Yesterday, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn presented the Washington House Committee on Ways & Means with the Quality Education Council’s 2010 Work Plan.

The work plan is a product of the recent passage of state reform legislation for basic education and education funding. The legislation passed (H.B. 2661 and H.B. 2776) includes the following:

• Requirements to identify funding and programs that close the achievement gap and improve graduation rates
• All-Day Kindergarten included in basic education
• Funding allocations and reporting on expenditures using a prototypical school model. Translates all major funding formulas to this new transparent structure by September 2011
• Better transportation funding formula
• Requirement to identify adequate levels for classified staff
• Increased instructional hours once funded
• Enhanced high school diploma requirements

With this in mind, the Quality Education Council has set forth the following work plan.

• Identify measurable goals and priorities for the educational system utilizing the state reform plan and current performance data as a baseline
• Recommend programs and funding to Close the Achievement Gap, Increase Graduation Rates, and Decrease the Dropout rate, including: recommend an improved Learning Assistance Program, including funding methodology; recommend an improved Transitional Bilingual Program, including funding methodology; review recommendations made by the Achievement Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee; and review recommendations made by the Building Bridges Workgroup
• Implementation schedule for revised graduation requirements and increased hours of instruction
• Making necessary reports to the Legislature regarding classified staffing adequacy and capacity of school districts to implement new funding including for class size reductions.

Finally, Superintendent Dorn spoke to the framework provided by the adoption of S.B. 6696 – Race to the Top legislation.

The legislation provides a framework for important changes that are required for the development of a comprehensive state reform plan.  The framework for this education reform plan is set out in three categories: (1) Goals, (2) Capacities, and (3) Outcome measures.

The framework identifies four goals for all Washington students,

• Enter kindergarten prepared for success,
• Compete in mathematics and science nationally and internationally,
• Attain high academic standards regardless of race, ethnicity, income or gender, and
• Graduate able to succeed in college, training, and careers.

In addition, in the area of outcomes, goals are set that highlight the link between pre- K12 and higher education. These include increasing graduation rates; increasing teacher and leader effectiveness; increase college readiness, attendance, persistence & completion; increase post-secondary degree and certificates; and increase work placements.