After 18 grueling months of committee meetings, overblown promises and hints of sweeping funding reform, Washington Learns has spoken.

That's right. Our state's education committee has produced a 56-page report submitting dozens of ideas and recommendations for education reform. Among the recommendations are smaller class sizes, capping annual college tuition hikes at 7 percent, standardizing math and science curricula, and full-day kindergarten at all public schools.

With absolutely no recommendations on how fund any of it.

"The report is long on vision and short on substance," Glen Anderson (R-Fall City) said, in his lone dissenting vote against the report. "It's a great speech, but where's the dough?"

What's wrong with this picture? Let us count the ways.

First of all, it shouldn't take our illustrious elected officials 18 months to draw such simple conclusions — four kindergarteners who have to share one pair of left-handed scissors between themselves know class sizes should be smaller.

Second of all, and most importantly, no matter how in-depth the Washington Learns education plan is, it means absolutely nothing if it isn't funded.

UW President Mark Emmert certainly understood this after lobbying for the tuition increase cap, telling The Seattle Times, "There are no guarantees in the political world."

There certainly aren't, but what is certain is that Washington state education won't get better unless Gov. Gregoire and the Washington state Legislature make an effort to financially support.

Gregoire plans to make a "significant down payment" in 2007-09 budget to set-up initial funding for the report's suggestions.

How much will that be? No one knows. State Superintendent Terry Bergeson has submitted a $1 billion proposal to the governor to support the much-needed education reform.

In any case, in terms of investing in the future of our state's education, it's time for Gregoire, the Washington state Legislature and the Washington Learns committee to put their money where their mouths are.