In December, Governor Christ Gregoire announced an education reform package that she hopes will help move our state's education system forward.  

In a letter from Governor Gregoire:

These reforms are built upon the work we have done together to design a new teacher and principal evaluation system, implement more career preparation opportunities for students in "the launch year," advance school improvement reforms - especially for those schools with many struggling students, and  better meet the needs of our students at the transition points of their education paths.

The package of reforms that I will present today address evaluations, assignments, the creation of the Office of Student Achievement, prioritizing time for student learning, change of school district audits, and the creation of University Laboratory Schools.  The attached policy brief goes into each area in more detail.  Because many of you are interested, I've also attached the final report of the Higher Education Steering Committee.  The focus of our effort there was to increase the educational attainment in our state. 

I know you are all uniquely feeling the impact of these economic times.  We must come out of them focused and better positioned to support our schools.  That's why I've asked the Legislature, and ultimately the public, to support a three year temporary increase in the sales tax.  Of the $494 million a half-a-penny increase would raise, I'm proposing that $411 million of that go to education.  These reforms show the public that we value improving our system as much as they do.

I appreciate the feedback you provided recently on an early draft of the reforms.  I welcome and count on your participation as we move this package forward.

Sincerely, 

Chris Gregoire