Newsletter: We’re facing a “time for choosing” on K-12 learning loss

November 17, 2023

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Two full academic years have passed since Washington’s
governor belatedly ended his pandemic-related closure of the state’s public K-12 classrooms.

Data from the state’s latest assessment of Seattle high school students shows those at more affluent schools are close to the pre-pandemic scores of their peers. The opposite is true for students with lower incomes, especially those attending high schools in lower-income areas.
Those who have spoken loudest about equity and injustice in recent years seem less than serious about fixing this glaring public-policy issue, even though it is also at the core of the state’s paramount duty to provide for education.

It is a time for choosing: Legislators must lift these children up now, or let them continue to fall.

Read more about this problem and my plea for intervention in my latest issue of “Economic Sense.” 

 

 

 

Supporting and protecting Washington’s most essential industry

The number of farms in Washington is steadily declining and, every year, it seems as if the Legislature makes it more expensive to operate a farm through increased regulations and taxes.

This is a threat to our food supply, to the communities who depend on the farm economy, and to the entire agriculture industry here in Washington.

Earlier this week, several of my colleagues who are very involved in farming and ranching in their everyday lives held a news conference and announced a policy agenda for 2024 that would focus on reducing barriers to the survival of Washington’s farms, improve education about Washington agriculture, and encourage food security. It’s called “Cultivate Washington.”

We are very lucky that so many farms, ranches, orchards, dairies and vineyards call Washington home. Unfortunately, Washingtonians who live in urban centers — and the Democrat legislators who represent them — are further and further removed from the source of their food and what it takes to ensure that we have enough food to eat and to export to others.

 

 

KING TV update on officials’ calls for investigation into Green Hill School

In my last newsletter, I shared my reaction to the KING TV story detailing how law enforcement had to request a search warrant to gain possession of drug contraband held in lockers at Green Hill School, which is a local juvenile detention center.

Investigative reporter Chris Ingalls did a follow up story you might want to watch. 

Bottom line: The governor continues to allow critical mismanagement at his executive agencies.

 

Important Clips