OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Lawmakers meeting to discuss the start of the 105-day legislative session say education will be the No. 1 issue in Olympia this year.
The Supreme Court's decision on education dollars has been hanging over their heads for more than a year. But it was obvious on Wednesday at The Associated Press Legislative Preview, that education will truly overshadow every other issue before the Legislature this winter.
Legislative leaders say education money is not the only issue on the table, however. They also want to focus on student success, the achievement gap between rich and poor children and among kids from different ethnic groups.
Lawmakers also are still working out how to share power between Republicans and Democrats in the state Senate and whether a bipartisan approach is workable.
