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.
AFT Washington is a member of the Campaign for the Future of Higher Education (CFHE), a coalition of education advocates concerned about the attacks on and degradation of public investment in higher education and they are a good resource for research and working papers on a variety of topics to reach out to the academic and non-academic communites. Watch CFHE's just-released video, "Online Ed: Teaching Millions or Making Millions? to find out more about online education.
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.
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
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
Public News Service - WA | December 24, 2013 | Chris Thomas, Producer
RENTON, Wash. - Christmas is on a Wednesday this year, but many Wednesdays will be special days in the New Year for the bus drivers and mechanics of the Renton School District, in the suburban area south of Seattle. They spend one Wednesday evening a month helping to prepare and serve the Renton Community Supper, a nightly hot meal provided through the Salvation Army. [read or listen to full story]