Washington

News, analysis, and opinion about K-12 education in Washington
Vector illustration of a woman filling out an online form with letter grades
iStock/Getty
Student Achievement Students' Grades May Not Signal Actual Achievement, Study Cautions
Higher grades may give the false impression that students don't need extra academic support.
Evie Blad, November 10, 2023
•
4 min read
Image of an excavator in front of a school building.
iStock/Getty
Education Funding Do K-12 Students Have a Right to Well-Funded School Buildings?
The answer in a recent state court case wasn't exactly a "yes." But it also wasn't a "no." Here's what could happen next.
Mark Lieberman, September 19, 2023
•
5 min read
Illustration of 2 hands cutting paper dolls with scissors, representing staffing layoffs.
iStock/Getty
Budget & Finance School Administrators Are on the Chopping Block as ESSER Winds Down, Enrollment Drops
The expiration of COVID relief funds and enrollment declines are prompting districts to cut administration—even as experts advise caution.
Caitlynn Peetz & Mark Lieberman, August 7, 2023
•
6 min read
Educators swap strategies and ideas on how to improve instruction in and access to AP courses at the College Board's AP annual conference in Seattle, Wash. on July 19, 2023.
Educators swap strategies and ideas on how to improve instruction in and access to AP courses at the College Board's AP annual conference in Seattle, Wash., on July 19, 2023.
Ileana Najarro/Education Week
Equity & Diversity The Surprising Thing That Gets Students to Stick With AP Courses
A school in Katy Independent School District in Texas runs an AP Ambassador program that offers AP course mentorship among students.
Ileana Najarro, July 27, 2023
•
4 min read
Educators at the College Board's AP annual conference learn about various AP program offerings intended to address access and equity to advanced coursework for underrepresented students in Seattle, Wash. on July 20, 2023.
Educators at the College Board's AP annual conference learn about various AP program offerings intended to address access and equity to advanced coursework for underrepresented students in Seattle, Wash. on July 20, 2023.
Ileana Najarro/Education Week
Equity & Diversity How to Make AP Classes Accessible and Equitable: District Leaders Share Strategies
Various presentations at the College Board's AP annual conference this month touched on equity concerns around the AP program.
Ileana Najarro, July 27, 2023
•
5 min read
Illustration of woman and steps made of cash.
Getty
Teaching Profession Teachers in 6 States Will Get Raises. More Could Join Them
Lawmakers in 23 states proposed bills to raise teacher salaries, but not all of the policies are straightforward pay bumps.
Libby Stanford, June 22, 2023
•
5 min read
Tacoma Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Joshua Garcia testifies before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on Why Are So Many American Youth in a Mental Health Crisis? Exploring Causes and Solutions, on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 8, 2023.
Joshua Garcia, the superintendent of the Tacoma district in Washington state, testifies before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on June 8, 2023, about students' worsening mental health. Garcia highlighted the Tacoma Whole Child Initiative, through which schools shifted their focus from episodic responses in moments of crisis to a sustainable effort to support student well<ins data-user-label="Matt Stone" data-time="06/8/2023 3:23:55 PM" data-user-id="00000185-c5a3-d6ff-a38d-d7a32f6d0001" data-target-id="">-</ins>being.
Jose Luis Magana/AP
Student Well-Being What a Superintendent Told U.S. Senators About Student Mental Health
The U.S. Senate HELP committee held a hearing on the youth mental health crisis.
Libby Stanford, June 8, 2023
•
6 min read
Photo collage of tablet computer and teacher instructing class.
F. Sheehan for Education Week / Getty
Professional Development Q&A Can AI Do Teacher Observations and Deliver PD? In Some Schools, It Already Does
A school district in Washington state is trying out an artificial-intelligence-powered instructional coach.
Lauraine Langreo, May 10, 2023
•
4 min read
Illustration of a hand rejecting another hand offering a stack of bills
iStock/Getty
Budget & Finance Why a Handful of School Districts Rejected COVID Relief Funds
Some districts thought ESSER funds weren't worth the bureaucratic hurdles. Others had philosophical disagreements.
Mark Lieberman, February 24, 2023
•
4 min read
Mental health professional taking notes with pen and notepad while listening to a young girl.
iStock/Getty Images Plus
Student Well-Being How 3 Districts Are Bolstering Their School-Based Mental Health Services
A federal grant program is giving school districts opportunities to expand mental health services.
Lauraine Langreo, February 22, 2023
•
4 min read
Photo of shadow of children holding hands.
iStock / Getty
Equity & Diversity This Principal Uses Her Experience as the Child of Farmworkers to Support Students
Raquel Martinez, a middle school principal in Washington state, ensures parents and students know their culture and language are valued.
Denisa R. Superville, February 8, 2023
•
6 min read
young hands with mobile phone
Prudencio Alvarez/iStock<br/>
Student Well-Being Seattle District Sues Social Media Companies Over Students' Mental Health
The district says it has had to hire additional mental health professionals to meet students' growing mental health needs.
Arianna Prothero, January 9, 2023
•
5 min read
Image of a gavel
iStock/Getty
Law & Courts A Teacher Argued His MAGA Hat Was Protected Speech. Here's What a Federal Appeals Court Said
Did a principal violate a teacher's rights when she told him not to bring his Donald Trump-inspired hat to a racial-sensitivity training?
Mark Walsh, January 4, 2023
•
4 min read
Shomari Jones, Director of Equity and Strategic Engagement for the Bellevue School District, at his office on Monday, May 23, 2022, in Bellevue, Wash.
Shomari Jones, director of equity and strategic engagement for the Bellevue, Wash., school district, explains why he thinks schools should teach about all religious beliefs.
Jovelle Tamayo for Education Week
Equity & Diversity Q&A Talking About Religion Is Hard. This District Leader Says Schools Should Do It Anyway
The Bellevue, Wash., district leader emphasizes that students need to be prepared to navigate a multicultural world.
Alyson Klein, December 12, 2022
•
6 min read
Load More ▼