Washington State Schools Ombuds Office May be Downsized

Since Washington State opened the Office of Education Ombudsman in 2007, the office has become an important resource for K-12 stakeholders. In the 2009-10 school year, the number of cases handled by office increased 79% from the prior year. Nonetheless, the OEO faces cutbacks as Washington wrestles with another year of budget shortfall.

"We're a very small office, and becoming smaller," says Adie Simmons, director of the Office of Education Ombudsman. "There are only five of us to address the needs of the state." She said that the office might be in danger due to state budget cuts. Already the office has had to contend with mandatory closure days along with other state agencies. (My Northwest; PT Leader.)

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