King County Restructures School Impact Fees to Comply with State Law
King County is capping school impact fees on multifamily projects, hoping to lessen the burden on homebuilders. The move sparked a debate on how to help overcapacity school districts while avoid undue burdens on builders.
Op-Ed: Students Advocate for Carpooling Incentives at High School Parking Lots
Only three of 15 high schools analyzed in King County have carpooling incentives: Issaquah, Redmond, and Interlake high schools. Expanding carpooling incentives would allow schools to encourage greener commutes while getting more utility out of limited parking spaces.
Op-Ed: Closing Seattle Schools Is Still a Bad Idea
Last week school board director Liza Rankin wrote a memo to her colleagues suggesting a major new round of austerity for the Seattle Public Schools that could revive a plan to close numerous schools. Robert Cruickshank argues that's the wrong approach.
Op-Ed: Seattle Leaders, Keep Your Promise — Keep Cops Out of Schools
A group of high school student activists make the case we don’t need more cops in schools. We need more care, as the Seattle Student Union fought for and had been promised. The research is clear on what works.
Washington State Overhauls Driver’s Education System, Focusing on Young Motorists
A newly signed Washington State law aims to “improve safety for young drivers” by expanding access to driver’s education and raising the minimum age at which new drivers can get a license without completing a formal driver’s education course.
Harrell Quietly Pushing Police in Schools, with Possible Levy Funding Infusion
Mayor Bruce Harrell’s $1.3 billion education levy is set to go to the ballot in November, but it could be weighed down by a controversial proposal to put police officers back in Seattle schools. Meanwhile, Harrell’s draft school safety plan has stalled out, which is drawing criticism from school board leaders that the City’s approach is ill-defined.
Op-Ed: Seattle Public Schools Enrollment Practices Starve Schools and Harm Students
School board directors Sarah Clark and Joe Mizrahi break down how flawed enrollment practices are harming students, and may ultimately lead to school closures across the city.
Op-Ed: Fund Washington Higher Education, Close Amazon/Microsoft Tax Loophole
Rep. Julia Reed's House Bill 1839 would bring in over $200 million a year for higher education in by closing a tax loophole benefiting Amazon and Microsoft. The money is sorely needed to curb tuition and raise enrollment.