Latest news with #Reykdal
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ex-Washington state worker claims she was fired over school board vote on trans athletes
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction faces a lawsuit from a former employee alleging wrongful termination. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard) A former director at Washington state's schools agency alleges the state superintendent fired her after she voted as a local school board member in support of barring trans girls from competing in girls' sports. Darby Kaikkonen filed suit last week against the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and Superintendent Chris Reykdal in U.S. District Court in Tacoma. She says Reykdal retaliated against her. 'OSPI fired a high-performing employee, a military spouse, for exercising the rights and responsibilities of an elected official in standing up for women and girls, a viewpoint which the state superintendent disagrees with,' Kaikkonen said in a statement. A spokesperson for Reykdal's office confirmed Kaikkonen stopped working there in March, but declined to comment further, citing personnel matters and the litigation. The state hasn't responded to the allegations in court, as of Wednesday. Kaikkonen was the agency's director of student information before her termination in mid-March, according to the lawsuit. She had been there since December 2021. Before that, she worked for a decade at the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, including half-a-dozen years as the policy research director, according to her LinkedIn. She also serves as president of the Tumwater school board, where she has been a member since 2019. Tumwater, south of Olympia, has found itself near the center of the growing tensions between local, state and federal officials over how to handle transgender athletes in school sports. It's one of several districts bucking Reykdal's mandate to support trans students competing in the division that fits their gender identity. In March, the Trump administration's Department of Education launched an investigation into Tumwater School District over allowing a transgender athlete from an opposing team to compete in a girls' high school basketball game. The investigation appears to still be ongoing, a district spokesperson said Tuesday. President Donald Trump has sought to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls' and women's sports through executive order by, in part, withholding federal funding for districts that 'deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities.' Some local school officials say they're in a bind: Either comply with state law and jeopardize federal funding, or follow Trump and risk punishment from the state. This week, California sued the Trump administration over threats to withhold funding tied to trans athlete participation. Reykdal's office faces a federal probe of its own into its clash with a Clark County school district over the district's gender inclusion policy. Kaikkonen's work focused on reporting data for compliance with federal education policy, according to her lawsuit. The week before the Trump administration opened its inquiry into Tumwater, the school board took up the matter of trans athletes. At the time, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association was considering two proposals related to trans athletes. The association sets policy for school sports in the state. One of the proposals would have barred trans girls from participating in girls' sports. Another would have created a separate division where trans athletes can compete. On Feb. 27, the Tumwater board, including Kaikkonen, voted in support of those rule changes. The audience watching the meeting in person responded with boos. In April, the interscholastic association voted down the proposed changes. In a later meeting, Kaikkonen explained her vote. A former competitive swimmer, she said the issue 'pits one historically marginalized group against another,' transgender people and women. She said she 'fully supports' the transgender community. 'I see myself in this issue, and most importantly, I see girls who are currently living it and the complexity of what they're trying to work through,' Kaikkonen said. 'This is an impossible situation. These girls are faced with the same challenges that we all are, and that they can't possibly stand up for themselves and share their voice and what they think is right without being accused of bigotry.' 'You want to know why the voice for girls is quiet, and why so few people speak publicly about it?' Kaikkonen continued. 'It's fear.' At the time, a spokesperson for Reykdal said his office was 'closely monitoring' the Tumwater school board's actions, and floated a 'possible formal investigation.' A petition to recall Kaikkonen and other board members received over 1,500 signatures. A week after the vote, she was placed on administrative leave from her job at the state, with no reason given, according to the lawsuit. Less than two weeks later, in a March 19 call with the office's chief of staff, Tennille Jeffries-Simmons, she was fired, the complaint alleges. Officials didn't explain why, according to the lawsuit, which says she never faced disciplinary action at the agency. Kaikkonen was reportedly expecting to go on leave due to an upcoming deployment to the Middle East for her Army reservist spouse. 'The termination came at a time when OSPI knew the financial and emotional hardship this punitive action would cause,' the lawsuit reads. 'As a result of her termination, Plaintiff has lost an annual salary of approximately $137,000, including valuable health and retirement benefits. She has experienced reputational damage, anxiety, humiliation, and disruption to her family life.' The lawsuit alleges retaliation and wrongful termination. Kaikkonen seeks monetary damages to be determined at trial. Kaikkonen's term on the Tumwater school board ends this year. She didn't file to run for re-election. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
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
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Everyday People Financial to Present at Centurion One Capital 6th Annual LA Summit
Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - May 22, 2025) - Everyday People Financial Corp. (TSXV: EPF) (OTCQB: EPFCF) ("Everyday People" or the "Company"), a financial services provider, is pleased to announce it will be presenting at the Centurion One Capital ("Centurion One") 6th Annual LA Summit held at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel from Monday, June 2nd to Thursday, June 5th , 2025, in Los Angeles, California. Mr. Gordon Reykdal, Executive Chairman of Everyday People, will be presenting at the Summit. Mr. Reykdal will also be participating on a panel discussion and will be available for one-on-one investor meetings throughout the event. "We are excited to participate in the Centurion One Summit," said Mr. Reykdal, Executive Chairman of the Company. "This event provides a unique platform to showcase how Everyday People is innovating financial services to better serve underserved markets in Canada and the UK." Centurion One Summit Details Format: Presentations, Panel Discussions and 1 X 1 Investor MeetingsPresentation Dates: Wednesday, June 4th and Thursday, June 5th, 2025Time: 9:00 AM PDT - 5:00 PM PDTVenue: The Beverly Hills Hotel For more information and registration details, please visit: About Centurion One Capital Centurion One Capital ("Centurion One") is the premier independent Investment Banking firm dedicated to fueling the growth and success of growth companies in North America. With an unwavering commitment to delivering comprehensive financial solutions and strategic guidance, Centurion One is a trusted strategic partner and catalyst to propel issuers to unlock their full potential. Centurion One's team comprises seasoned professionals who combine extensive financial expertise with deep knowledge of various sectors. Centurion One takes a proactive and results-driven approach, working closely with its clients to develop tailored strategies and execute transactions that maximize value and drive long-term success. Centurion One - Empowering Growth. Driving Innovation. Partnering for Success. For more information about Centurion One, visit About Everyday People Financial Corp. Everyday People Financial Corp. is a technology-driven financial services company with a mission to help individuals and businesses manage money better. First established in 1988, we have a workforce of 550 people operating in the United Kingdom and Canada providing fully fee-for-service solutions across two business pillars operating in Canada and the United Kingdom. Revenue Cycle Management (RCM), which helps organizations recover receivables and streamline billing processes without purchasing consumer debt, and Financial Services, which provides digital tools and credit access programs that support Canadians on their financial journey, all without lending money. Founded on the belief that everyone deserves a second chance to rebuild financial health and wealth, the Company is committed to providing affordable, innovative, and responsible financial solutions that create lasting value for our clients, customers, and shareholders. We are changing the way people manage money by enhancing our client and consumer services with our own affordability assessment programs with specialized financial products and literacy programs. We're helping everyday people rebuild their financial health for generational wealth. We stand for creativity and entrepreneurship. Our combination of companies, products and services has been established to ensure we can fulfill consumers' financial needs and service them in a low-cost and effective manner. For more information visit: Contact Barret ReykdalCo-Chief Executive Officer, RCM (North America)letsconnect@ 888 825 9808 (Press Option 2 for Investor and Media Relations) Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively referred to hereafter as "forward-looking statements") under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to financial performance, results of operations, integration of the acquired businesses, and the business, plans, strategy, and operations of the Company. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, expectations and assumptions concerning the Company and the acquired businesses as well as other risks and uncertainties, including those described in the documents filed by the Company on SEDAR+ at There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fear and defiance are this Washington's response to Trump's education funding threats
(Photo by Getty Images) No one is certain yet how federal decisions under the Trump administration will affect both budgets and policies of Washington's public schools. But educators, parents and government officials in this Washington are tracking closely whether President Donald Trump makes good on his threats to cut funding to states that do not prove they have abandoned K-12 diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Fear, anger and defiance have been the response here so far. The fear runs deep. The defiance comes from the top: the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction or OSPI. Although most of the districts I reached out to for this story weren't interested in discussing their plans for navigating these issues, education consultant Erin Jones told me that at a recent meeting with King County superintendents, officials were worried. 'They are concerned about budget cuts. But they are most concerned about the uncertainty. That's the point of this administration: uncertainty. That leaves them in such a bad place,' Jones recalled. 'These leaders want to do right by their children and their staff.' The U.S. Education Department sent a letter to state education agencies in February, accusing schools of promoting diversity in a way that unfairly harmed white and Asian American students. In support of this statement, they cited a 2023 Supreme Court decision that banned using race as an element in college admissions. That case didn't mention K-12 schools, but that didn't stop the Trump administration from using it as a reason why Washington and other states shouldn't be providing extra academic support for students of color. In early April, the U.S. Education Department doubled down, with another letter. This one demanded proof that states were following their DEI orders. Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal's response reaffirmed this state's strong commitment to embracing its diversity and making sure every student gets the help they need. 'Recognition of our diversity is a cornerstone of public education. It makes us stronger, more civil, and it empowers groups of students who have historically been marginalized or denied equal opportunities,' Reykdal said in a statement. He confirmed that these efforts are paying off in higher graduation and college participation rates for everyone. Plus, Reykdal added, every student benefits from the diversity in our schools. 'Washington will not suppress its core values or cede our right to determine our own education system to the federal government,' he said. In just a few words, he underscored a key facet of American education: states, not the federal government, take the lead in determining what their children will learn in public schools. Reykdal's office continues to draw attention from the Trump administration. Later in April, the Department of Education said it would investigate OSPI over 'requiring school boards to adopt policies that allow males to participate in female sports and occupy female-only intimate facilities.' This followed the federal agency scrutinizing OSPI over how it handled a years-long controversy surrounding the gender-inclusion policy at the La Center School District in Clark County. Jones, the education consultant, said she hasn't met a leader yet who is not committed to continuing diversity, equity and inclusion work. Some are renaming it, opting instead for terms like 'community building.' Another consequence of Trump era rhetoric and policies that Jones has been hearing about is decreased attendance by Latino students. 'No matter what the principal has said that we're going to protect you from ICE, why should they trust you?' she asked. 'I think we're afraid for good reason,' Jones added. Trish Millines Dziko, executive director of the Technology Access Foundation, a Seattle-based nonprofit offering supplemental STEM education in public schools and after-school programs, has also heard that Latino attendance has dropped. And the parents of children who are showing up for school don't want them participating in field trips. So far, this is just anecdotal evidence. Detailed attendance data probably won't be available to the public until next year. Dziko believes the full impact of the Trump administration on education won't be understood for months or even years. 'There's a lot of anxiety,' said Dziko, who has overheard immigrant children as well as LGBTQ students and staff talking to each other. 'They're all very close to each other and they worry about each other. …I don't know if it's stopping education from happening. But you can hear the conversations between some of the kids.' After reaching out to about half the districts in the Puget Sound region, plus some in eastern Washington, only one was willing to put someone on the phone to talk to me. Dziko and others I talked to felt this lack of response was born out of fear. The state's largest school district is choosing to carry on and keep working to lift up every child from every background despite threats from the Trump administration. Seattle Public School's Black education program manager, Anita Koyier-Mwamba, pointed to Head Start office closures and the president's DEI orders as examples of factors fueling uncertainty. Still, she believes the difficulties should not stop educators from using this time as a teachable moment. 'It is really important to me that we recognize that history has left us a wonderful catalog of opportunities to explore.' And then she took a delightful path into American history and the young men like Thomas Jefferson who were so passionate about democracy but didn't do everything right 250 years ago, although they were trying to solve the problems of their time. Why does she want us to think about the 19- and 20-year-olds sitting around debating the birth of a nation? Because it's a good reminder that young people can think for themselves and should have an opportunity to do so. 'It is unjust not to give our young people the opportunity to … solve the problems of their time,' Koyier-Mwamba said. And that comes down to a discussion about justice that must account for the nation's past. This is American history, not diversity indoctrination: The enslavement of people kidnapped and brought here to work the land. The way we have treated the indigenous people before and after the United States became a country. How the Constitution treated enslaved people when the founders couldn't agree to take a better path. The Civil War and what happened to enslaved people afterward. Fifty years between giving white women and Black women the right to vote. 'Focusing on our shared humanity is an avenue to reconsider how we respond in these times of challenge,' Koyier-Mwamba said. Part of that is choosing to be optimistic, deciding to see the light in the darkness through American heroes like abolitionist Harriet Tubman. Similarly, Dziko sees an opportunity to rethink how we do things as a state and a nation. Making sure every student gets the education they need to succeed is not an impossible goal. Dziko believes, and I agree, that state dollars for education could be distributed in a way that focuses more on equity. 'Our kids deserve better,' Dziko said, adding that education reform is directly related to state budget reform because it will take more money to create a more equitable system. The 29-year-old Technology Access Foundation does not get federal grants, so Dziko is not concerned about backlash from the federal government. Where the Trump administration pushes against DEI programs because they say they unfairly advantage Black and Brown people, Dziko and I see racism. 'The whole thing has been reduced to, 'If you are Black, then you did not deserve the position you're in.' That's a very dangerous viewpoint,' she said. Unfortunately, this viewpoint isn't new. Dziko is worried about how far back we will go. Before the landmark 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown vs. Board of Education that ruled racial segregation of public schools was unconstitutional? 'I'm always the eternal optimist in my family, but I'm not this time around,' Dziko said. 'We're going backwards,' she added. Jones is also feeling pessimistic. 'They want to make America in their image, and their image is white straight men,' said Jones. 'They've done a really good job of making everything DEI that they just don't like,' she said. 'I've really been grieving.' Like Dziko, while she rejects the Republican vision for education, she is also not satisfied with the status quo. 'Republicans say burn it all down, it all sucks. That is not a strategy. The Democrats don't have a vision,' she said. 'Let's all talk about it. So we have something to activate us. Just saying I don't want this is not enough. We need people with vision who are imagining a better way forward.'
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Washington will offer special education to students longer under new law
A new law in Washington will assure students are offered special education services until they are 22. State Sen. Adrian Cortes, D-Battle Ground, a special education teacher, was the sponsor. He spoke of the need for increased funding and support for public schools at a February rally of educators, parents and students at the Washington state Capitol. (Jerry Cornfield/Washington State Standard) A new law triggered by a lawsuit will ensure public school students in Washington are offered special education instruction until they are 22 years old. Gov. Bob Ferguson signed legislation this week to extend the length of a student's eligibility to the end of the school year in which they turn 22 or graduate high school, whichever comes sooner. The current age limit is 21. 'As the son of a longtime special education teacher, I understand how important it is,' Ferguson said before putting his signature on Senate Bill 5253. The bill responds to a federal court ruling in 2024 that found Washington in violation of a federal law concerning how long states must provide 'free appropriate public education' to students. Washington law now assures students with disabilities are eligible for special education services between the ages of 3 and 21. A federal law known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, governs how states and public schools deliver special education and related services to children and youth with disabilities. It does not require offering 'free appropriate public education' to those aged 18 to 21. But, if a state offers free education programming for any adults, it needs to offer those services for students until they turn 22. In November 2024, a federal court issued an order against the state in the case of N.D. v. Reykdal, a class action lawsuit alleging that Washington's law violates the IDEA. Washington allowed students up to 21 years old to enroll in its adult education programs and waived the tuition fee for those who could not pay. Making the programs free triggered a requirement to comply with the federal law. Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal requested this year's bill to align state requirements with the federal statute. It passed unanimously in the Senate and 93-1 in the House. It will take effect July 27, in time for the next school year. 'Ensuring students have access to a free and appropriate public education through their 22nd birthday is a vital step toward equity and opportunity,' Reykdal said in an email this week. When the law takes effect, it will continue providing education-related services to students with disabilities until the end of the school year in which they turn 22. These include free admission to the State School for the Blind and the Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth, and attendance in education programs at residential schools. OSPI estimated 300 to 1,200 students could benefit and said costs could range from $6.8 million to $27 million per school year to serve them. Sen. Adrian Cortes, D-Battle Ground, the bill's sponsor and a special education teacher at Camas High School in southwest Washington, said he has two students who could eventually benefit if they choose to enroll in a transition program for young adults. 'It is not a big population but it is a population that will now be served,' he said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
