2024 Washington General Election

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NC Voter Coalition (demo)

North Carolina

Chris was born and raised in Snohomish, Washington. He earned his bachelor’s degree in social studies education from Washington State University and a master's degree in public administration from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He currently lives with his family in Tumwater, Washington.

Chris previously worked as a public school teacher, a local school board member, and an executive in Washington State's public community and technical college system. 

Chris Reykdal is the state superintendent of public instruction in Washington. He was first elected in 2016 and is serving his 2nd term. He previously served in the Washington House of Representatives from 2010 to 2014.

Candidate website

Supports using state funds to improve school facilities, including air and water quality.

Supports funding for Hope Education, an evidence-based model to teach students how to retain and build hope and confidence in themselves.

Supports expanding Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.

Believes states should have the authority to control their curriculum policies, course options, graduation requirements, state assessments, and teacher evaluation systems.

Supports funding for Head Start and the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program.

Supports expanding dual language programs.

- Supports using state funds to improve school facilities, including air and water quality.
- Supports funding for Hope Education, an evidence-based model to teach students how to retain and build hope and confidence in themselves.
- Supports gender diversity education.
- Supports expanding Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.
- Believes states should have the authority to control their curriculum policies, course options, graduation requirements, state assessments, and teacher evaluation systems.
- Supports funding for Head Start and the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program.
- Supports expanding dual language programs.

School Curriculum

Believes the state has underinvested in services for students with disabilities.

Believes Washington State has a "deeply inequitable approach to funding school buildings and facilities."

- Believes the state has underinvested in services for students with disabilities.
- Believes Washington State has a "deeply inequitable approach to funding school buildings and facilities."

School Facilities & Resources

Opposes out-of-pocket fees for students taking college credit while in high school.

- Opposes out-of-pocket fees for students taking college credit while in high school.

Access to Education

Teachers

Supports funding for physical, social, and emotional support staff, including counselors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and family engagement coordinators.

Supports honoring a student’s chosen name and pronouns in the classroom.

Supports free school breakfast and lunch for all students.

- Supports funding for physical, social, and emotional support staff, including counselors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and family engagement coordinators.
- Supports honoring a student’s chosen name and pronouns in the classroom.
- Supports gun control.
- Supports free school breakfast and lunch for all students.

Student Wellbeing

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Chris Reykdal

The Spokesman-Review, David Olson

David earned his bachelor's degree in organizational leadership from Southern New Hampshire University. He and his wife, Tonia, live in Gig Harbor and they have 4 children and 1 granchild.

David previously worked in various banking positions, including branch manager and business banker. He served in the US Navy for 28 years, retiring as a chief warrant officer.

David Olson served as a member of the Peninsula School District Board since 2013 and was elected to the Pierce County Charter Review Commission in 2015. 

Plans to focus on targeted academic interventions and improved teaching practices to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed.

Plans to focus on targeted academic interventions and improved teaching practices.

Believes in prioritizing academic rigor and support opportunities in school curriculum.

Supports maintaining highly capable/gifted programs and Advanced Placement (AP) classes.

Supports maintaining gifted programs and Advanced Placement (AP) classes.

- Plans to focus on targeted academic interventions and improved teaching practices.
- Believes in prioritizing academic rigor and support opportunities in school curriculum.
- Supports maintaining gifted programs and Advanced Placement (AP) classes.

As of October 7, 2024, David Olson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports providing additional resources and tutoring for struggling students, as well as expanding skilled trades programs.

Believes chronic absenteeism has increased under the current superintendent, depriving children of learning opportunities, and plans to advocate for policies that partner with parents and students to reduce absenteeism.

Plans to advocate for policies that partner with parents and students to reduce absenteeism.

- Supports providing additional resources and tutoring for struggling students, as well as expanding skilled trades programs.
- Plans to advocate for policies that partner with parents and students to reduce absenteeism.

Believes most teachers oppose the Student Based Assessment (SBA) because "the results are attached to individual students and not an assessment of the system."

Believes most teachers oppose the Student Based Assessment (SBA)

Supports designing a new assessment system that provides educators with more immediate and actionable data to tailor instruction to meet students' needs.

- Believes most teachers oppose the Student Based Assessment (SBA)
- Supports designing a new assessment system that provides educators with more immediate and actionable data to tailor instruction to meet students' needs.

Believes teachers need more support in addressing student mental health issues.

Supports policies reducing cellphone and banning social media use in schools.

- Believes teachers need more support in addressing student mental health issues.
- Supports policies reducing cellphone and banning social media use in schools.

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David Olson

Chief executive of the state’s public education grades K-12

Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction

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School Curriculum

School Facilities & Resources

Access to Education

Teachers

Student Wellbeing