The Washington Legislature recently approved $800 million in new state revenue to protect core education programs, including all-day kindergarten, levy equalization, classified staff funding and funding for smaller class sizes in kindergarten through 3rd grade.

For budget details, read this document.

We applaud the Legislature’s decision to raise revenue instead of cutting even more from our public schools.

Yet even with new revenue, the recent state budget cuts caused by the economic recession will result in overcrowded classrooms, fewer staff for students and cutbacks in important student programs for both K-12 and higher education.

Analysts say our students will lose an estimated 2,000 teachers this fall, plus education support staff and higher education faculty. That’s on top of the 2,600 teacher and education jobs already cut this school year.

Let’s be clear: These losses will affect our students and our public schools.

Now we need legislators to keep their commitment to adequate school funding in the 2011 legislative session and beyond: Restoring funding for I-728 and I-732, funding the ed reform legislation and providing the ample funding required by the state Constitution.

Take action now: E-mail your lawmakers and tell them to protect Washington schools!