Release Date:
OLYMPIA, Wash. – Today, the State Board of Education (SBE) adopted two resolutions at their Board meeting. The resolutions focused on supporting Financial Education and supporting School Safety.
Student Board member Joe Hofman, a senior this fall at Cascade High School in Everett Public Schools, presented to the SBE on the importance of financial literacy in K-12 education. He was able to interview members of the Financial Education Public-Private Partnership and Representative Monica Stonier (FEPPP Chair) to inform his presentation. In response, the Board adopted the resolution to encourage financial education offerings in grades K-8 to better prepare all students for career, college, and life.
The Board also heard from a school safety panel that included Autymn Wilde (Student Board member), students and staff from local area high schools, MJ Bolt (Board member), and Mick Miller (Assistant Superintendent, ESD 101).
Students shared about their experience at North Central High School when they organized a One Tribe Day, which was a student-organized day focused on community building as well as training students to respond to warning signs of suicide.
“Students are willing to spill their guts to teachers when they know they care,” said Jared Hathaway, student at East Valley High School (Spokane). “But the ultimate solution [to school safety issues] is the students. It’s amongst us. How can we as students empower other students to seek help? The relationships we build as students allow us to connect other students to the support resources they need.”
During the morning of July 11, SBE had a joint meeting with the legislatively created EOGOAC (Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee). After the joint meeting, SBE heard from a variety of organizations to inform SBE’s upcoming strategic planning process. These included: the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families; the Governor's Office; the Governor's Office of Indian Affairs; the Charter Schools Commission; the Washington State Professional Educator Standards Board; and from a panel on Expanded Learning Opportunities that included representatives from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), School's Out Washington, & Spokane Public Schools.
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About the State Board of Education: The State Board of Education provides advocacy and strategic oversight of public education. The Board comprises 16 members: five are elected by school board directors, seven are appointed by the Governor, two serve as student representatives, and one serves as a private school representative. The Superintendent of Public Instruction is also a member. For more information on the State Board of Education: www.sbe.wa.gov