Guest columnist
A results-oriented lift for families and education

By Richard McIver
Special to The Times

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The Seattle City Council currently is debating the components of the Families and Education Levy, which likely will appear on the Seattle primary ballot in September. Voters again will be asked to increase their property taxes to fund an impressive array of educational and health services to ensure all our children are ready to learn in school.

Twice before, Seattle voters have demonstrated their willingness to make such a commitment, first in 1991, and then again in 1997.

The proposal being considered by the City Council sets the right direction. It is a $103 million, seven-year levy, proposed by Mayor Greg Nickels after a two-year process with extensive community involvement. It is focused on services that will make measurable improvements in preparing children to enter school, increasing academic achievement and improving student health.

Compared with the $69 million 1997 levy, the current 2004 levy proposal doubles the amount invested in early learning, increases funding for after-school programs and adds money for family involvement in the community. It makes certain that investments achieve desired results by measuring outcomes.

This plan will improve student learning: More children will enter kindergarten ready to learn; more youths will get help when there are warning signs such as truancy and suspension; student grades will improve and graduation rates will go up.

What is the situation with student learning in our city? It depends. The achievement gap between students of color and their white counterparts is well-documented.

Here are some statistics that should shock you: Only 34.9 percent of 10th-graders met last year's Washington Assessment of Student Learning standard — 7 percent of African Americans passed, 23.1 percent of Latinos, 38 percent of Asian Americans, 38.3 percent of Native Americans and 52.5 percent of white students.

When you consider that in four years state law will require passing the WASL in order to graduate from high school, the need to address this problem rigorously is clear.

The levy proposal before the council offers an effective approach to addressing the achievement gap. We can make a real difference in students' chances for academic success by funding academically focused after-school programs; preschool for 400 low-income 4-year-olds; school-based health centers; case management for high-risk youth, and family support and involvement efforts.

The proposal uses resources for the students who need the most help — students whose needs are not being well-served by the current system.

Some programs funded by the current levy have been successful, but others have not shown significant results for the investment and have not made a noticeable difference in the achievement gap. The achievement gap is getting worse.

My colleagues and I must be mindful of the cost of the levy and what we can realistically hope Seattle's voters will accept. These programs are important, but I fear that asking for much more than $103 million endangers our chance of winning citizen approval.

Seattle voters have continually demonstrated their generosity in funding low-income housing and educational programs. I urge my colleagues not to make this proposal too big for the voters. So many last-minute ideas are surfacing that the price tag could exceed $140 million if the City Council were to grant every request being made. We can't ignore the tax burden in Seattle, especially during a recession. Let's set the right size for this levy, because a failed levy would mean zero dollars for students and zero results.

As policymakers, we have a responsibility to put something on the ballot that is intellectually honest: Taxpayers must believe that the levy will lead to better results for students, not just more money spent. This levy shouldn't be about simply continuing programs we've funded in the past; it should be about results achieved.

This proposal sets a new direction — the right direction — for Seattle's children and their families. It invests in programs that have proven effectiveness; it requires programs to show positive results in the lives of children.

I urge my colleagues on the council to join me in setting this new direction. We know the status quo is not working. Let's make the change we need, and give all children a chance for success in our schools.

Seattle City Councilman Richard McIver is chairman of the council's Finance and Budget Committee.