Party Platform: Education
We recommend multiple metrics for high-stakes decisions in public education besides standardized testing in light of the following:
We believe that all children have a right to a quality education
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There is a local and national tendency to rush toward standardized testing for high stakes decisions in public education, despite mounting evidence that standardized tests penalize students who are second-language speakers and from lower socioeconomic groups;
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The funds being spent to support these high-stakes standardized tests could more effectively go toward proven methods of effective learning, such as smaller class size.
We support:
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Establishing facilities and programs that advance vocational and technical education;
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Legislation for fully funding pre-school through grade 12 and technical education;
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Legislation that substantially funds public colleges, universities, and technical schools;
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Legislation that lowers the interest rate on student loans and finds ways to relieve the financial stress of college students and graduates burdened with huge student debt;
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Legislation that will finance the McCleary decision to Washington State schools and fully fund
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149 basic education
Party Platform