The Partnership for Learning strives to create a nation-leading education system in Washington state that prepares all students to succeed in college and work and fosters our state’s economic competitiveness. Partnership for Learning (PFL) is focused on ensuring all students graduate from high school ready for college and work and doubling the number of low-income students who earn post secondary degrees or certificates.
“In these tough times, when we’re facing teacher layoffs, we must be sure that we’re really retaining teachers based on performance rather than years in the classroom,” says Maureen Trantham. “The important thing for us is to leverage what Arne Duncan calls, ‘the New Normal.’ Districts are going to have to make innovative use of dollars and make more with less. We think that’s a really strong impetus for the state to make smart decisions.
Recent Achievements
"Improving the Odds 2.0" analyzes the existing workforce needs and outline policies that Washington state must address if every student is to graduate prepared to succeed in our globally competitive economy.
Partnership for Learning worked with the League of Education Voters and Stand for Children Washington to drive a legislative victory in conjunction with the state’s Race to the Top application.
In the wake of Washington’s Race to the Top loss, PFL helped identify education reform priorities for the next five to seven years with a far-reaching group of advocates and business leaders. The result of this process is a “people’s plan” for education in Washington. Work in 2011 will be completed toward the goal of seeing a version of this plan adopted as a state blueprint, and buy-in will be generated following the model of Delaware’s Vision 2015.
PFL helped develop the Excellent Schools Now coalition, a diverse group of business leaders, grassroots voters, parents, and reformminded educators that worked in 2010 to enact Washington’s Race to the Top bill, SB 6696, which empowers the state to intervene in low-performing schools, establishes a four-tiered evaluation for teachers, and moves the granting of tenure from two to three years after hire. Although Washington did not receive a grant, the reforms outlined in the legislation will help improve the quality of the state’s principals, teachers, and schools.
Lead Executives
Jana Carlisle, Executive Director Media Contact: Chris Barron (206) 625-9655
