Educators speak against 24 credit requirement bill

Superintendents from the greater Spokane area and WEA lobbyist Shawn Lewis raised concerns about HB 2181 which would authorize the 24-credit framework adopted by the State Board of Education on January 9, 2014.

Specifically, Lewis flagged the lack of funding to truly implement a 24-credit framework in schools across the state, including the need for additional staffing, materials and supplies, and building space for new course requirements. He mentioned several OSPI capacity reports that described the funding necessary to get to 24 credits for high school students.

With a full agenda, and more than 20 people signed in to testify, Chair Sharon Tomiko Santos left the public hearing open on HB 2181 after hearing from a few speakers.

Acting Executive Director James Koval signed in to testify with concerns, mainly about the bill's assumption that funding provided in the 2013-15 biennial budget was sufficient to meet the 24 credits proposed by the SBE. In addition, a consistent message from school directors has been to ensure sufficient choice is available to students to keep them engaged in school and graduate with meaningful diplomas.

Koval's recommendation would be to hold off on authorizing the 24-credit framework created by the Board until the Legislature has a clear plan for phasing in the funding to meet all aspects of the state's redefined program of basic education and the system was better funded.

Another bill, proposed substitute House Bill 1656, also focused on graduation credits with an attempt to create even more flexibility for students. Kim Reykdal, a Tumwater School District school director who is a school counselor in her "day job," spoke to the need for strong high school and beyond plans and counselors to help students and parents find their way through maze of credit requirements.

Ranking member Cathy Dahlquist, R-Enumclaw, questioned Reykdal about the funding, listing increases to MSOC, LAP, instructional hours, guidance counselors, and family engagement. Reykdal responded by focusing on the guidance counselor allocation of $11 million, which wouldn't sufficiently fund the prototypical schools model for school counselors.