Published at ClarkCountyToday.com Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and may not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com I recently attended the Battle Ground School District levy information session and heard one side of a debate. District Superintendent Shelly Whitten gave an overview of the levy proposal on the ballot, which calls for the collection of $116 million dollars over three years. T.J. Kelly, the chief financial officer from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction for the state, presented the state’s assessment of the district’s financial position if the levy is not approved. The … [Read more...]
Four-day school week: Research shows the impact of a condensed schedule varies by school location and student grade level
This article was published in the Journalist Resources and is an update to a previous version. That should make it more comprehensive. Please note that it is a 2 cup of coffee article, This link takes you to the publishing source: Four-day school week: What research suggests About The Author: Denise-Marie Ordway: She joined The Journalist’s Resource in 2015 after working as a reporter for newspapers and radio stations in the U.S. and Central America, including the Orlando Sentinel and Philadelphia Inquirer. Her work also has appeared in publications such as USA TODAY, the New York Times, Chicago Tribune and Washington Post. She has received a multitude of national, regional and … [Read more...]
Clark County resident Larry Roe shares his thoughts on the the upcoming school levies
From the ClarkCountyToday.com site We need to be having an active and urgent discussion of the goals of our public schools in light of the affordability of our neighborhoods for families with school-age children, the decreasing academic performance of our students, and the increased absenteeism in our schools. Our K-12 public schools have been taking on many roles in addition to the basic academic and athletic training for students that was envisioned in our State Constitution. We have added meals for students, preparation of young children for kindergarten, extended education for students with special needs for an additional four years, resource centers to support young families … [Read more...]
Private School vs. Public School
This article comes to us from US News. It's a but long so one or two cups of coffee or tea. Deciding whether to send a child to public or private school can be a tough choice for parents of elementary, middle and high school students. Data on whether public or private education is better can be challenging to find and difficult to understand, and the cost of private school can be daunting. So how can parents weigh private schools versus public schools? Myra McGovern, spokesperson for the National Association of Independent Schools, says it comes down to what is best for each child. “The individual needs of the child should shape the choice for parents,” … [Read more...]
Is it time for a school-choice program in Washington State?
This article comes to us from City Journal.org and it's about New York State. Why change NY to WA? Because there are a lot of similarities between the two states politically and urban/rural mix of residents. Texas recently took a major step in this direction. So, read the article and substitute WA for NY and see what you think. It’s Time for a School-Choice Program in New York The school-choice movement scored a major win last week, when Texas governor Greg Abbott signed into law a $1 billion universal school-choice bill. Now, every Republican-controlled state has enacted school choice, and choice programs in one form or another operate in 35 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto … [Read more...]
Basic education in Washington state: A primer
In this first installment of a two-part series, Dick Rylander and Larry Rose provide a basic background of information from the State Constitution and legislative actions Dick Rylander & Larry Roe for Clark County Today The detailed information is shared from online sources. Original article link: Opinion: Part 1 – Basic education in Washington state; A primer - ClarkCountyToday.com This is a two-part article. In this first installment we provide basic background information from the State Constitution and legislative actions. We all know that our state has committed to providing an education to all K-12 students. We are also funding part of our local school … [Read more...]
Vancouver School District – 2025 Levy
The original article was published at ClarkCountyToday.com on January 18, 2025. Opinion: Why does the Vancouver School District need capital operations money at all given the massive bond in 2017? Larry Roe & Dick Rylander for Clark County Today The Vancouver School District is asking taxpayers and voters to approve a new levy. Approval would be a 6-year levy (the longest allowed and two times in length of the last) that will collect over $83.36 million. This is for tech and capital operations. (Question: why do they need capital operations money at all given the massive bond in 2017 that you are still paying for in taxes through … [Read more...]
Micro Schools vs Public Schools
What are “Micro Schools”? How do “Micro Schools” compare to public schools? Are "Micro Schools" better than public or charter schools? Today we embark on an examination of an alternative to public schools. You decide if it’s what you want. The following information is based on searches. Citations and links are at the end of the article. Micro schools and public schools are two distinct educational models that cater to different needs and preferences. Here are some key differences between the two: Class Size: Micro schools typically have smaller class sizes, ranging from 5-20 students, whereas public schools have larger class sizes, often with 20-30 students or more. … [Read more...]
Churches Bring School Choice to Every State
This article comes from The American Spectator written by Lewis Andrews Until recently, the biggest challenge facing education reformers was persuading local politicians in states with powerful teacher unions to legalize what has come to be known as “school choice” — the public subsidy of multiple K-12th grade learning options. For while Americans have always had the legal right to educate their children outside the local public school, the cost of doing so at a private or parochial facility has effectively limited that freedom to more affluent families. And while parents have always had the theoretical ability to homeschool, this too has always been easier allowed than done. … [Read more...]
Cell-Phone Free Classrooms Will Unleash Student Success?
The original article was published at Real Clear Wire Amid the many battles over how to improve American schools, it’s often forgotten that what’s taught in the classroom is but one component of ensuring that students receive a high-quality education; it’s also important to remove barriers to children’s learning. And the idea to remove one major impediment – cell phones in K-12 schools – has gained significant traction over the past year, most recently in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In July, Gov. Glenn Youngkin released an executive order addressing cell phones in K-12 classrooms – directing state officials to work with stakeholders such as parents, students, teachers, and … [Read more...]