With the departure of Jose Banda from the post of superintendent of Seattle Public Schools, we’ve seen the usual hand-wringing and recriminations over the future of the district. Banda’s departure led the Seattle Times to publish an article and an editorial decrying supposed meddling by the board in the operations of the district. The editorial […]
Author Archives: Robert Cruickshank
Posted inEducation, Legislative Advocacy
Washington legislators reject Arne Duncan’s demand, refuse to force schools to teach to the test
Yesterday the Washington State Legislature adjourned without taking action on two bills that would have tightly linked teacher evaluations to student test scores, despite plenty of evidence doing so is a bad idea. Legislators faced an enormous amount of pressure to pass these bills from U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, who threatened to revoke the state’s […]
Posted inEducation, Legislative Advocacy
How Jay Inslee can stand up for Washington’s kids
In the wake of the Washington State Senate’s remarkable, bipartisan revolt against standardized testing mandates, the issue has rocketed to the top of the state’s political agenda. It was a prominent issue across the state yesterday at the various legislative town halls. Education reform groups are mobilizing to reverse the Senate’s decision, voicing concern that as […]
Posted inEducation, Legislative Advocacy
Washington should follow California’s lead and resist flawed federal education demands
Next week Washington Governor Jay Inslee will meet with U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan to discuss the state’s waiver from the requirements of the failed No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law. Last year Duncan’s department threatened to revoke the waiver unless the state legislature mandated that districts include student test scores in teacher evaluations. Currently […]
Posted inEducation, Legislative Advocacy
Washington State Senate revolts against teaching to the test in key vote
Ever since Rodney Tom and Tim Sheldon facilitated the coup that gave Republicans control of the Washington State Senate, true bipartisanship in that body has been a rarity. Tom’s disciplined right-wing caucus have battled Senate Democrats over everything from reproductive rights to transportation choices to the state’s constitutional obligation to fully fund our public schools. […]
Posted inEconomic Security, Policy Topics
Right-wing think tanks plotting Eymanesque campaign against our cities and counties
Last week, reporters for The Guardian pulled the curtain back on a network of well-funded, well-organized right-wing think tanks and their extreme agenda. Documents obtained by The Guardian show the blandly-named State Policy Network is working to undermine education, healthcare, and revenue collection in nearly every state in the country. Their specific proposals are extremely […]
Posted inMeta, Series & Special Reports
From opposition to proposition: NPI is working to make the defeat of Tim Eyman’s initiative factory a beginning — not an end
Editor’s Note: This month and this week, NPI is celebrating its tenth anniversary. This is the inaugural post in a seven-part series reflecting on NPI’s first decade. Each installment will be penned by one of NPI’s board members. As I reflect on NPI’s tenth anniversary, I find myself thinking back to where we were as […]
Posted inEconomic Security, Elections, Policy Topics
Initiative 1185: An attack on democracy
Proponents of I‑1185, including its primary sponsor Tim Eyman, would have voters believe the issue this initiative would address is taxes. In fact, the issue is democracy — specifically, an attack on democracy and majority rule, funded by powerful corporations and promoted by the far right. Since California approved Proposition 13 in 1978, creating a requirement that […]
Posted inElections
Turnout, get-out-the-vote efforts will determine whether Washington moves forward or slides backward after November
Few elections will be as pivotal in Washington State history as the November 2012 election. It is an election that could decide whether Washington steps boldly into a progressive future, or whether it falls victim to right-wing policies that benefit the top 1% while denying basic rights to many of the state’s residents. Progressives can […]