How loopholes in Washington state law can protect abusive school staff In Washington state, if a teacher or other certified school staff commits serious misconduct, like abuse, districts are required to report that to the state for investigation – and possibly the revocation of that person’s certification to work in schools. Libby Denkmann Play AudioListen 16 mins
Paraeducators strike in Port Angeles. But can strapped school districts afford to pay them more? The Port Angeles School District's more than 3,500 students are getting an extended spring break, as schools remained closed as of Thursday afternoon because of a paraeducator strike. Sami West
School budget shortfalls mean hard choices for Seattle area districts Schools around the region are dealing with serious budget shortfalls. The Northshore School District says it’s $26 million in the red, and Seattle Public Schools is reporting a more than $100 million gap in funding. Making up that money is no easy task – and in many cases, the scarcity means cuts to programs students and parents hold dear, like AP and music classes. Sami West Play AudioListen 15 mins
Tukwila School District faces fiscal crisis; state steps in The state education department has stepped in to help Tukwila School District avoid insolvency. The 2,700-student district south of Seattle ended its fiscal year with a negative fund balance and faces an estimated budget shortfall as large as $4.5 million. Ann Dornfeld
Seattle School Board vacancies draw more than a dozen applicants Fifteen people have thrown their hats in the ring for the two open spots on the Seattle School Board. Sami West
What the controversy at a Washington charter school reveals about the politics of school choice What do a former Seattle sports star, a Grammy-winning musician, and a school administrator have in common? They’re all at the center of a controversy surrounding a charter school in Des Moines, Washington: Why Not You Academy. Libby Denkmann Play AudioListen 30 mins
Banning books in Washington state schools could get harder if bill passes Efforts to ban books across the country reached an all-time high in 2022, according to the American Library Association. Now, some Washington lawmakers are trying to prevent more bans here. Sami West
As WA schools lose more special education teachers, help comes from within Fed up with persistent special education teacher shortages, a group of Washington teachers is trying a new approach to building up this workforce. Sami West Play AudioListen 5 mins
Curriculum about fentanyl, other opioids could come to WA junior high classrooms Washington state's opioid death toll is climbing faster than anywhere else in the country, according to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That's why schools may soon be required to teach students about the risks. Sami West
Washington schools chief encourages educators to embrace AI and use it in class Washington’s top education official wants educators across the state to embrace AI in the classroom. Sami West Play AudioListen 6 mins
