http://www.researchcouncil.org daily 1 2007-01-03T05:04:39Z http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/ref55.pdf After the legislature adopted charter school legislation, opponents gathered the signatures required to put the measure before the voters. Referendum 55, if adopted, would affirm the legislature’s action and Washington would become the 41st state to allow charter schools. No publisher carolynn 2007-04-03T20:05:12Z Publication http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/wrc_special%20report_I844.pdf Public education inWashington would receive a cash infusion of more than one billion dollars annually if voters adopt Initiative 884. The initiative, promoted by the League of Education Voters, which sponsored Initiative 728 (“the class size initiative”) in 2000, would increase the state sales tax from 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent and dedicate the new revenue to an “education trust fund” (ETF), with 10 percent of the funds directed to early learning, 50 percent to the public schools, and 40 percent to higher education. No publisher carolynn 2007-04-03T23:18:39Z Publication http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/rationaltuitionpolicy.pdf Gov. Locke proposes to let the states' colleges and universities determine the rates of tuition paid by their students. In 1997, the Research Council recommended that the state's institutions be given the flexibility to set their own tuition rates in response to market demands. Now would be a good time to give them tuition-setting authority. No publisher carolynn 2007-04-03T19:54:59Z Publication http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/tuition.pdf Gov. Locke proposes to let the states' colleges and universities determine the rates of tuition paid by their students. In 1997, the Research Council recommended that the state's institutions be given the flexibility to set their own tuition rates in response to market demands. Now would be a good time to give them tuition-setting authority. No publisher carolynn 2007-03-29T23:40:42Z Publication http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/732.pdf Initiative 732 mandates an annual cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) for K-12 school employees and most employees of community and technical colleges. It significantly weakens legislative oversight of the state budget, overstates the cost of living, and provides a select group of public employees a benefit not available to most taxpayers. No publisher carolynn 2007-04-02T17:15:11Z Publication http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/729.pdf Initiative 729 asks voters to decide whether Washington shall allow for charter public schools. These schools give parents, teachers and administrators much for flexibility with teaching methods, curricula and staffing. Conventional public schools are subject to far more control by school districts and school boards. No publisher carolynn 2007-04-02T17:12:25Z Publication http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/728.pdf To increase public school spending, Initiative 728 would amend Initiative 601, earmark state property tax and lottery revenues, and create a new dedicated fund. The initiative violates several important fiscal policy principles and would reduce the prospects of future relief from the state property tax. No publisher carolynn 2007-04-02T17:08:11Z Publication http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/classsize.pdf Per pupil spending in Washington is about average for the nation, but class sizes are among the largest. The discrepancy can be explained by looking at the state’s relatively high compensation of school employees. No publisher carolynn 2007-04-02T23:38:55Z Publication http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/charterschools.pdf Four times since 1994 legislation authorizing charter schools cleared the legislature’s House only to founder in the Senate Education Committee. This year, lawmakers favoring public charter schools as alternatives to conventional public schools are trying again. No publisher carolynn 2007-04-02T23:36:13Z Publication http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/tacomaschools.pdf February 6, 2001, voters in the Tacoma Public School (TPS) district will be asked to approve a $450 million construction and remodeling plan. The district intends to issue bonds for new construction ($283 million), renovation and remodeling ($160 million) and small capital projects ($60 million). State matching funds of about $50 million are expected to supplement the $450 million bond issue. No publisher carolynn 2007-04-02T18:36:09Z Publication http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/PrevailingWage2PB.pdf Washington’s law requiring construction firms to pay their workers “prevailing” wages when working on public projects needlessly inflates the costs of those projects. No publisher carolynn 2007-04-03T19:03:38Z Publication http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/prevailingwage2.pdf Washington’s law requiring construction firms to pay their workers “prevailing” wages when working on public projects needlessly inflates the costs of those projects. The Research Council estimates that but for the prevailing wage law, for every eight schools that school districts now build, they could build a ninth at no extra cost. No publisher carolynn 2007-04-03T19:02:12Z Publication http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/EconomicValueofHigherEducation.pdf Research shows that higher education can add significantly to the subsequent earnings of some students. Returns vary, however, with such factors as family background, innate ability, and the program of study pursued. No publisher carolynn 2007-04-03T00:03:48Z Publication http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/Washingtons%20Community%20and%20Technical%20Colleges.pdf Two-year colleges, an American invention, contribute greatly to the academic and occupational training needs of thousands of students in Washington. The first one in this state opened in Everett in 1915, but closed eight years later for want of students. Today, Washington is home to 27 community colleges. In the fall of 1998, more than 242,000 students signed up for courses. No publisher carolynn 2007-04-02T20:20:33Z Publication http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/GenerousPayRaisesforTeachers.pdf The Legislature is poised to give large pay hikes to teachers. Claims that teachers have lost 15.5 percent to inflation since 1992 are not accurate. No publisher carolynn 2007-04-03T15:57:34Z Publication