For Immediate Release | January 30, 2017
SEATTLE, Wash. — Today, WA Charters announced that it has joined the Campaign for Student Success, a growing coalition advocating for the development of a new, equitable approach to funding Washington’s public education system. The coalition formed earlier this year under the simple premise that we are not asking the right questions to address the ongoing challenges associated with the McCleary case – namely, whether student success is appropriately at the forefront of every decision that the legislature will need to make this session.
“We are proud to join this growing group that is coalescing around a McCleary solution ensures that each student – regardless of their zip code, family income or background, or color of their skin – receives the quality education they deserve,” remarked WA Charters CEO Tom Franta.
WA Charters is among nine organizations joining the Campaign for Student Success today:
- Democrats for Education Reform Washington (website)
- Washington State Association for Head Start and ECEAP (website)
- Solid Ground (website)
- Washington State Charter Schools Association (website)
- College Success Foundation Washington (website)
- Parents for Student Success (website)
- Coalition of Immigrants, Refugees and Communities of Color (website)
- Child Care Aware of Washington (website)
- SOAR (website)
On Friday, the Campaign for Student Success publicly commended the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus’s education funding proposal, the Education Equality Act, as a step in the right direction to bring fairness to Washington’s public education system. Today, parents, community leaders and equity fighters part of Campaign for Student Success will travel to Olympia to testify in support of the funding proposal at the Senate Ways & Means Committee’s public hearing.
The newly launched Campaign for Student Success is a diverse group of parents, education advocates, community leaders and fighters for equity united in its belief all students, regardless of background, deserve a world-class education. The Campaign for Student Success is urging Governor Inslee and Washington legislators to put forward student-focused solutions to McCleary to ensure every student has access to a great education. As part of its effort to invite Washington parents and students to share their hopes for the future of schools, the campaign launched its first TV ad, “What If,” which premiered during the Seahawks Divisional Round matchup.
The Campaign for Student Success is built on three key policy pillars that will shape the conversation about McCleary in Olympia, and serve as the foundation for this unique coalition:
- Funding & Fairness: Sufficient funding must also be equitable and fair, meaning we must support those students who need it most;
- Talent: Educator compensation must be funded with a focus on equity, growing the pipeline of excellent educators and matching them with students who need the most help;
- Accountability: Funding and talent must be accompanied by a robust accountability system that sets clear goals, tracks progress over time, and provides appropriate supports and programs for under-performing schools and struggling students.
The coalition boasts a growing and diverse list of members, including League of Education Voters, Equity in Education Coalition, Stand for Children Washington, Asian Pacific Islander Coalition, Statewide Poverty Action Network, Treehouse, School’s Out Washington and Thrive Washington.
For a more information on the Campaign for Student Success, visit www.WAStudentSuccess.org.
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