Call For Education - Don't gamble with our kids' future

Worried about your child's education? You should be.
Call the legislative hotline, 1-800-562-6000.
-
Tell them, Don’t can't gamble with our children’s future. DON'T CUT SCHOOL DAYS.
-
CONTEXT: The idea to cut four school days is bad for kids, and Washington State PTA strongly opposes it.
 
It hurts our most vulnerable, denying them access to federal food programs and essential services, and adding to child-care costs when parents can least afford it.
It creates a legal mess with long-term consequences (more on that here).
It further delays college- and career-aligned graduation requirements.
It puts even more pressure on unstable levies and uncertain local effort assistance.
-
The way forward is to stabilize basic education, not undermine it. All funding is driven by the number of days in the school year. A four-day loss means more cuts to busing, maintenance, supplies – and another 2.2 percent cut in salary allocations that must be negotiated with staff (following up on pay cuts made or somehow absorbed this year).  Hundreds of contracts will need to be re-opened. Making the number of days “optional” means that next year, or next month, the state may opt to change them yet again. And cut again. Schools won’t be able to predict year from year what their allocations will be. It exacerbates an already unstable and inequitable K-12 funding system.
 
And the kicker? To do this the state has to redefine "basic education" and argue that kids don't need that time in school. This when all the evidence tells us otherwise. ENTRENCHED GAPS
-
CALL THE HOTLINE: 1-800-562-6000 or send an Action Alert.
Call now.