The House continues to put forth a strong commitment to implement the promises made in last year's education reform bill, 2261.  Their enthusiasm however, has been met with a Senate that is more interested in keeping things the same.

House Action
This morning, the House approved E2SSB 6696, on a strong bi-partisan vote of 76-22. This bill will implement the classified employee ratio in the prototype formula, implement the enhanced transportation funding formula in 2011, and increase the maintenance, supplies, and operating costs significantly over the next 3 years.  It will also start funding improved class size ratios in K-3 to 17:1.  It should be mentioned that the impact of all of these changes may add up to $1 billion to education funding next biennium and $2 - 2.5 billion in the next biennium.  Now that's what I call making a commitment to education.

The other aspect of the bill is that it implements the "Race to the Top" measures which will hopefully help qualify Washington state for the federal grants to improve schools that are not performing well.