The Argument For More School Options

Olympia lawmakers should lift regulations and expand options for students, families and communities.

Local elected School Directors, who have surprisingly great authority, should also innovate in ways that expand options for the families they serve.

Obamacare: Pain or Prescription for College Students’ Ailing Futures?

Have you ever heard of someone waiting 18 months to get an MRI?
It’s a frequent scenario in Canada, a country that is noticeably free in most respects. The exception is health care, which is controlled by the government.
But waiting 18 months for an MRI rarely happens in the United States. In fact, I’d go out on a limb and say it’s never happened in the United States…yet. This week, a crucial event is taking place whose outcome very well could be the difference between waiting 18 months or 18 minutes for an MRI. The United States Supreme Court has begun to hear the long-awaited arguments on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, popularly known as “Obamacare.” The Court is expected to rule in June.

If voters favor charter schools, why can’t state lawmakers?

Washington voters overwhelmingly favor charter schools and other educational options. Guest columnists Robert Enlow and Freedom Foundation CEO Jonathan Bechtle ask why state legislators can’t listen to their constituents on the way to improve public education.

National School Choice Week Draws School Choice Experts to Bellevue, Jan. 24

SEAVIEW – While public schools across Washington State fail to meet national education standards, Americans for Prosperity Foundation-Washington is educating the public on the benefits of every family having the freedom to choose the best education option for their children.
As part of National School Choice Week, AFP Foundation-Washington State is hosting a live simulcast event featuring political commentator Dick Morris and national radio host Hugh Hewitt to do even more to support the teachers and the schools that are succeeding, and hold those that are failing firmly accountable.

Higher Education

Hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes and tuition flow to Washington state’s institutions of higher learning. Then what happens? Do taxpayers get a good return for the investment? Do students and families? The Freedom Foundation believes in bringing accountability to public higher education in Washington state so that students, families, taxpayers, and policymakers can answer these questions.

Washington State Teacher Salaries

The image of unfairly underpaid teachers is a compelling one, and it has fueled several illegal strikes around the state over the years. But is it accurate?

iLearn Project

The iLearn Project was created in 2010 when the Freedom Foundation recognized that online learning is changing the way the world does school—for the better.

Flunked Solutions

Learn about the education crisis facing our nation. You will learn about the basic terms, philosophies, documents and resources that define education in our country. You will find the latest research and commentary addressing the many issues in education. You will hear from and read the stories of individuals who are succeeding where too many fail. And, hopefully, you will be equipped and inspired to get involved in meaningful change.

In Depth Talk with Blended Learning Pioneer

Last month, we introduced readers to KIPP Empower Academy, a blended elementary school program achieving outstanding results in Los Angeles, CA. Today, we have to honor of sharing an exclusive, in-depth interview with KEA founder Mike Kerr. To learn more about KEA, visit www.kippla.org/empower. 

New Poll Shows Washington Voters Support School Choice

60% of citizens favor public charter schools 59 to 66% support tuition tax credits for taxpayers’ contributions to those distributing private school scholarships When asked what type of school they would select for their children, only 40% selected “regular public school.” Nearly half thought that school funding was less than $8,000 per student. Only one in five could accurately guess within $2,000 of the actual funding amount of $9,700. Without knowing the current level of funding, 56% thought education spending is too low. When informed of the actual funding level, the number of those who thought spending is “too low” dropped to 42%

KIPP Empower Academy: Truly Empowering kindergartners through blended learning

KIPP Empower is committed to preparing their “scholars” from the earliest grades “to lead lives of significance, to be critical thinkers, to be leaders, and to be on a trajectory that maximizes their potential,” says Kerr. By looking to schools like KIPP Empower, we catch a glimpse of what is possible for our own kids if we have the courage to innovate. Watch the video below to see for yourself the power of blended learning in this elementary school.

Media Release: “Online education equity? Families take state to court over cuts”

On Monday, February 13th, the Washington Families for Online Learning Coalition (WAFOL) announced their lawsuit against the state of Washington for restoration of full basic education funding for online students. In the 2011 legislative session, legislators reduced the Basic Education Allocation (BEA) by 15 percent for students participating in an online public school program in lieu of a traditional public school.

Teachers and EFF Win Unanimous Victory at U.S. Supreme Court

WEA settles with teachers and will pay for free speech violations

OLYMPIA—The Washington Education Association (WEA) has agreed to return $225,000 to teachers after using their wages for the union’s political agenda without their authorization. This settlement ends a nine-year lawsuit that included an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in which the high court ruled in favor of the teachers, Davenport v. WEA. The suit began when the Evergreen Freedom Foundation (EFF) filed a complaint with the Public Disclosure Commission.  To date, the WEA has been ordered or agreed to pay over $1 million for violating teachers’ rights in this case.  

This week’s RFW: a county pay-to-play scheme, our busted state budget, teachers paid for strike days

This week on Radio Free Washington, Blake and I talk with Eric Lohnes about the sad state of the state budget and the legislature’s upcoming November special session. Also on this week’s show, we talk Tacoma teachers and expose one of Washington’s counties that wants to charge citizens ... for having ideas.

Introducing the new Radio Free Washington

On our first day out of the box, we talk about the Tacoma Teacher Strike, Spokane’s Prop. 1 (“rights” for rivers, among other things), and—with the Freedom Foundation’s Amber Gunn—we talk about the looming threat for taxpayers and state workers from our public pension system.

RFW Guests: Michelle Rhee and Dick McDonald

This week on Radio Free Washington, Michelle Rhee, founder and CEO of StudentsFirst, joins us to talk about what happened in the District of Columbia and why she was forced out. We’ll also discuss solutions to America’s education woes with Michelle Rhee, considered by many to be this country’s foremost expert of education reform. Then later on the show, author Dick McDonald exposes why Americans are so angry at Congress and how the people can fix the problem. McDonald introduces the “Rise Up Theory of Economics” which does for the poor and middle-class in America what “Trickle Down” has done for the rich.

RFW Guests: Arne Duncan and Lisa Keegan

American Education. One member of the Obama cabinet that hears accolades from both the left AND the right, Secretary Duncan brings reform to the table, including expansion of charter schools and merit-based teaching proposals. Later in the show, we’ll meet the person that would have been Secretary of Education if John McCain had been elected President. Noted conservative education reformer and founder of reform organization “Education Breakthrough,” Lisa Keegan joins us.