A proposal by state Sen. Steve Litzow, R-Mercer Island, to transform the state’s most persistently failing schools has been signed by Gov. Jay Inslee. The measure won broad bipartisan support from the Legislature during its regular session, which ended April 28.

“This is a great step toward ensuring that all children are successful,” said Litzow, who represents the 41st District, which includes the southern portion of Bellevue. Litzowserves as chairman of the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee. “In order to address the state’s stagnant high-school graduation rate and growing opportunity gap, we must address the communities that are repeatedly failed by the system, which disproportionately include minority children from low-income families.”

The measure requires the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to identify the lowest-performing schools and provide multiple intervention models in addition to supplemental funding for improving school performance.

“This was one of the important ways we can go about making sure our public-education system is serving all children and preparing them for the demands of an increasingly competitive job market and global economy,” continued Litzow. “I’m grateful to the many stakeholders who worked together to move this forward – especially Representative Kristine Lytton of Anacortes, and Governor Inslee.”

The policy must be in effect no later than the 2014-15 school year.