Transforming Washingtons Education System

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Transforming Washingtons Education System

• Preparing our students to succeed in the new
  global economy

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A new world new demands

• Washingtons economy is fueled by trade
  increasingly we are competing with other
  countries, not other states
• Businesses are looking for increasingly
  well-trained and educated workers
• Education is our competitive advantage

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Todays students are tomorrows workers who will

• Sell to the world
• Buy from the world
• Work for international companies
• Manage employees from other countries and
  cultures
• Compete with people on the other side of the
  world for jobs and markets
• Work with people all over the world in joint
  ventures and global work teams
• Solve global problems such as AIDS, avian flu,
  global warming and resolve conflicts

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Weve come a long way

• Nationally, were ahead of the curve
• Nations Report Card 20th in nation
• Washington State scored above the national
  average in Math, Reading, Science and Writing.
• SAT Scores Washington ranks 1st in nation among
  states where 40 of students successfully
  complete the exam.

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Weve come a long way

• Significant gains in student achievement

10th Grade Reading
7th Grade Math
4th Grade Reading
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But problems continue to exist

• Student preparedness not ready to transition
  from one educational sector to next
• Student achievement many are not meeting
  standards
• Funding for education at all levels has declined
  in real terms

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Share of State Spending on Education

• Source Office of Financial Management

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Early learning challenges

• Students not ready for school
• Less than 50 percent of children who enter
  kindergarten are prepared to learn
• Fragmented system of services for
• kids under age 5
• Until the 2006 legislative session, early
  learning programs were spread across more than a
  half-dozen state agencies with no consistent
  vision

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K-12 challenges

• High drop-out rates
• Only 70 percent of high school students graduate
  in four years
• Achievement Gap
• Low-income and non-white students fall behind and
  stay behind
• Decreased funding
• In real dollars, less funding today per pupil
  than in 1993
• Only 7,101 per student, far below the national
  average of 8,019 and among the worst in K-12
  spending.

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High School Graduation Rates

• Source OSPI, Graduation and Dropout Statistics
  for Washingtons Counties, Districts, and
  Schools, School Year 2003-04. September 2005.
  Available at www.k12.wa.us/DataAdmin/.

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Higher education challenges

• Students not ready for transition to college
• Too many require remedial courses in their first
  year44 of the class of 2003
• Low college entrance graduation rates
• Third lowest college entrance rate in the nation.
  
• (Only 18 of our students graduate from college).
• Only 16 out of 100 entering 9th graders graduate
  from college in 6 years.
• Access and Affordability challenges
• Demand for vocational, technical and certain
  degree programs exceeds available spaces.
• Finding balance between affordable tuition for
  many and enough funding for higher education
  programs is the challenge.

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Higher education challenges(continued)

• In comparison to Washingtons 10 Global
  Challenge States GCS Our state ranks
• Last in the percent of ninth graders who enter
  college.
• Last for those still enrolled in their sophomore
  year.
• Last in the percent that graduate from college in
  6 years.

Global Challenge States are composed of the top
states on the Progressive Policy Institutes
2002 New Economy Index. Source NORED
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The Student Pipeline movement of 9th graders
through Global Challenge States
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Growing diversity new challenges and new
opportunities

• Number of ESL families has doubled since 1993
• Nearly 250,000 adults in Washington speak limited
  English
• Total minority population increased from 15.7 in
  1990 to 22 in 2003
• By 2030, one in 3 Washington residents will be
  non-white
• By 2030, the projected non-white labor force in
  Washington State will have nearly doubled.

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Washington Labor ForceProjected Composition by
Race and Hispanic Origin

• Source Office of Financial Management

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How do we compare internationally?

• Compared to 12 industrialized nations
  participating in student assessments in math at
  grades 4, 8 and age 15, U.S. ranks
• 8 out of 12 in 4th grade
• 9 out of 12 in 8th grade
• 9 out of 12 at age 15
• However, in a comparison of the cohort of 25 to
  34 year oldsslippage in the U.S. and in
  Washington is significant, as demonstrated by the
  rankings on the next two charts.

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How do we compare internationally? High
attainment, but trend in wrong direction

• Percent of Adults with a High School Diploma, 2003

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How do we compare internationally? Trending in
the wrong direction

• Percent of Adults with an Associate Degree or
  Higher, 2003

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Were not meeting the needs of employers

• 45 percent of Washington businesses report
  difficulty finding qualified job applicants
• 25 percent of the states 18-24 year olds have no
  high school diploma or GED
• One-third of our states adults 18-64 have a high
  school diploma or less
• CC/TC system serving only 5 percent of
  under-educated adults who need basic education,
  English classes and job training

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Washington workers are losing opportunities

• Washington businesses import highly educated
  workers from other states and nations
• Washington is classified as a Low (baccalaureate)
  producer and High (baccalaureate) importer, along
  with California.
• This short-changes Washington citizens who are
  not prepared to participate in the best-paying
  jobs

• Source Census, IPEDS, higheredinfo.org

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Washington Learns

• Washington Learns aims to transform our education
  system from second-rate to world-class
• Convened by Governor and approved by Legislature
  in 2005
• Comprised of business, education and government
  leaders

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Structured to Take Advantage of Expertise and
Experience
Washington Learns Steering Committee 13
Members Gov. Christine O. Gregoire, Chair
Higher Education Advisory Committee 27
Members Denny Heck, Chair
K-12 Education Advisory Committee 28
Members Terry Bergeson, Chair
Early Learning Advisory Committee (Early Learning
Council established in HB 1152) 17 Members Bob
Watt, Chair
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Washington Learns is

• Working to align our early learning, K-12 and
  post-secondary education systems creating a
  well-integrated, seamless system
• Conducting a top to bottom review of our entire
  education system
• Final report in November

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Washington Learns is about action

• 2006 Legislature approved
• Department of Early Learning
• Funds to help students achieve standards
• Pre-apprenticeship programs for high school
  students (Running Start for the Trades)
• Navigation 101 (planning and mentors)
• Continuation of Math Transitions Project
• Funds for a longitudinal student data system

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Whats next?

• August 9-10 Steering Committee retreat
• September 12 PUBLIC HEARINGS
• October 9 Draft final report
• November 13 EDUCATION SUMMIT

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In summary

• Washington Learns is a comprehensive review
• We have an incredible opportunity to rethink our
  education system and to make it relevant for the
  needs of tomorrow

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Our task
We must create a world-class education system to
make sure our prosperity touches all of us, not
just a few. -- Governor Chris Gregoire
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You can help

• Start talking to family, neighbors, friends,
  educators, students and co-workers
• Share your ideas with us through our Web site at
• www.washingtonlearns.wa.gov

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Washington Learns

• Thank you.