Wash. Lawmakers Settle on K-12 Reforms

Olympia, Wash.

State lawmakers passed a bundle of major education reforms Thursday, including a plan that should help the state compete for the Obama administration's $4.35 billion Race to the Top program.

The education bills were the last major measures approved by the Democrat-led House and Senate on the final day of the 60-day regular session. They will be returning Monday for a special session to finish work on the state budget, but lawmakers were trumpeted the education agenda as a significant step forward.

"We accomplished a lot of education reform here today," said House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, who called the bills "a tremendous effort that really came...