News

Washington News Service | February 6, 2015 | Chris Thomas, Producer

OLYMPIA, Wash. - A coalition is making some noise about  to direct two-thirds of all new state revenue to education. According to the group Washington United for Fair Revenue, it seems like a noble goal but would restrict lawmakers' ability to fund other important priorities. [read full story]

9-3-14 | The Washington State Supreme Court held a hearing to determine if the State should be held in contempt for failing to meeting a 2012 court order to fulfill the state constitution which requires fully funding basic education. Read more.

May 16, 2014 | Washington News Service | Chris Thomas, Producer

SEATTLE – It's more than a chance to pick up a couple of free books this weekend at the Seattle Center. At a First Book Resource Fair on Saturday, families can learn more about 20 local community groups, from the arts to social services.

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Washington partnered with the national nonprofit group First Book to organize the event.- Read or hear the full story here. 

Please join us at a family-friendly book give-away and resource fair on Saturday, May 17th, at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall with our community partners to provide free books to children through AFT's partnership with the nationally-recognized First Book. First Book offers new books to kids in need to promote reading and literacy to help them succeed in school and life. We will have Caldecott and Newberry Medal award-winning books in several languages and for all cultures and ages.

Map of Seattle Center Grounds
Exhibition Hall entry is on Mercer Street near McCaw Hall.

Public Transportation

Mar. 20, 2014 | Washington News Service | Chris Thomas, Producer

SEATTLE – Seattle Community College has become the fourth community or technical college in the state where employees in a variety of administrative roles have decided to bargain collectively for their wages and benefits. They'll be part of AFT Washington, after a vote last week to form a union. [more]

Feb. 26, 2014 | Washington News Service | Chris Thomas, Producer

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Gov. Jay Inslee today is to sign Washington's version of the "Dream Act." It's another step in years of effort by children of immigrant families to gain access to higher education - and it could make the difference for some as to whether college is even an option. . . . Baca, now a lobbyist for the education union AFT Washington, said immigrant students still don't qualify for the federally funded Pell Grants for higher education, which makes state-level opportunities even more important. [read or hear audio of

Feb. 21, 2014 | Crosscut.com | Guest Opinion by Karen Strickland and Michael Boggess

If you or someone you know has taken a class at one of Washington's community and technical colleges, there is a 50-50 change that the instructor was a part-time faculty member. For decades, higher education institutions across the country have increasingly hired part-time, adjunct or contingent faculty to reach, primarily because of shrinking state funding. [full article]

Feb. 21, 2014 | USA TODAY | Alex Koma, Collegiate Correspondent

The "Pay it Forward" program may change the way students pay for their college education. A bill making its way through Washington state's House of Representatives has the potential to change the way students pay for college. . . . "The program is addressing a problem we all agree exists, but the problems outweight the benefits," says Karen Strickland, president of the Washington chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, . . . ." [full article]

Washington News Service | January 20, 2014 | Chris Thomas, Producer

SEATTLE - An issue coming up again this year in the Washington Legislature is whether to restore the cost-of-living allowance (COLA) to paychecks of teachers and other education workers who have done without it since 2009. - Read or listen to entire story at: http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/36953-1#sthash.XwFluCHT.dpuf