OLYMPIA, WA – On Monday, educators who help our state’s most vulnerable students rallied outside the Capitol, demanding respect and higher pay.
More than a hundred paraeducators and paraprofessionals spent their President’s Day Holiday working to bring change.
Paraeducators are the ones who work alongside students with special educational needs or who struggle due to language barriers. Paraprofessionals are hourly employees like bus drivers, lunchroom workers, and office staff.
These school employees say their request is simple, respect and higher pay. Unfortunately, meeting those demands is seemingly more difficult.
Officials with the Washington Education Association (WEA) tell FOX 13 News the two laws that looked to raise paraeducator pay, House Bill 2380 and Senate Bill 6082, have stalled this year.
The hope now is that lawmakers will hear their demands and add more funding to the education budget.
According to a study from the American Institute of Research, paraeducators are leaving their jobs …