Defending Vital Change

On Monday night in Olympia, a House Bill was heard that would reverse the state’s requirement for a third year of math. HB 3299 would cut short a requirement that already has a lengthy implementation period and will not go into affect until 2013. Currently, 39 states already require a third-year of math or more from high school students, putting Washington behind the pack. And, most importantly, reversing this requirement would extend the state-wide pattern of awarding diplomas to students who are not prepared for two-year community or technical college or other higher education.

Thankfully, Edie Harding, executive director of the State Board of Education (SBE), came out swinging to the requirement’s defense. The SBE has worked long and hard on examining what the requirement of a third year of high school math should look like. They’ve met repeatedly and held extra work sessions featuring the advice of math education experts. They’ve held multiple forums to gather public comment on the requirement. And, they’ve been incredibly deliberate in allowing the requirement to be both rigorous and flexible enough so that students can truly pursue and succeed in the trade or course of study they desire.

Edie did a terrific job defending the SBE’s findings with a one-page summary of how the third credit of math requirement will function and lead students to future options and success. But she hit it out of the ballpark by offering this poignant remark, "If Washington is going to compete in the global economy; we must hold our students to math and science standards that are at least as high as those in other states and nations"

Judy Hartman, education policy advisor for the Governor’s office, also vehemently opposed the bill. Let’s hope legislators, including Rep. Dave Quall who sponsored the bill, listen.