Viva La Cola!

Founded in January 2009, PubliCola is a blog about Seattle written by journalists who are dedicated to non-partisan, original daily reporting that prioritizes a balanced approach to news. Started by longtime local editor and award-winning reporter Josh Feit, PubliCola is the first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol.

PubliCola was off and running. In June 2009, PubliCola hired another award-winning journalist, super-sourced Seattle city hall reporter Erica C. Barnett.

People were afraid that blogging would change journalism. Instead, we believe journalism can change blogging. Twenty-first century journalism may look and feel different, and yes Erica isn't afraid to get cranky, but we're committed to making sure online news still delivers independent, reliable, even-keeled coverage. And most of all, we're committed to making sure the coverage sparks honest civic debate.

Bringing you cola for the people, PubliCola is named after Publius Valerius PubliCola, the alias for the authors of the Federalist Papers—the original bloggers.

x close
The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

Seattle Schools' D-Average Decision

News   October 7, 2009 at 11:33 am Sable

The Seattle School Board was scheduled to vote at its meeting tonight on whether or not to lower the graduation requirement from a C to a D average.

While most citizens, parents, education advocates and even students think it’s stupid to encourage stupidity, SPS leadership insists the change in graduation requirements actually increases rigor.  Yeah, okay.  In that case, totally genius.

It appears the decision will be put off until later this month, in order for the board to gather “more information” about the decision and its ramifications.

What’s left to figure out, I don’t know.  Maybe they’re counting how many times John Stanford turns in his grave.


  • http://gomezticator.livejournal.com/1522367.html Gomez

    What a coincidence. I’ve give this idea a D.

  • http://gomezticator.livejournal.com/1522367.html Gomez

    What a coincidence. I’ve give this idea a D.

  • better ways

    I’ve heard the reason for this described as trying to keep at-risk “on the bubble” kids from bailing out altogether. I’ve also heard it was proposed as part of a much bigger suite of reforms. If that’s the case, they should just ditch this idea and have some kind of intervention program aimed at targeting bubble kids and pulling them up into C performance or better.

  • better ways

    I’ve heard the reason for this described as trying to keep at-risk “on the bubble” kids from bailing out altogether. I’ve also heard it was proposed as part of a much bigger suite of reforms. If that’s the case, they should just ditch this idea and have some kind of intervention program aimed at targeting bubble kids and pulling them up into C performance or better.

  • Charlie Mas

    This highlights the unmet need for timely effective interventions for students working below grade level from K to 12. Why do they wait until the kid fails the grade 10 WASL before they will take any action?

  • Joe

    Unacceptable. Instead, they should increase it from a C to a C+.

  • Joe

    Unacceptable. Instead, they should increase it from a C to a C+.

  • Charlie Mas

    This highlights the unmet need for timely effective interventions for students working below grade level from K to 12. Why do they wait until the kid fails the grade 10 WASL before they will take any action?