AWSP Blog

International studies document multiple benefits children gain from engagement with school gardens. What’s not been well studied are implementation practices. This study, which is based on the premise that experiencing the benefits of school gardens depends on successful implementation, aimed to gain insight in implementation practices of school gardens.

School bathrooms tend to have a bad rep. Historically, they’ve been known for being unkept or where mischief and bullying happen. However, many schools are taking their restrooms back and turning them into havens of inspiration, motivation, and peace.

This week has been filled with committee hearings on various bills as both houses rush to hear, then vote bills out of committee, in order to beat the next policy and fiscal deadlines. The state revenue council issued the latest revenue projections and wow, the unanticipated and now new revenue shows an additional $861 million for the 2019–221 budget. Of course, remember at the start of the session, it was reported that the state was looking at over $1 billion-dollar shortfall after case load projections and funding court mandates.

In this episode of AWSP News, we discuss March Madness in our “Walk a Mile in My Shoes” campaign, our AWSP News special report on principal contracts and the pay gap, a new TPEP report from UW, The Main Idea education book review service you’ll soon have access to, our Equity Conference with WASA and WSSDA, OSPI’s MTSS Fest in Spokane, an updated survey for elementary science instruction, and the support of partners SPU and Horace Mann.

The legislative flow has now shifted to upcoming hearings where bills that have passed either house are scheduled for public hearings. The next deadline of note is the planned release on March 20th of the latest revenue forecast and projection. Budgets developed by both houses will follow.

Going outside, even in the city, has its benefits. City parks have opportunities for life satisfaction. While traveling to a remote outdoor setting is great, you can also look near your school. At-risk adolescents who participated in an Urban Forest Health Intervention Program showed an increase in life satisfaction and physical activity levels and a decrease in such risky behaviors as smoking.

Both houses have been on their respective floors debating and voting on various bills and amendments or in caucus/recess privately debating what bills to bring forth. Lobbyists hover outside each chamber’s doors waiting for requested legislators to come out. A lobbyist’s hope is to either encourage vote on a bill, to influence its content via suggested amendments, or to urge defeat.

The SEB Board held an all-day meeting (its 15th) covering a wide range of issues. The important sections are referenced below in terms of the TAB number in which the content was presented.

Preschool children played active roles as researchers in all aspects of a research project focusing on how they experienced different elements in a forest setting. Related discussion addresses the advantages, challenges, and opportunities of four interactive data collection and analysis methods.

Welcome to another episode of AWSP’s News, where we discuss our first ever “Walk a Mile in My Shoes” March Madness Campaign, registering for the National Association of Elementary School Principals conference in Spokane and our own Summer Conference for a chance to win a prize, the key we sent you for Future Educator's Month, five foundational blocks every school should have, de-linking graduation and state assessments, and a robust and effective High School and Beyond Plan, a reminder to use evaluations to build a culture of growth, and calling us for support and questions about principal contracts.