What's New

Over the past two months, more than a dozen new members have joined NEWS to support our defense of the State's appeal of our successful trial court decision. We are pleased to welcome the Washington Association of School Administrators and the school districts and education associations representing Lake Quinault, Ocean Beach, Onion Creek, Shelton, Skykomish, West Valley, Wilbur and Woodland.

Want to start a dialogue with your state legislators about local school money problems? Or show them that a stable, ample and equitable education funding system should be their first priority? How about raising awareness about the effects of state funding shortfalls on local students and schools?

Your community or school group can achieve all those goals and more with an effective legislative forum.

The Olympia Education Association -- one of NEWS' long-time members -- has pledged an additional $5,000 to further support our efforts to fight the State's appeal of our victory in the McCleary school funding case.

"We are approaching the finish line and I want to make sure we have the resources we need to get across and so do the teachers of Olympia," said OEA President David Johnston. "I would urge all locals to up and re-up. This legal challenge is the core of what we have all been fighting for."

NEWS has sent a letter to non-NEWS-member school districts across the state, urging them to join us in our defense of the State's appeal of the NEWS court case. Included with the letter is a draft resolution stating School Boards' support.

Read the letter. Read the resolution.

The State has appealed the NEWS court ruling to the Washington State Supreme Court -- an action that our lead attorney, Tom Ahearne, calls absurd.

"The State on one hand is cutting overall education funding," Ahearne said. "On the other hand, it's saying it has plenty of money to pay its lawyers to stall and delay. Our constitution is clear: education, not litigation, is the paramount duty of the State."

We believe the Supreme Court will likely hear the appeal in September.

Click here to read the Court's final judgment.

View the summary sheet regarding the court's McCleary v. State ruling.

Read the letter sent to Governor Gregoire and Attorney General Rob McKenna from members of the State Legislature urging the State not to appeal the NEWS court ruling .

Click here to read the court's ruling.