Governor Gregoire Discusses Education Accomplishments of the 2007 Legislative Session

For Immediate Release: April 23, 2007

�We must educate more people to achieve at higher levels�

OLYMPIA - Governor Chris Gregoire today discussed the education accomplishments of the 2007 legislative session with students at Tacoma Community College and, later, at Newport High School in Bellevue.

�Washingtonians asked us to invest in and reform our education system. We are delivering,� said Governor Gregoire. �We took major steps to improve math and science education, passed a long overdue tuition policy and raised teacher salaries.�

At Tacoma Community College, Governor Gregoire toured the new science building and then met with business leaders and faculty members in a roundtable discussion. The approximately 77,200 square-foot building houses classrooms, laboratory spaces, a greenhouse, faculty offices and study areas. The Legislature approved $29.5 million in construction funding in the 2005-2007 biennium and $2.4 million in design funding in the 2003-2005 biennium.

At Newport High School, she met three students who shared their experiences with the Bellevue School District�s math program. Compared to all public school districts in the state with at least 5,000 students, Bellevue's 2005 high school WASL scores rank in the top five in all subject areas.

With Governor Gregoire�s leadership, the Legislature passed measures that will:

• Improve math and science professional development for teachers;
• Expand hands-on science learning;
• Help struggling students pass the WASL;
• Reward outstanding teachers, raise teacher pay and provide more equity among school districts;
• Adopt international math and science standards and link math curriculum with state standards;
• Place on the November ballot the opportunity to change the Constitutional levy approval requirements to simple majority;
• Establish the GET Ready for Math and Science Scholarship;
• Provide Opportunity Grants to educate students for local jobs;
• Expand eligibility for State Need Grants;
• Cap tuition increases at colleges and universities;
• Increase access to colleges and universities;
• Establish Washington College Bound Scholarships; and
• Raise faculty pay and improve equity.