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Support Districts in Closing Opportunity and Access Gaps for Students in K-3

Tell legislators to provide critical flexibility in allowing districts to support their young learners in Kindergarten through third grade.

Students from South Shore PreK-8

Since 2010, the state has been phasing in investment to lower class sizes in kindergarten through third grade. Districts have received this funding regardless of their actual class sizes until this school year. Starting in the current year, districts that have an average class size greater than 17 students to one teacher in K-3 had their funding reduced proportionately to their actual class size. There are many reasons that districts may be unable to reduce their class sizes, including significant enrollment growth, lack of classroom space, and teacher shortages.

More than 40 districts across the state are experiencing reduced funding because their actual student to teacher ratio is higher than 17 students per teacher. Many of these districts serve large populations of students experiencing poverty and need more resources to address opportunity gaps. House Bill 2719, introduced by Representative Lisa Callan (D-5), would allow districts to retain the funding for smaller K-3 class sizes for the next two years if those funds are spent on achieving the same goals of class size reduction — ensuring every student is meeting academic standard by third grade.

Districts who keep the funds must use them in alignment with the Washington Integrated Student Supports Protocol (WISSP) for students in kindergarten through third grade. Integrated student supports are school-based approaches to promote academic success by providing and coordinating supports that target academic and non-academic barriers to achievement.

Allowing districts to use these funds on implementing the WISSP for students in early grades will support districts in closing opportunity and access gaps for students in K-3, and ensuring the money is spent on achieving the same goals the legislature intended with class size reduction.

HB 2719 must receive a public hearing in the House Appropriations Committee and be voted on in committee by February 11, 2020.

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Support Districts in Closing Opportunity and Access Gaps for Students in K-3

All members of the Washington state House Appropriations Committee

Subject: Support school districts in closing opportunity and access gaps for students in K-3

Message:

I’m writing to ask that you provide critical flexibility to allow districts to support their young learners in Kindergarten through third grade and add HB 2719 for the public hearing in the House Appropriations Committee. From challenges in passing school bonds and a backlog of needed school building repairs to rapid enrollment growth, there are a number of reasons why districts are encountering barriers to reducing kindergarten through third grade class size. Low-income school districts are faced with particularly challenging situations as they encounter the greatest barriers in reducing early grade class size and are most in need of funds to ensure they can address the educational opportunity gap in the early grades. Allowing districts to redirect K-3 class size reduction funds in alignment with the Washington Integrated Student Supports Protocol, instead of losing those funds, can leverage these resources to accomplish the goals of class size reduction and meaningfully address the educational opportunity gap for early grades. I urge you to ensure all districts have access to these critical resources needed to combat the educational opportunity gap and support House Bill 2719. This is a critical funding equity issue for more than 40 districts across the state. Thank you so much for your leadership on this important issue.

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Support Districts in Closing Opportunity and Access Gaps for Students in K-3

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