Washington state should take the opportunity to develop a long-term strategic plan for K-12 educations -- with input from the business community -- in the wake of its failure to earn a spot in the federal Race to the Top funding program.
That's just one of several lessons learned mentioned during today's conversation with K-12 leaders at AWB's Policy Summit in Blaine. Today's panelists, including State Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn, Renton Schools Superintendent Mary Alice Heuschel and the U.W. Center on Reinventing Public Education's Dr. Marguerite Roza, all acknowledged the state's shortcomings with respect to the state's Race to the Top applications. In hindsight, though, the state's poor performance could serve as a catalyst for change that will revamp the state's K-12 system.
"Winning states have clear vision as to where state's education system is going," said Roza. "These same groups have,
with heavy business presence, created a strategic plan. That’s what’s missing here in Washington."
One bright spot in the state's application was its STEM -- science, technology, engineering and math -- program. Washington's STEM Initiative is designed to improve student achievement in these core subject areas in a way that increases effective teaching and learning while also meeting the needs of employers and the economy. Heuschel's district includes more than 15,000 students who speak 92 different languages. Classroom learning today looks very different from even 10 years ago, she said, and trying to address students' diverse learning needs is a significant challenge.
"Washington STEM gives us an opportunity to pool resources in a new and targeted way, to look at our students and make sure they have the skills necessary to succeed in the business world, and get some agreement on what those skills are," said Heuschel, who also serves on the Washington STEM board.
