Tag Archives: Education

NEWSLETTER: A victory on property taxes, but higher local levies

Areas outside Seattle will see an increase of nearly 20% next year and 55% over the next six years.

 

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

At the beginning of the week, the news media reported legislative Democrats had again decided to abandon their efforts to increase your property taxes. This was the third consecutive year in which they had proposed to increase the annual rate by which state and local government can increase your property taxes without a vote of the people – which has been capped at 1% since Initiative 747 passed in 2001.

This is a tremendous win for
everyone across our state.

 

Thank you to those who spoke out against making housing more expensive. Your efforts made a big difference.

What was not immediately reported, however, is that Democrats are still pushing to allow significant increases in the school-levy cap, and that levy dollars are collected through property taxes.

 

Read my full statement.

 

This policy opens the door to the same reliance on local-levy funding that led to the Supreme Court ruling in the K-12 funding case McCleary v. State of Washington in 2012.

If it becomes law, this also will be a huge step backward because it creates inequitable funding among school districts. Our state constitution requires the state to provide for the education of all children within its borders; “all” does not mean a child’s educational opportunities should be influenced by his or her ZIP code.

 

Listen to my interview with Brandi Kruse on her Undivided podcast about this issue.

 

This policy will benefit the wealthier areas of our state but will only deepen the education-funding inequities across Washington — particularly in rural areas with larger Latino populations.

When discriminatory policies like this move forward, it’s hard to take Democrats seriously when they claim to be prioritizing equity or considering the real impact of their legislation on low-income communities or people of color.

It’s very likely that if this policy passes, the state will end up back in court because the resulting reliance on local levies will be just as unconstitutional today as it was before.

 

Sincerely,

John Braun

 

 

An assault on women: Cutting postpartum maternity care in half

 

 

One of the truly incomprehensible measures being advanced by Democrats (House Bill 2041) would cut in half the length of time that the state will pay for postpartum care for Medicaid patients who have delivered a baby.

In 2021, through the bipartisan Senate Bill 5068, the Legislature extended that time from six months to a year based on the following statistics quoted in that bill, which was sponsored by a Democrat.

  • 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, primarily through postpartum follow-up care for women’s health and behavioral-health.
  • More than 50% of pregnancy-related deaths in Washington state are women enrolled in Medicaid.
  • The Center for Disease Control found that pregnancy-related deaths occur up to one year postpartum, and data shows that critical health needs continue through that year.
  • Gaps in postpartum maternity care have been found to contribute to preventable pregnancy-related deaths.

It turns out that 58% of maternal deaths by suicide and 65% of maternal deaths by overdose occur between 43 days and one year postpartum.

 

Providing 12 months of postpartum
maternity care saves lives.

 

Reducing this coverage would put more women, and their babies, at risk, and it will make Washington one of only two states in the country not to provide 12 months of post-partum maternity care.

 

This is a step backward.

And for what?

 

Democrats claim the bill will save the state $11 million over four years, but while they are cutting post-partum care, they have another bill, House Bill 1043, that proposes spending $11 million by continuing a “Commute Trip Reduction Credit” which provides state payments to employers who give their employees financial incentives to use alternatives to cars in their commute.

 

What are their priorities?

 

The Senate Republican “$ave Washington” budget written by Sen. Chris Gildon, R-Puyallup, and Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco, would not cut postpartum maternity care. In fact, it would not cut ANY services at all. It would protect the most vulnerable in our state while still not raising taxes.

 

That’s not just rhetoric. That’s fact. 

 

As for the Democrats who support this bill, they can’t claim they “put people first” when they put low-income mothers and their babies LAST.

 

Listen to me talk about this assault on women during our recent media availability.

 

 

 

CTE will be extended to 6th graders

 

 

 

Currently, 7th- and 8th- graders in middle school get to participate in career technical education (CTE) courses that allow them to explore the different options they have for their future. However, middle schools also include 6th-grade students who, up until now, haven’t been given the opportunity.

This week, my bill to extend CTE to 6th-graders in middle school was signed by the governor and will become law 90 days after this legislative session ends Sunday. It will be in effect for the 2026-27 school year.

I’m very pleased that Senate Bill 5382 will become law, and I’ve heard from many constituents who feel the same.

Read my full news release about the bill. 

 

 

Majority blocks effort to honor girls’ sports

 

 

A very controversial topic lately is whether biological men should be allowed to compete in women’s sports.

Although everyone should be treated with respect and dignity, women fought too hard for Title IX and for the recognition that women’s sports deserve – they should not be forced now to accept biological men into their arena.

My colleague, Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, recently sponsored Senate Resolution 8647 to honor women in sports. Like me, she has daughters who were athletes and simply wanted to recognize the commitment of young women like them.

The Democrat majority refused to let the Senate adopt this resolution during our “floor action,” in the Senate chamber, despite having allowed other somewhat controversial resolutions to come before us this year. While that is their privilege as the majority, it is not equitable, tolerant or fair.

In a recent statement, Senator Warnick said, “This is not a fringe issue, it is a mainstream concern shared by athletes, coaches and families across Washington and the country. Washington should be leading the way in supporting women’s sports, not silencing efforts to recognize and protect them.”

Listen to Sen. Warnick speak out about this issue during our latest media availability.

Governor signs Braun bill expanding technical education to 6th graders

OLYMPIA…A bill sponsored by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, to expand exploratory career and technical education (CTE) to sixth-grade students was signed today by Gov. Bob Ferguson. It will become law 90 days after the Legislature adjourns.

Currently, K-12 education funding provides exploratory CTE to students beginning in seventh grade. Exploratory CTE introduces students to a variety of career paths and industry sectors, sparking their curiosity through early exposure to career options. Senate Bill 5382 expands funding to include sixth graders in the program.

“While we encourage students to attend college, we should also encourage middle school students to explore career options that don’t require a four-year degree – to see what’s out there,” Braun said. “Even if they do choose to go to college, they’ll have a greater appreciation for the trades.”

Middle-school CTE courses cover a wide range of topics, including computer applications such coding and digital design, business management and entrepreneurship, healthcare diagnostics, manufacturing, construction, automotive technology, fabrication and welding, horticulture, early education and the culinary arts. They focus on career exploration, teamwork and problem-solving and typically incorporate field trips and guest speakers to connect students with real-world opportunities.

“Right now, seventh graders can participate in CTE courses, but sixth graders in the same schools cannot,” he added. “My bill expands the funding so all middle school students can participate. At that age, CTE courses help students explore their interests. If they continue into high school, they learn more advanced skills and how to prepare for the workforce. For some students, this exposure can mean the difference between a minimum-wage job and a career that provides a living wage. The demand for workers with technical skills is growing all the time.”

High school students in Washington also have access to CTE courses, but those are considered preparatory. Those courses offer in-depth training in a specific career pathway, including technical skills, certifications and work-based learning such as internships and apprenticeships. Preparatory CTE courses for 11th and 12th graders are taught at skills centers during the regular school day.

Braun: Slashing teacher bonuses unwise, unnecessary

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, says Washington teachers don’t deserve to have incentive bonuses cut in half by Democrats.

Educators in Washington currently qualify for a bonus for achieving certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. They can receive an additional bonus for teaching in a school that the state classifies as “high poverty.” There are several districts in our area where teachers qualify for those bonuses, and they are critical for encouraging excellence among the state’s teachers.

Democrat-sponsored Senate Bill 5737 would slash the certification bonus nearly in half. It would also cut the bonus for teaching in a high-poverty school. Both bonuses would take effect for the 2025-26 school year and would be adjusted for inflation each year afterward.

The final budget proposal submitted to lawmakers by former Gov. Jay Inslee in December would eliminate the bonuses entirely. However, the $ave Washington budget proposal released this week by Senate Republicans leaves both teacher bonuses intact.

 

Braun offered this response to the backlash against the Democrats’ efforts to cut or eliminate them:

“Washington’s teachers deserve to be supported, not shortchanged. These bonuses help retain excellent educators, particularly in high-poverty schools where stability is critical. Instead of cutting these incentives nearly in half, Democrats should be focused on real solutions that support students and teachers alike, especially when we are demanding better student outcomes.

“The Republican budget keeps these bonuses intact because we recognize how they encourage self-improvement. The former governor wanted to eliminate them, and now Democrats are trying to slash them.

“The backlash Democrats are receiving because of this bill is completely understandable. The teachers’ bonuses are a valuable recruiting and retention tool and are seen as part of their salary package. It is wrong to cut them.”

 

 

Braun bill aimed at getting chronically absent students to re-engage with classes, resume path to graduation

OLYMPIA… Chronic absenteeism is among the major obstacles preventing Washington children from recovering from pandemic-related learning loss. Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, has introduced legislation to help school administrators, teachers and parents get students to show up to school and take part in class.

Senate Bill 5850 would provide support for students who are at risk for not graduating high school due to chronic absenteeism. Sen. Lisa Wellman, D-Mercer Island and chair of the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee, is co-sponsoring Braun’s bill. It’s based on a pilot program underway in the state’s Educational Service District 112, which serves southwest Washington.

“Nothing good happens when kids either don’t show up at all or do show up but wander the school halls without attending class,” said Braun. “The students who are already struggling to work at grade level risk falling so far behind that they may not graduate, which jeopardizes their future earning potential and quality of life. School administrators are frustrated because they feel ill-equipped to enforce attendance policies. And no matter how many billions of dollars go into K-12, some of that investment is effectively lost when desks sit empty day after day.

“Many students who chronically skip school or become ‘hall walkers’ are dealing with family issues, substance-abuse disorder, or mental-health issues. Others just don’t care to show up or they wander around as if school attendance policies mean nothing. This can’t continue,” Braun added. “Fortunately, it’s not a partisan issue, as no one opposes the idea of getting students back on track. This legislation is about improving the safety net in ways that will help school-age children to become students again – to reengage and resume their path to a high-school diploma.”

SB 5850, filed Dec. 15, will receive a formal referral to Sen. Wellman’s committee when the 2024 legislative session convenes Jan. 8. People who want to testify in support of this bill once it is scheduled for a committee hearing may do so in person or remotely.

Background:

Under Washington’s current compulsory attendance law, parents of students who are between 8 and 18 years of age must enroll them in a public school or private school, or they must provide the child with home-based instruction. If a child does not attend, the school district must designate and identify to the local juvenile court and to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) someone to coordinate school district efforts to address excessive absenteeism and truancy,

Under state law and OSPI rules, a student may be eligible to enroll in a statewide dropout-reengagement program if the student meets certain criteria including:

  • Has not met the high-school graduation requirements,
  • Is significantly behind in credits,
  • Has been recommended by a case manager, and
  • Is not currently enrolled in any high-school classes that receive state basic-education funding.

Summary of SB 5850:

  • Defines “students who are chronically absent” as students who miss 10% or more school days for any reason including excused and unexcused absences and suspensions.
  • Requires Washington’s nine educational service districts (ESDs) to develop and maintain the capacity to offer training and coaching for educators and other school district staff, including those designated under current state law, on the development of robust early-warning systems to identify and locate students who are chronically absent and connect them with necessary supports, subject to appropriations.
  • Directs OSPI to establish a grant program for community-based organizations and tribes to support students who are chronically absent, subject to appropriations.
  • Requires OSPI to allocate funding, subject to appropriations, to ESDs, school districts, and public schools to help eliminate barriers to high school completion for students who are:
    1. 16 to 21 years of age,
    2. are severely deficient in academic credits,
    3. unable to graduate high school with their peer group, and
    4. enrolled in a statewide dropout-reengagement program.
  • Specifies that OSPI must allocate funding on a per-student basis based on enrollment in a statewide reengagement program and that the funding be differentiated and include a base amount of funding for small and/or rural school districts.
  • Continues the grant program and per-student funding through December 31, 2026.

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Follow the Washington State Senate Republican Caucus
at www.src.wastateleg.org and @washingtonsrc.

STATEMENT: 2022 session didn’t work for all of Washington, say Republican legislative leaders

OLYMPIA… The Legislature’s Republican leaders say the just-completed 2022 session fell short on addressing concerns they and other Republican lawmakers have been hearing from people across Washington.

House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox, of Yelm:

“The 2022 session will be remembered for lawmakers attempting to fix problems created in recent sessions, a partisan transportation package that raises fees on Washingtonians, and a failure to deliver meaningful tax relief to families despite a historic budget surplus. And for the second year in a row, House Democrats showed no interest in emergency powers reform. When lawmakers return in January 2023, hopefully we’ll have a wiser and more collaborative Legislature that listens to all parts of the state.

“I’m proud of the real solutions introduced by House Republicans. We offered detailed budget frameworks that included significant tax relief, a comprehensive public safety package, transportation alternatives, true emergency powers reform, and a plan for our environment. We were not just the loyal opposition; we showed Washingtonians they have a choice when it comes to governing.”

Senate Republican Leader John Braun, of Centralia:

“The contrasts between Senate Republicans and our majority colleagues were on full display this session. Our priorities were public safety, affordability and trust – things that are important to all the people of Washington, regardless of where they live and who they are. The people can see how Democrats went a different direction, choosing against meaningful tax relief for families despite a 15-billion-dollar surplus. They’ll feel the fee increases tied to the partisan new transportation package, and notice how Democrats struggled to do even the bare minimum to make our communities safer. Parents will wonder why the majority fell short on responding to concerns about the pandemic learning loss. People who have become distrustful of government will question why only Republicans are serious about installing the checks and balances that will allow the public’s concerns to be heard during a future state of emergency.

“We challenged the majority’s proposals with what we still view as better ideas, like immediate gas-tax relief and a plan to help our communities afford more public-safety resources. Sometimes we were successful – it’s because of Republicans that law-enforcement agencies are getting some crime-fighting tools back. Otherwise, our proposals to reestablish public safety, rebuild public trust, and make life in Washington more affordable were blocked. If there was any question where the interests of our Democratic colleagues lie, it’s been answered by the decisions made these past 60 days.”

Republican senators make new bid to get Washington children back into classrooms

OLYMPIA… A bill to help get children back into classrooms has been introduced by several Republican senators, just as a new report shows Washington is behind nearly every other state in providing in-person instruction.

Senate Bill 5464 was introduced Tuesday, the same day Senate Republican Leader John Braun wrote to Gov. Jay Inslee, encouraging him to do everything under his authority to reopen schools.

“There’s no question that the longer our children are barred from classroom instruction, the more they suffer academically, socially and emotionally. It’s also clear that the shortcomings of remote instruction are being felt disproportionately by rural and lower-income families and communities of color,” said Sen. Lynda Wilson, SB 5464’s prime sponsor. “This is the equity issue of our time.”

Under the bill, schools may not be closed for in-person learning beyond 10 consecutive school days without the approval of the governor, the secretary of health, or a local health officer.

“We recognize that because of the pandemic there are added costs to operating our schools safely, and our Senate Republican budget proposal addresses that. We also know from the past year that being in classrooms is best for our children. Under this new bill, very few people would be able to stand in the way of that,” said Wilson, R-Vancouver.

Braun, R-Centralia, is among the co-sponsors of SB 5464. He noted an online school-opening tracker updated today has Washington ranked 47th among the states, with just 19.2 percent of its students receiving in-person instruction.

“Our children have a right to a level of education that many are still being denied. Being 47th in the nation is equivalent to failure,” he said.

“It’s been encouraging to hear the governor’s recent statements that schools should be able to reopen safely, just as it’s been discouraging to witness some of the recent opposition to opening,” Braun added. “The intent of my letter to the governor was to point out some areas where he can help get students back into classrooms. This new legislation is aimed at the same thing – and at keeping them there.”

Braun calls on state’s top officials to ensure school starts on time

With the threat of teacher strikes looming in local school districts throughout the state, Sen. John Braun called on Washington’s top elected officials to fulfill their moral and legal obligation to ensure students can return to the classroom on time. On Thursday Braun sent a letter to Washington state’s governor, attorney general and superintendent of public schools requesting their assistance in discouraging teacher strikes and taking legal action to prevent them if necessary.

“Forcing children to remain out of the classroom reduces educational opportunities and creates a major burden for families,” said Braun, R-Centralia, who sponsored the 2017-19 state operating budget that made historic investments in Washington’s K-12 public schools. “Classroom time is precious and especially important as students return from a long period off. A strike would also force families to make last-second plans to keep their children safe and supervised, which for some would require taking time off of work. This is incredibly difficult for single parents and households where both parents work.”

Recent weeks have featured many reports of local teachers authorizing strikes and even the Washington Education Association training teachers for the picket line. According to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, start dates vary by school district, but the overwhelming majority begin over the next two weeks, while some are already underway.

“A dispute between adults should never harm children,” said Braun. “In addition to being illegal, a strike would be especially concerning as many districts already agreed to a contract for the upcoming school year and are only re-negotiating for additional pay. Unfortunately, we’ve already seen public comments from union officials that they would ignore the legal prohibition against public employee strikes. That is why I am asking our top officials to fulfill their duty to ensure the law is upheld.”

Since the Washington State Supreme Court ruled the state was not amply funding public education in 2011, the Legislature has committed to nearly doubling state education funding, going from $13.6 billion in the 2011-13 budget to $26.8 billion in 2019-21. As a result, Braun says Washington state will almost assuredly rank in the top five nationally in state education funding per student.

“Whether our top officials side with local union officials or the school district, they must execute the duty we all have to provide a world-class education system, which includes having children in the classroom learning.”

Under the current budget, the state will provide on average more than $72,000 for teacher salaries during the 2018-19 school year, which does not include additional pay from local levies. This also does not include pension, health care or time off benefits paid by the state.

Education funding discussion on TVW

I recently had the opportunity to appear on TVW’s “Inside Olympia” program to discuss the Education Equality Act alongside a member of the House of Representatives and host Austin Jenkins.

TVW is Washington’s version of C-SPAN, and the 30-minute segment provided us with a chance to discuss the important details of our work to improve Washington’s public schools.

Click here or on the screen below to watch the segment.

Senate approves Braun bill to bring timber money back to schools

The state Senate today approved Sen. John Braun’s legislation that would make permanent a state policy that returns money from federal timber sales to local schools. Senate Bill 6292 would eliminate the reduction of state school funding to districts based on what they receive in federal forest revenues. The measure cleared the Senate by a vote of 35-14 and moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.

“This bill makes a small but needed change to restore resources for many of our school districts, especially in rural areas,” said Braun. “The state has been reducing its basic education funding to districts that received federal timber revenues, and that places extra burdens on the districts that are least able to handle them.”

Currently, 21 percent of property in Washington is designated as national forest, which is exempt from property tax. These federal funds are designated to go to the school districts in those areas to make up for lost property tax revenue. However, the state has been deducting that same amount from their basic education funding, effectively negating the goal of the program. Braun’s bill would eliminate the reduction in state basic-education funding to school districts that receive federal forest revenue, restoring the original intent of Congress.

“I’ve worked over the past several years to keep these funds available through the budget to the 215 school districts that receive federal forest revenues and this legislation provides a permanent solution,” Braun said.