2008 Washington State Supplemental Budget
The State Legislature made it clear that education continues to be a top priority in Washington, despite economic uncertainty. Legislators balanced the need to save while making modest necessary investments in our schools to help students succeed.

When the gavel falls on March 13, legislators will leave Olympia with more than $835 million in savings for the next biennial budget and additional investments in our students and schools. Some of the major education highlights in the budget include:

• A cost of living adjustment (COLA) for educators and an additional .5% to makeup for lost pay when the COLA was not funded in the 2003-05 budget.

• Additional opportunities for student learning to help students and English language learners not on track to pass the WASL.

• Funds to begin work on the new Washington Head Start Program, which would integrate our state’s Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program with the federal Head Start program.

• Support for school libraries that have suffered from the lack of funds resulting in outdated materials and closures in some school districts.

• Maintaining funding for all-day kindergarten and opportunity grants.

2007-08 Elected Officials Contact Information

Federal
George W. Bush, President
Maria Cantwell, US Senate
Patty Murray, US Senate
Jim McDermott, US House of Representatives, 7th District

Washington State - 46th Legislative District
Chris Gregoire, Governor
Ken Jacobsen, Senator
Phyllis Kenney, Representative
Jim McIntire, Representative

Seattle City Council
Tim Burgess, Chair of the Public Safety, Human Services and Education committee
206-684-8806

Seattle School Board
Sherry Carr, District II
206.252.0040

Public Education Advocacy Groups

Washington State PTA
www.wastatepta.org

Seattle Council PTSA
www.seattlecouncilptsa.org

League of Education Voters, grassroots, statewide lobbying

Community & Parents for Public Schools (CPPS)
Group of parents formed during district’s closure/consolidation process in Spring 2005. They continue to monitor the process. Subscribe to weekly newsletter, send email to subscribe@cppsofseattle.org.