OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington State Board of Education has initiated the process of implementing a framework for the state’s first public charter schools.

The Board’s work with public charter schools began with the apparent passage of Initiative 1240. Though the results are not yet final, the ‘yes’ vote leads by approximately 45,000 votes. The final results may not be official until December 6th, the last day results can be certified by the Secretary of State.

VANCOUVER, Wash. –The Washington State Board of Education’s November 8-9 meeting in Vancouver, at the office of ESD 112, will include an anticipated adoption of performance indicators for Washington’s revised Achievement Index.

OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington State Board of Education’s October 17 meeting, hosted via webinar, will include a discussion of possible performance indicators for Washington’s revised Achievement Index.

The State Board of Education uses the Achievement Index to recognize high-performing schools and to provide schools and districts an opportunity to self-reflect on their own performance trends.

OLYMPIA, Wash. – On September 26, the Washington State Board of Education approved a resolution urging districts to discontinue the use of Native American mascots.

The resolution echoes the findings of the 2005 American Psychological Association report citing the adverse effect of Native American mascots on students. Several states, including Oregon in 2012, have passed resolutions related to the Native American mascot issue.

WALLA WALLA, Wash. – The Washington State Board of Education’s September 26 meeting at Walla Walla Community College will include a discussion of possible revisions to the state’s Achievement Index.

The State Board of Education uses the Achievement Index to recognize high-performing schools and to provide schools and districts an opportunity to self-reflect on their own performance trends.

BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Washington State Board of Education’s (SBE) July 10-11 meeting at Western Washington University in Bellingham, will mark the start of the Board and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction’s (OSPI) collaborative effort to revise the state’s Achievement Index.

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Students from Heritage High School and the Seattle World School took first place in their respective categories in the third annual Washington State Board of Education student video contest.

The online video contest challenged students to create videos highlighting the importance of social studies and language arts courses in high school. Videos were evaluated on multiple factors, including content, theme, cinematography, creativity, and delivery.

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Eli Ulmer, a sophomore at Wilson Creek High School in Wilson Creek is the new student representative to the Washington State Board of Education. Eli began his two-year term with the Board during the May 8-9 meeting in Yakima.

Eli’s appointment is the result of a competitive application process that culminated with interviews of potential candidates with a panel of students from the Washington Student Advisory Council (WASC).

YAKIMA, Wash. – The Washington State Board of Education’s May 8-9 meeting at Educational Service District 105 in Yakima will include an exploration of how to effectively incorporate student growth data into a statewide school accountability system.

OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington State Private School Advisory Committee has appointed Judy Jennings (Puyallup) to serve on the Washington State Board of Education.

Ms. Jennings will fill a seat vacated by former private schools representative Jack Schuster (Ocean Shores). Her initial term commences with the May 8-9 State Board of Education meeting and will run through January 2014.