Legislature must protect basic-education funding

OUR children today are surrounded by science and technology that was the stuff of science fiction just 30 years ago. Now, more than ever, education is vital to our state's future.

We can't keep waiting until every star is aligned. We must make tough choices now, and time is running out.

As we prepare to enter the final week of the legislative session, the economic climate is one of the most challenging and divisive in recent memory. This passionate storm can quickly send coalitions and stakeholders working for a common good to opposite corners. But we must work together for the good of every child in Washington. They deserve nothing less.

The state spends 40 percent of its budget on our public schools and 11 percent on higher education. While many important programs face major reductions — such as reducing the Basic Health Plan by 45,000 people and slicing General Assistance, the last-ditch social-safety net, by 50 percent — we have constructed the Senate budget so that our 295 school districts — from Spokane and Seattle to Wishkah and Benton City — will face equal reductions of no more than 3.5 percent.

While many programs deal with severe cuts, K-12 public education does not.

But our state has a structural revenue problem — for years, we have continued to expand state services at all levels to meet a growing population and an aging state. Our K-12 system hasn't changed with the times; neither has the way we fund it.

Our students, educators and teachers deserve better, and we can't give that to them without changing the way we invest in our schools.

This week, we are working with our counterparts in the House of Representatives to rebuild our basic-education system. Every child should have the opportunity to receive individualized learning so that they can realize their potential within. We can't accept legislation that doesn't lay the groundwork to expand the definition of basic education.

We must include early learning as a cornerstone of our school system.

We must apply innovative ways to reward teachers and educators for their hard work and commitment to students.

Washington's school system must focus on the primary goal of preparing students to meet college and career standards.

HB 2261 provides a pathway to redefine basic education and lay out a long-term strategy for reform.

We recognize that investing in quality public schools is the key to our state's economic strength and recovery. But we also realize that overpromising in these economic times may lead only to divisiveness and prolong our efforts.

We can and will protect the funding of basic education and take responsible steps in this economic climate to lay the groundwork for reform. This is about our children — and they deserve no less than our full financial and political support in helping them to realize their potential.

Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell, is chair of the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee. Sen. Eric Oemig, D-Kirkland, is a vice chair.