modeled after those successfully providing significant benefits to public and private school students in other states, could be a logical first step. Any initiative or referendum that fails to consider the sacrifice private school parents make annually to the benefit of the general fund appears shortsighted and discriminatory.
(4) Election 2009 As an advocate organization, WFIS accepts its role in seeking inclusion for private schools, students and families in state programs as warranted and appropriate, while at the same time vigorously defending each sponsoring body's right to define its unique local mission. We will actively seek out candidates' positions on education in Washington , paying special attention to their understanding and support of private schools within that mosaic. Those seeking office who focus on possibilities rather than limitations would earn significant support.
Our Commitment as Peers and Partners is important to WFIS and its member schools. We believe that privately funded AND state-controlled schools serve the same public: the student-citizens of our state. We have more in common than we often acknowledge.
WFIS believes we should build and focus on what we share in common rather than perceived differences. Our member schools will not tolerate efforts to penalize one sector to benefit the other. At the same time, we will not accept being left out of the design. We pledge to work together for a larger commitment to education for all.
We are committed to strategies that do so.
Timothy Lugg Eric Rasmussen Rick Van Beek
Patrick De Jong Ron Taylor
Rev. Doug Banks Chris Gavin Elizabeth Swift
Paul Bethke
Gulsevin Kayihan
James Estill Trish King Briel Schmitz
Ron Trautwein James Weller
Member at Large
Gary Kamps
P.O. Box 449
Dupont , WA 98327
(425) 228-WFIS (9347)
Fax: (425) 228-9348
www.wfis.org
Assistant to the Director
Jan L. Morrison