📊 Education Spending Analysis

35 pages • Comprehensive Financial Review

What This Document Covers:

A detailed look at education spending in Washington State from 1970-2024, examining where money goes, what results we've achieved, and what drives educational outcomes. This analysis helps families understand the financial side of education policy.

Key Questions Answered:

• How has per-student spending changed over 50 years?
• Where does the $20,000 per student actually go?
• What portion goes to teaching vs. administration vs. mandated programs?
• Do higher-spending states get better results?
• What factors correlate most strongly with student success?
• How much flexibility do local districts actually have?

What You'll Learn:

• Spending more than doubled (adjusted for inflation) from 2011-2024
• Test scores remained flat or declined during this period
• Administrative staff grew 66% while student enrollment grew 5%
• Many high-spending states get average results; some low-spending states excel
• Family structure and community factors matter more than spending levels
• State mandates restrict how districts can allocate resources

Important Context:

This document doesn't argue that spending doesn't matter—teachers deserve competitive pay and schools need adequate resources. Rather, it shows that HOW money is spent matters more than how much is spent, and that mandated spending on programs with poor track records diverts resources from what actually helps students.

📚 Common Core: A Case Study in Education Reform

Part of Curriculum History Guide • 25 pages

What This Document Covers:

An examination of how Common Core math and English standards were adopted in Washington State, what was promised, what happened, and what we can learn from this experience about education reform.

Key Questions Answered:

• What are Common Core standards and where did they come from?
• How was Common Core adopted in Washington State?
• What role did the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation play?
• Were teachers trained before implementation?
• What did Moses Lake teachers and parents experience?
• What do test score trends show?
• What lessons can we learn for future reforms?

What You'll Learn:

• Gates Foundation invested $147.9M nationally in Common Core advocacy
• Washington adopted Common Core through HB 1450 in 2010 ("midnight bill")
• Teachers were expected to implement new methods without thorough training
• Many teachers expressed concerns that were not addressed
• 4th grade math scores declined 3 points; 8th grade declined 9 points (2009-2024)
• OSPI is now "revising" standards 15 years later

Teacher Perspective:

This document includes feedback from teachers who were required to implement Common Core. Many reported that proven methods they'd used successfully for years were suddenly deemed "wrong," that new approaches confused students who needed direct instruction, and that lack of training set them up for failure. The lesson: ask teachers BEFORE mandating reforms, not after.

The Bigger Picture:

Common Core isn't the only education reform to follow this pattern: elite-driven idea → rapid adoption → mandate before testing → ignore teacher feedback → poor results → never reverse course. Understanding this pattern helps us advocate for better approaches: test first, train teachers, measure honestly, keep teacher input central.

🏥 Sex Education Mandate: Analysis and Outcomes

Part of Curriculum History Guide • 20 pages

What This Document Covers:

An analysis of Washington's comprehensive sex education mandate (SB 5395), how it was adopted, what it requires, what outcomes were promised versus achieved, and what options families have.

Key Questions Answered:

• What does SB 5395 require schools to teach?
• How did Moses Lake's legislators vote on this mandate?
• Were teachers consulted before implementation?
• What outcomes were promised (STD reduction, teen pregnancy prevention)?
• What actually happened to these rates after implementation?
• What opt-out rights do parents have?
• How do different communities view this mandate?

What You'll Learn:

• SB 5395 passed in 2020, mandating comprehensive sex ed K-12
• Senator Judy Warnick voted NO; Representative Tom Dent voted NO
• They represented Moses Lake community values; Seattle legislators overrode them
• After implementation: Chlamydia +13%, Gonorrhea +50%, Syphilis +235%
• Teen pregnancy was already declining BEFORE the mandate
• Parents have legal right to opt out (RCW 28A.300.475)

Multiple Perspectives:

Supporters argue comprehensive sex ed provides critical health information and reduces risky behavior. Critics point to rising STD rates and argue the mandate overrides parental rights and local values. This document presents both viewpoints and the actual data, letting readers draw their own conclusions.

Your Rights as a Parent:

Regardless of your views on sex education content, you have the legal right to opt your child out of these classes. This document includes sample opt-out letters and explains the process. Schools must provide alternative instruction and cannot penalize students who opt out.

💰 True Cost of Teaching: What Education Actually Costs

30 pages • Cost Breakdown Analysis

What This Document Covers:

A breakdown of what teaching actually costs versus total system costs, helping families understand where their $20,000 per student goes and what drives these expenses.

Key Questions Answered:

• How much does direct instruction (teacher + materials) actually cost?
• What comprises the remaining system costs?
• Which costs are necessary (buildings, transportation) vs. optional?
• Which costs are locally controlled vs. state-mandated?
• What did COVID reveal about education delivery models?
• How do public school costs compare to other educational models?

What You'll Learn:

• Direct teaching costs approximately $4,358 per student annually
• System overhead (buildings, admin, transportation, compliance) costs $15,682 per student
• Some overhead is essential; some results from state mandates
• COVID showed education can be delivered in multiple formats
• Different students thrive in different learning environments
• Families benefit from having choices

Important Clarification:

This analysis is NOT arguing that public schools should be eliminated or that system costs are all "waste." Buildings, buses, support staff, and administration serve important functions. Rather, the goal is transparency: families should understand what they're paying for and which costs are flexible versus mandated. This helps inform discussions about resource allocation and program priorities.

COVID Lessons:

The pandemic forced a natural experiment in education delivery. Some students thrived with online learning (self-motivated, introverted, or bullied students). Others struggled—often due to home environment factors, not the online format itself. The lesson: different students need different approaches, and flexibility serves families better than one-size-fits-all.

📋 Executive Summary for Busy Parents

8 pages • 15 minutes to read

What This Document Covers:

A condensed overview of key findings from all research documents, designed for parents who want the essential information without reading 100+ pages.

Topics Covered:

• Pattern of education reforms: what tends to work vs. what tends to fail
• Key findings on Common Core math adoption and results
• Sex education mandate outcomes
• Spending trends and what drives educational success
• How Moses Lake's legislators voted on major mandates
• What parents can do: opt-out rights, school board engagement, contacting legislators

Perfect For:

• Parents new to education policy issues
• Sharing with friends and family
• Quick reference before school board meetings
• Understanding key issues in 15 minutes

📖 Complete Curriculum History Guide

115 pages • Comprehensive Reference

What This Document Covers:

The most comprehensive resource, covering education policy history from the Great Society programs through current mandates, with complete source citations and multiple perspectives.

Sections Include:

• Part 1: How the education system works (federal, state, local roles)
• Part 2: Common Core adoption and outcomes
• Part 3: Sex education mandates
• Part 4: LGBTQ+ curriculum requirements
• Part 5: Great Society programs and long-term results
• Part 6: Who really controls education (power analysis)
• Part 7: How money flows and who decides
• Part 8: What works (successful programs)
• Part 9: What you can do (action steps)
• Part 10: The pattern (why reforms fail but persist)
• Bibliography: Complete sources (200+ citations)

Best For:

• In-depth research and understanding
• Preparing for school board presentations
• Verifying claims and checking sources
• Understanding full historical context
• Academic or policy research