SENATE RESOLUTION

                             1998-8701

By Senators McAuliffe, Winsley, Kline, Patterson, Hochstatter, McDonald, Prentice, Spanel, Snyder, Wood, Fraser, Thibaudeau, Goings, T. Sheldon, Kohl, Rasmussen, Loveland, Bauer, Franklin, Haugen, Stevens, Johnson, Hargrove, Jacobsen, Rossi, West, Roach, Long, Sellar, B. Sheldon, Prince, Wojahn, Finkbeiner and Hale

     WHEREAS, Washington has a long history of commitment to public education for all students that took root in 1854 when the Washington Territorial Legislature framed the first public school law; and

     WHEREAS, Each morning across our great state the schoolhouse doors open and nearly one-fifth of the state=s population arrives for a day of learning in a public school; and

     WHEREAS, The handful of common schools existing in 1854 blossomed into 2,312 public schools today, which host nearly one-million students, from the tiny Benge School District with just 10 students, to the Seattle School District educating more than 47,000 children; and

     WHEREAS, We recognize that the foundation of a sound education begins with the basics of reading, writing, and mathematics; and

     WHEREAS, A school is a special place where each child is given the opportunity to learn; and

     WHEREAS, A student can only achieve academic success with the involvement and partnership of an entire community of parents, teachers, staff, and business leaders who join together to make education and children their top priorities; and

     WHEREAS, Washington is such a place, where students are provided the gifts of support and encouragement and the challenges of high academic standards, strong curriculum, and rigorous training; and

     WHEREAS, Washington=s public school students are excited about learning and are using their public education to become life-long learners, contributors, and achievers;

     NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That today, Presidents Day, the Washington State Senate recognizes that Washington=s public school students are Aon the road to better learning@; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Senate applaud and commend the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction in its efforts along with students, parents, teachers, volunteers, staff, and administrators to make Washington=s public schools the exceptional institutions of learning they are today.

I, Mike O=Connell, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1998-8701,

adopted by the Senate February 16, 1998.

MIKE O=CONNELL

Secretary of the Senate