Disability Month Closer to a Reality

Senate Bill 6313 passed out of the executive session of the Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee this afternoon. This bill requires each October, public schools, colleges, and universities must conduct and promote educational activities that provide instruction awareness, and understanding of disability history and people with disabilities. The activities may include school assemblies or guest speakers.

Prior to the unanimous yes vote in the committee, testimony in favor of the bill was heard from a variety of advocates of disabilities. Included in that group was a number of students who have disabilities. AWSP testified with concerns about the additional burden of implementing the "educational activities" in an already full school day.

12%+ of Students Transfer In and Out of the WA

If you are feeling like there are lots of transfer students in your building, you are not alone in Washington State. Joe Willhoft, Assistant Superintendent for Assessment and Research at OSPI, reported today in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee that there are approximately 80,000 students in the ninth grade in Washington but during a school year there will be 90,000+ members of that class. That means that over the course of a school year over 10,000 students will transfer in and out of schools in the Evergreen State. Now that 12.5% change during a year might not surprise you as a building leaders, but when Dr. Willhoft explained the data, one of the was observed to say "WOW!" The next time you contact your elected official, consider explaining the challenges your school faces in helping transfer students be academically successful.