Governor Launches Washington Learns Study
Gov. Christine Gregoire has set in motion an 18-month comprehensive education study to examine the state’s existing education system from early learning through K-12 and beyond.
Called Washington Learns, the analysis “will not be just another study. It will be an unblinking and thorough look at the state of our education system, and it will be followed by an action plan to strength our education system, including legislative proposals I will pursue aggressively,” the Governor states.
Gregoire chaired the first steering committee in July. From there, advisory committees for Early Learning, K-12 Education and Higher Education were assembled to look at the issues in each respective area and recommend improvements to the 13-member steering group.
It will be an unblinking and thorough look at the state of our education system, and it will be followed by an action plan to strength our education system ...
According to the proposal, Washington Learns will answer three questions:
• Is Washington using its existing education resources efficiently?
• What defines the quality citizens want in early learning, K-12 schools and higher education?
• What needs to change to achieve the quality we all want?
“This comprehensive review of our education system will show us what is working well and what is not,” says Ann Daley, Executive Director of Washington Learns.
Each committee is comprised of experts and professions from diverse sectors of society, including a Republican and a Democrat from each of the two state Legislative bodies. Among those appointed to council seats from the NWESD 189 region are: for Early Learning, Jennifer Sass-Walton, Child and Family Health Supervisor, Skagit County Public Health Department, and Gloria Trinidad, Child-care Licensor with DSHS Division of Child Care and Early Learning in Bellingham; for K-12, Marilyn Chu, Department Chair, Early Childhood Education and Family Life Programs, Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon; and for Higher Education, Sharon Kinley, Northwest Indian College, Bellingham, and John Warner, recently retired Chief Administrative Officer at Boeing and Chair of Western Washington university Board of Trustees in Bellingham.
To follow the progress and findings of Washington Learns, go to a link on the governor’s Web site at www.governor.wa.gov/washingtonlearns/default.htm.