Higher Education

Hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes and tuition flow to Washington state's institutions of higher learning. Then what happens? Do taxpayers get a good return for the investment? Do students and families? The Freedom Foundation believes in bringing accountability to public higher education in Washington state so that students, families, taxpayers, and policymakers can answer these questions.

Washington State Teacher Salaries

The image of unfairly underpaid teachers is a compelling one, and it has fueled several illegal strikes around the state over the years. But is it accurate?

iLearn Project

The iLearn Project was created in 2010 when the Freedom Foundation recognized that online learning is changing the way the world does school—for the better.

Flunked Solutions

Learn about the education crisis facing our nation. You will learn about the basic terms, philosophies, documents and resources that define education in our country. You will find the latest research and commentary addressing the many issues in education. You will hear from and read the stories of individuals who are succeeding where too many fail. And, hopefully, you will be equipped and inspired to get involved in meaningful change.

Celebrating Independence Day (part 1 of 5)

The July issue of Living Liberty will feature some ideas about how to help children (and adults) discover American exceptionalism. This week, I'll run each of the five ideas. Feel free to add your own in the comments, and let us know what you do to make Independence Day 2012 meaningful for you and yours.

WEA settles with teachers and will pay for free speech violations

OLYMPIA—The Washington Education Association (WEA) has agreed to return $225,000 to teachers after using their wages for the union’s political agenda without their authorization. This settlement ends a nine-year lawsuit that included an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in which the high court ruled in favor of the teachers, Davenport v. WEA. The suit began when the Evergreen Freedom Foundation (EFF) filed a complaint with the Public Disclosure Commission. To date, the WEA has been ordered or agreed to pay over $1 million for violating teachers’ rights in this case.

This week's RFW: a county pay-to-play scheme, our busted state budget, teachers paid for strike days

This week on Radio Free Washington, Blake and I talk with Eric Lohnes about the sad state of the state budget and the legislature's upcoming November special session. Also on this week's show, we talk Tacoma teachers and expose one of Washington's counties that wants to charge citizens ... for having ideas.

Introducing the new Radio Free Washington

On our first day out of the box, we talk about the Tacoma Teacher Strike, Spokane's Prop. 1 ("rights" for rivers, among other things), and--with the Freedom Foundation's Amber Gunn--we talk about the looming threat for taxpayers and state workers from our public pension system.

RFW Guests: Michelle Rhee and Dick McDonald

This week on Radio Free Washington, Michelle Rhee, founder and CEO of StudentsFirst, joins us to talk about what happened in the District of Columbia and why she was forced out. We’ll also discuss solutions to America’s education woes with Michelle Rhee, considered by many to be this country’s foremost expert of education reform. Then later on the show, author Dick McDonald exposes why Americans are so angry at Congress and how the people can fix the problem. McDonald introduces the "Rise Up Theory of Economics" which does for the poor and middle-class in America what "Trickle Down" has done for the rich.

RFW Guests: Arne Duncan and Lisa Keegan

American Education. One member of the Obama cabinet that hears accolades from both the left AND the right, Secretary Duncan brings reform to the table, including expansion of charter schools and merit-based teaching proposals. Later in the show, we’ll meet the person that would have been Secretary of Education if John McCain had been elected President. Noted conservative education reformer and founder of reform organization “Education Breakthrough,” Lisa Keegan joins us.