The bills would hold back third-graders who do not meet reading standards, move Washington toward school privatization and give schools a letter grade based on test scores.
Democratic Senator Andy Billig of Spokane, a member of the Senate Education Committee, says the bills do not fit the state’s goal of fully funding education.
The State Supreme Court ruled in the McCleary case that the state has failed to meet its constitutional duty to adequately fund education for all children.
Senate Democratic leaders instead endorsed a bill which would require the Senate to force the state to invest $1.4 billion in basic education.
