Latest news with #ChrisReykdal
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Washington stuck mid-pack in national education ranking
(Photo by) Washington's K-12 education system slipped slightly in national rankings released Monday. The state ranks 27th, down one spot from last year, according to an analysis from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Ten years ago, Washington was 20th. Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal's office took issue with the rankings, arguing that the National Assessment of Educational Progress data the report is based on shouldn't be used to construct such lists. More than two-thirds of the state's 4th graders failed to meet reading standards, and 70% of 8th graders weren't proficient in math last year, right around the national average — and where Washington pupils stood in 2022. For two decades, reading proficiency has remained largely unchanged in Washington. In 2005, 64% of the state's 4th graders failed to meet reading standards. The number improved, falling to just 60% in 2013 and 2015, but last year climbed to a new high of 68%. Math proficiency among 8th graders dropped over the past decade, from 58% not meeting standards in 2013, to 70% last year, largely driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and its toll on student learning and a rise in chronic absenteeism nationally. A spokesperson for Reykdal pointed to state data showing 'robust' improvement since the pandemic. The percentage of students on track in reading and math was up in the 2023-24 school year from the pandemic era, according to state data. 'Our performance in reading is strong, and OSPI and Superintendent Reykdal understand the need for increased focus on and funding for mathematics, particularly in late elementary and middle school,' spokesperson Katie Hannig said in an email Monday. 'This is one of the Superintendent's top priorities moving forward.' One worrisome data point shows Washington's youngest learners are missing out on school. Of 3- and 4-year-old children, 57% weren't enrolled in school from 2019 to 2023, slightly worse than the national average. Stephan Blanford, executive director of the Children's Alliance based in Seattle, said this lays the groundwork for below-average on-time graduation rates. The alliance is the foundation's partner in Washington on the report known as the Kids Count Data Book. Sixteen percent of Washington students didn't graduate on time in 2021 and 2022, the report says, below the 13% national average. 'The fact that our state has made such significant cuts in early education as a result of the last legislative session means it's pretty easy to predict that these numbers are on the way downward,' said Blanford, speaking broadly about education trends. 'There was so much work that was done in order to get them to their current level.' 'Our slide is going to be precipitous,' he added. State lawmakers agreed this year to delay previously approved expansions to state-paid early learning in the face of a hefty budget shortfall. And the Trump administration has put the federal Head Start early learning program for low-income families in its crosshairs. These programs help students learn to manage their feelings, and kids who participate are more likely to go on to college and earn more money as adults. Blanford voiced disappointment that state leaders, particularly Gov. Bob Ferguson, couldn't reach agreement this year on new revenue options to better fund education. Ferguson's office didn't respond to a request for comment Monday. Meanwhile, school districts are grappling with tough budget decisions of their own as federal aid provided during the pandemic has dried up, and as enrollment is down in many places. State funding is linked to student headcounts. Hannig, from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, said the state budget cuts 'cause OSPI concern, and we are exploring options to keep our preschool-age learners learning, despite these reductions in funding.' Still, she noted state data shows 53.6% of Washington's students entered kindergarten ready this school year, a figure that has risen consistently in recent years. The Kids Count Data Book also tracks family, health and economic data trends. For example, in 2023, just 3% of Washington children lacked health insurance, better than the national average of 5%. And only 12% were impoverished, also better than the average. As for child well-being, Washington ranks 16th, down from 14th last year. The state's Healthy Youth Survey, however, has indicated improving mental health and decreased substance use among Washington's young people in recent years.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WA student summer food program open for applications
Jun. 3—OLYMPIA — This summer, approximately 620,000 children across Washington will benefit from SUN Bucks, a program designed to help families purchase food when school is not in session. The initiative, funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program, is aimed at providing nutritional support during the summer months. "The Washington SUN Bucks Summer EBT Program is a vital resource for many of our Ephrata families, especially those experiencing housing instability," Ephrata School District Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning and McKinney-Vento Liaison Deb Knox said in a statement to the Columbia Basin Herald. "During the summer months, when school meals aren't available, this program helps ensure students still have access to nutritious food. It eases some of the burden families face and supports the health and well-being of our kids during a critical time." In December 2022, the federal government established a permanent summer EBT program to ensure that children have access to food amidst rising costs and limited resources. With federal approval secured, the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services has partnered with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to kick off the distribution of SUN Bucks starting June 1. "Students learn better when their basic needs are met," State Superintendent Chris Reykdal said in a statement. "During the school year, we ensure students are fed during the day with our recently expanded school meal program. While school isn't in session, the summer EBT program provides an essential opportunity for children in Washington to access nutrition and meals." Each eligible child in participating households will receive a one-time payment of $120, which will be deposited onto existing SUN Bucks cards beginning June 1. People who qualify have 122 days to use the funds before they expire. For newly eligible participants, cards will be mailed starting mid-June. Eligibility requirements vary for children aged 8 to 18 from households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Benefits will qualify automatically. "I think the biggest thing is that having a program provided by the state that enables families to access food for school-aged children during the summer is always going to be important," Moses Lake School District Director of Public Relations Ryan Shannon said. "While it's a one-time benefit, a lot of families find that benefit immensely important, especially during the summer months, when kids are home more versus in school and their grocery bills naturally tend to be a little bit higher during the summer months." Additionally, students who attend schools offering the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program and are certified for free or reduced-price meals may qualify as well. "Food is foundational to everyone's well-being," Cheryl Strange, acting secretary of DSHS, said in a statement. "We are pleased to partner with OSPI to ensure as much support for children and families as we can, especially during the summer months." Families who do not automatically qualify can apply online for the SUN Bucks program, which is available in both English and Spanish. Applications will be accepted through August 29, 2025. Moreover, families receiving SUN Bucks can still participate in existing Summer Child Nutrition Programs, including grab-and-go meals at local schools and community sites, ensuring comprehensive food access during the summer. The Columbia Basin Herald published an article yesterday on where students can access grab-and-go meals and sit-down meals during the summer months. For more information or assistance, families can contact the SUN Bucks Contact Center at 833-543-3230 during regular business hours.
Fox News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Washington state school district votes to keep biological males out of girls sports despite state pushback
A school district in a state with a Democratic governor has voted to keep biological boys out of girls sports. The Quilcene School District in Washington voted 3-2 to keep sports competition based on athletes' birth gender. The ruling defies a policy by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), enacted in 2007, that allows transgender students to participate based on their gender identity. According to Fox 13, board member Ron Frantz said "Title IX is the law," and sports should be kept based on birth gender. But another member, Vivian Kuehl, said it is "immoral" to keep transgender females out of girls and women's sports, according to The Seattle Times. The vote was taken May 7. The state's governor, Bob Ferguson, defeated Republican nominee Dave Reichert in November. The state has not had a Republican governor since John Spellman, from 1981 to 1985. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in February to keep biological boys out of girls and women's sports, but Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal said the order defies state law. "State law prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity, and we will not back down from that," Reykdal said at the time. Later that month, Reykdal said it would be "inaccurate" to say there are only two genders. Bills that would prohibit transgender athletes from participating in girls and women's sports have been introduced in the state but have not passed. However, the issue became so concerning for residents that the WIAA announced a proposal in December to create a separate open division for transgender athletes to compete in. In May, a trans athlete competed in a girls cross-country championship and won. The athlete won the 400-meter heat race in the girls division with a time of 55.59 seconds. The second-place runner finished in 58.83 seconds. In the finals, the trans athlete won with a time of 55.75 seconds, a full second ahead of the second-place runner who finished in 56.75. In February, a civil rights complaint was filed with the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights on behalf of a teenage girl in Washington state who was allegedly punished for refusing to play a basketball game against a trans athlete. The complaint said the Tumwater School District in Washington is investigating 15-year-old Frances Staudt for "misgendering" the opponent and violating the district's policies against bullying and harassment. Several other states have defied Trump's executive order on the issue, resulting in Maine temporarily losing federal funding. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Feds to investigate WA schools agency over gender inclusivity conflict
The office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal, seen here being sworn into office on Jan. 15, 2025, has seen rising tensions with the federal government since President Donald Trump took office in January. (Photo by Ryan Berry/Washington State Standard) The Trump administration on Monday launched an investigation into the Washington office tasked with overseeing public schools, citing allegations that the state directed a school district to implement a gender inclusion policy that conflicts with federal law. The investigation puts the 1,800-student La Center School District at the middle of the escalating battle between the U.S. Department of Education and the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction over approaches to inclusivity in schools. The Department of Education alleges OSPI is violating the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment and Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools and education programs that receive federal funding. An OSPI spokesperson called the Department of Education's intervention a 'potential overreach of the federal government's authority.' The probe is the latest development in a yearslong battle between the Clark County district and the state. The saga has consumed La Center to the point that a timeline of the conflict is posted on the district website's landing page. The clash is centered on a debate over preferred pronouns. In 2022, district Superintendent Peter Rosenkranz ordered staff not to ask students about their pronouns. Rosenkranz told teachers they should still use students' preferred pronouns if requested. A teacher, who was also the adviser for the La Center High School Gay Straight Alliance, argued the policy 'creates a systemic barrier towards full inclusivity of LGBTQ students.' In late February of this year, the state found La Center violated state law related to discrimination based on gender identity. Its gender-inclusive policy also didn't comply with statute, the state investigation determined. Washington's model policy, adopted in 2020, says school staff must 'privately ask known transgender or gender-expansive students how they would like to be addressed in class, in correspondence to the home, and at conferences with the student's parent/guardian.' The district also differed with the state policy on communicating with parents of gender-expansive students, according to the OSPI investigation. The district's policy tells staff to 'be transparent with parents/guardians of children who question their gender identity so that the parents/guardians may provide appropriate support for their children.' It also states that 'curriculum, instruction, and gender affirming activities may cause gender confusion for children.' In a school board meeting, a former La Center student shared how this policy affected them. They said district staff 'forcibly outed' them to their family, leading to 'physical abuse by a family member, significant disruption to their education, and a negative impact on their mental health,' according to the OSPI investigation. The state's report said La Center's policy 'does not address the unique challenges and needs faced by transgender students in public schools in a nondiscriminatory manner.' The state ordered La Center to rescind the pronoun directive and send a new proposed policy that complies with state law within 45 days. Within 35 days of approval, the district had to implement the policy. OSPI also required training for staff on bias based on gender identity. The district appealed the findings last month. In an interview Monday, the La Center superintendent, Rosenkranz, said he was 'very happy' to hear of the federal inquiry. He wants the district to be able to focus on academics, but said 'OSPI is trying to bully the La Center School District into submission,' with threats to withhold federal funding if school officials don't follow state law. 'We continue to move forward to support families as they raise their children,' Rosenkranz said. 'The state is choosing to deny parents of that right.' After reading a news story about the district's battle with the state, Department of Education officials reached out to Rosenkranz to learn more, he said, leading to Monday's investigation announcement. OSPI spokesperson Katy Payne said in an email that the agency 'will continue to steadfastly follow the laws of the state of Washington, which provide clear civil rights protections for our transgender and gender-expansive youth that fit squarely inside the protections provided under federal law.' The U.S. Department of Education didn't provide comment late Monday. The inquiry significantly intensifies tensions between the state and federal government. Most of this conflict in the education sphere since President Donald Trump took office in January has focused on transgender athletes. For example, the Kennewick School District in eastern Washington late last month filed a complaint with the feds over the state allowing trans athletes to participate in girls' and women's sports. Also last month, the Department of Education launched an investigation into the Tumwater School District, near Olympia, for letting a transgender athlete from another school compete in a girls' high school basketball game. Washington is now also the latest state to face the education department's ire. Federal officials have also launched investigations in California and Maine over alleged Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act violations. In a letter last month, Education Secretary Linda McMahon told schools they must abide by the law 'if they expect federal funding to continue.' 'Attempts by school officials to separate children from their parents, convince children to feel unsafe at home, or burden children with the weight of keeping secrets from their loved ones is a direct affront to the family unit,' McMahon wrote. 'When such conduct violates the law the Department will take swift action.'
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
WA Superintendent Reykdal resists federal DEI order
Washington State Superintendent Chris Reykdal says he will not sign the Trump administration's order to end diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in public schools. Federal officials argue DEI programs violate civil rights law, which bans discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. In a letter to the Federal Education Department, Superintendent Reykdal appears to question the legality of the order, writing in part, 'Washington will not suppress its core values or cede our right to determine our own education system to the federal government.' If the trump administration doesn't accept the state's response, Washington will join several Democratic-led states at risk of losing federal education dollars, including Title I funds. Title I is a federal grant program that supports districts with students from low-income families. According to data from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, it accounts for more than 12% of our total federal education funding, and benefits about 1/3 of Washington schools, serving 300,000 students. Some Title I schools include the Puyallup School District, Tacoma Public Schools, Federal Way School District, Everett Public Schools, and Kent School District.
