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...]
Screen time
From the Facts They Don't Teach You The world spent years pushing screens into classrooms. Tablets replaced textbooks. Digital assignments replaced handwritten notes. Schools were told that the future of education was sitting behind a screen. Now some European countries are starting to reverse course. Sweden, Finland, Norway, France, Italy, and Denmark are all moving away from heavy classroom digitalization and bringing back something many schools thought was disappearing: printed books, handwriting, and traditional reading. And this shift is not happening because of nostalgia. It is happening because researchers have found that writing by hand and reading … [Read more...]
Teachers in the Evergreen State are among the best paid in the country?
From the News Tribune It's a 2 cup of coffee read (maybe 3) Washington’s teacher salaries are the fourth-highest in the United States, according to the National Education Association. A News Tribune analysis also found that teacher salaries in Pierce County have increased by an average of about 82% over the last 10 years. The average salary for a teacher in Pierce County in the 2024-2025 school year is about $97,000. Some Pierce County districts that have seen the biggest increases in average teacher salaries also find themselves in financial distress, according to a News Tribune analysis. Of the five school districts that saw the highest percent change in average teacher … [Read more...]
Tech in schools is a problem?
Want to do some reaching about how and why too much tech in classrooms is causing issues? Rising concerns over tech in schools Internal documents reveal Google’s work in schools aims to create a “pipeline of future users.” In Los Angeles, a growing group of parents say school-mandated iPads are leading to behavior problems. Parents are forming a loose network teaching one another how to opt their children out of school-issued Chromebooks and iPads. College students are using AI “humanizer” programs to beat accusations of cheating with artificial intelligence. … [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...]
Empower Students Through Ownership: How School-Wide Projects Ignite Confidence and Engagement
Today Emily, at www.mightymoms.net shares her newest article When students are given meaningful roles in shaping their school’s initiatives, something powerful happens: engagement soars, confidence strengthens, and learning feels real. Educators who create structures where students own parts of school-wide projects — whether creative showcases, communications teams, or community events — see classrooms transform into ecosystems of agency and collaboration. Quick Takeaways Student ownership turns passive participation into active leadership. Real-world collaboration, like managing school events or designing communications, develops vital life and career … [Read more...]
A chat with ChatGPT on Headstart Programs
Premise statement: head start programs have no value ChatGPT said: It sounds like you might have some strong feelings about Head Start programs. They’ve been a topic of debate for a while, with critics pointing to issues like inconsistent quality and long-term effectiveness, while supporters argue that they provide critical early education and resources for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. What’s your perspective on them? What leads you to feel that they don’t hold much value? You said: the value vs cost. any benefit is lost by 3rd grade ChatGPT said: Ah, I see what you're getting at—the argument that the … [Read more...]
Enhancement Levys and their burden
These examples are in Northern WA State but are relevant. Yelm Community Schools has more than 3x the seniors over age 65 poverty compared to Bethel's School District and 31% higher seniors over age 65 poverty compared to North Thurston. Yelm taxpayers have an elderly population that needs protection so they can stay in their homes. According to this data, Yelm Community Schools had 92,014 less population, 15,106 less FTE students, and 390 less FTE teachers than Bethel School District. According to this data, Yelm Community Schools had 79,119 less population, 9,089 less FTE students, and 255 less FTE teachers than North Thurston School District. Home … [Read more...]
The OBBB Act is one of the most significant shifts in education in decades
Are you interested in k-12 school funding following the student? Are you interested in allowing parents to choose where there child/ren go to school? The following article was published at The Washington Examiner and does a good job outlining the coming changes to school choice. Hardly anyone is talking about it, but Congress has just passed one of the most consequential education reforms in history. Tucked into the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is a provision that could transform how families access education, reshape the politics of schooling, and finally give parents the power to direct their children’s learning. The legislation establishes a first-of-its-kind federal tax credit … [Read more...]
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