To the editor:

Please, your voice needs to be heard or basic education will suffer this legislative session!

As of April 8, we have 17 days left in the legislative session to pass education reforms that will improve outcomes for children and schools in Washington.

Your VOICE will make the difference!

Lawmakers in Olympia are considering two education reform proposals. The House proposal commits our state to redefining basic education to include the essential programs our children need to succeed and a plan to fully fund it. The Senate proposal leaves the definition of basic education up for grabs.

It’s up to all of us — parents, educators, students — to ensure our lawmakers make the right decision on behalf of children this legislative session.

Our senior leadership in the Senate doesn’t think we voters are concerned about education, and they might let the movement to define basic education die in this session.

On behalf of your schools, tell Gov. Chris Gregoire, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown and House Speaker Frank Chopp to pass the strongest education reform bill that commits the Legislature to meet our paramount duty in the state Constitution.

Give Gov. Gregoire’s office a call at 360-902-4111, or go to http://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/default.asp to send an e mail.

Call Senator Brown’s office at 360-786-7604 or send an e-mail to brown.lisa@leg.wa.gov.

Call Speaker Chopp’s office at 360-786-7920, or send an e-mail to chopp.frank@leg.wa.gov.

The state has a paramount duty though our state Constitution to fund basic education. We have to define it before we can fund it correctly.

Thank you for speaking up on behalf of children and schools.

Kris McRea

Legislative Rep, South Whidbey Elementary PTA