The Roundtable works to effect positive change on public policy issues that are most important to supporting state economic vitality and fostering opportunity for all Washingtonians. That work includes sharing news and analyzing policy developments affecting our state.

Latest News

Senate, House Align on McCleary Timeline

February 17th, 2016

The Washington State House and Senate acted this week to advance a bill that sets out a timeline for addressing the Washington Supreme Court’s McCleary decision. The bill will now head to Governor Inslee’s desk. More from the Everett Herald: The proposal, which was approved Thursday in the House and Tuesday in the Senate, aims to finish the Legislature’s work on a Supreme Court order… Read more

Early Achievement Gains Being Made at State’s Public Charter Schools

February 9th, 2016

Data released from several of Washington’s public charter schools is pointing to rapid achievement growth among the state’s 1,100 charter school students. According to the Washington State Charter Schools Association, “mid-year testing results indicate significant gains for students across multiple schools in both reading and math and show that many students previously performing behind national averages are now on track to meet grade-level… Read more

PSBJ Editorial: Fix Transportation, Taxes, Education

February 2nd, 2016

Last week, Opportunity Washington released a new Opportunity Scorecard, using updated data to score all 50 states on their performance in education quality and outcomes, transportation and infrastructure, and economic vitality. The Winter Scorecard revealed Washington state dropped four spots compared to the Fall 2015 edition, due in part to a decrease in 8th grade math achievement (as measured by the National Assessment… Read more

Ready Washington Video: North Hill Elementary

January 26th, 2016

The Ready Washington Coalition released a new video highlighting a local elementary school’s success in applying the Common Core standards in its classrooms. “Our school approached the Common Core by selecting three standards, one for English language arts and two for math,” said Nancy Melius, principal of North Hill Elementary. “And then we really just dug in deeper to understand what did that standard say,… Read more