Budget Areas

Overview Community Safety Education Health Care Human Services Housing Jobs, Labor &
Economic Development Transportation Natural Resources Veterans Affairs Government Accountability, Openness & Security Disaster Response & Recovery Capital Construction Governmental Operations

Related Links

2008 Proposed Budget Recommendation Summaries Activity Inventory & Performance Measures Six-Year Transportation Plans Appropriations Bills

Gov. Gregoire's Budget for Education

Keeps students and others safe on college and university campuses. College and university campuses will purchase equipment and complete facilities mapping services that will help first responders react to emergencies accurately and efficiently. These investments, in addition to technology and software purchases, will help expedite communication to students and staff by improving on- and off-campus notification and alert systems. These items correspond with the recommendations of campus security experts in our state and nationwide, and bolster the efforts each campus has made to improve safety. In addition, colleges and universities will be required to update campus plans for emergency preparedness and response procedures. They will sign agreements with local jurisdictions that designate who will be in charge in the event of a campus emergency as well as what resources and equipment are available to respond to such emergencies. ($2.9 million GF-State; $11.4 million Capital)

Improves child-care safety. To boost safety and increase accountability for our children, five employees in the Department of Early Learning will lead quality improvement teams to facilitate planning and implementation of a team approach to licensing review. These employees will also train licensing staff to improve documentation practices and adherence to statewide safety and health standards. ($435,000 GF-State)

Increases teacher salaries. Consistent with the latest Seattle-area inflation forecast as required by voter-approved Initiative 732, public school staff and faculty members at community and technical colleges will receive an additional 0.8 percent salary increase. This brings the total cost of living adjustment for 2008–09 to 3.6 percent. ($31.2 million GF-State)

Serves the first class of students for University of Washington - North Sound campus. The University of Washington will begin serving students at a Snohomish County interim site in fall 2008 while the permanent campus site, to be selected by the Legislature, is developed. The first class of students will include up to 30 nursing student FTEs and up to 30 teacher education student FTEs. ($1.1 million GF-State)

Boosts achievement for English Language Learners. Integrating English-language instruction with work-force training at the community and technical colleges has proven successful. Students are 15 times more likely to complete the I-BEST (Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training) program than basic skills and training programs offered separately. Students also post greater academic gains. Grants will be provided to bring these quality practices to the K-12 system. Five skills centers will design and develop programs that integrate career skills education and English-language instruction. ($250,000 GF-State)

Maintains and improves the assessment system. The Superintendent of Public Instruction will develop tests that teachers can use in their classrooms to identify student learning needs. These tests will give more immediate and targeted information to teachers anytime during the school year. Having this information readily available to teachers will allow many of the current annual assessments to be shortened.

Students who are not native English speakers can struggle to demonstrate their knowledge of math and science on tests that are written in English. The Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) for math and science will include translation assistance for six of the most frequently occurring languages. In addition, enhanced accommodations for students in special education will be developed, such as improved Braille forms of the tests and read-aloud CDs for students with dyslexia.

Since the passage of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, each state has been required to administer assessments in multiple grades covering multiple subjects, increasing the demand for testing services. The current contract to administer Washington’s assessment system expires in October 2008. Consistent with the experience of other states, new contract bids received by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction indicate the future cost for administering Washington’s assessment system will increase. ($17.3 million GF-State)

Adjusts K-12 student enrollment. The number of students served in public schools and the mix of services needed for students are one factor used in determining funding for public schools. Updated information indicates that the amount needed for K-12 funding is reduced. (-$7.7 million GF-State; -$1.6 million Other Funds)

Provides services for visually impaired library patrons. The Washington State Library will assume responsibility for the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library, which provides library services each year to 13,000 Washingtonians with vision limitations and reading disabilities. ($341,000 GF-State)