David Boze of the Washington Policy Center doesn’t believe the answer is all that complicated

David Boze
Washington Policy Center

From Vancouver WA to Moses Lake and from Puyallup to Toppenish, parents are not granting their school district’s levy requests.  Is the answer to “Why?” really all that complicated?

A Gallup poll shows that among Americans across the political spectrum, confidence in the government-run school systems is declining.

Confidence in public education has dropped from 41 percent in 2020 to 28 percent in 2023. Among Democrats, 43 percent say they have confidence in public schools. Only 14 percent of Republicans and 29 percent of Independents are confident the government-run schools are doing a good job.

“I have followed the state legislature and changes in education policy closely for years,” writes Liv Finne, Director for the Center for Education at the Washington Policy Center. “I have never seen the rising level of distrust and broad decline in reputation for public schools as I have seen during the current legislative session.”

Check out the full story in Newsbreak about levy failures and enrollment declines. After reading, comment below if you think you know why this is happening.

David Boze is the communications director at the Washington Policy Center.

---

Also read:

• 
  Opinion: IBR still holding and lying about coming billions in cost overruns
  Joe Cortright argues that Interstate Bridge Replacement officials are deliberately delaying the release of an updated cost estimate that he says could push the project toward $10 billion.
• 
  Opinion: Another problem with strike pay from the UI fund – Potential double-dipping, overpayments
  Elizabeth New (Hovde) argues that Washington’s new strike pay law risks overpayments and double-dipping unless workers are clearly warned at the point of applying for unemployment benefits.
• 
  Letter: A call for competent Interstate Bridge project management
  Rick Vermeers argues that unchecked scope, rising costs, and missed timelines threaten the survival of the Interstate Bridge Replacement project unless light rail is removed.
• 
  Opinion: More taxes sadly the Washington way
  Elizabeth New (Hovde) argues that Washington lawmakers continue to turn to new taxes instead of addressing state spending priorities, particularly in health care policy.
• 
  Opinion: IBR administrator receives generous Christmas gift on his way out the door
  Ken Vance argues that IBR leadership avoided accountability on rising project costs as Administrator Greg Johnson announced his departure without providing updated estimates.