Washington Spends Record Money on Schools. What Are We Getting?
Washington has the highest-paid teachers in the nation, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Per-pupil spending has grown 110% in a decade. Test scores rank in the middle of the pack. Top-tier pay. Record spending. Average results.
But Charlie Harger says the bigger question isn't just test scores — it's what we're measuring. The AI on your phone can pass the bar exam and knock out a college essay. It can't rewire a panel or fix your furnace in January. He makes the case for a real vocational track in Washington schools, one that families choose, not get sorted into — and asks why a 19-year-old with a journeyman's card, a paycheck, and zero student debt doesn't count as a win.
Listen to Seattle's Morning News w/ Charlie Harger and Manda Factor every weekday at 5am on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM or go to MyNorthwest.com to learn more!
