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Gov.'s Letter After Signing 6023

By barbara on 09 May | 0 comments


For those of you that haven't read it yet, here it is.

 

Gov. Gregoire Signs Legislation to
Delay WASL Requirements

OLYMPIA - Governor Chris Gregoire today signed into law a measure that will delay until 2013 the math and science portions of the WASL required for high school graduation.
“We will not penalize students when the education system has not prepared them to meet state standards,” said Governor Gregoire. “If we want our students to succeed, we must improve our education system and give them the tools to succeed. We know that strong state standards can work, we’ve seen vast improvements in reading and writing and, with targeted assistance for teachers and students, we will see vast improvements in math and science.”
The WASL math requirement was to take effect in 2008 and the science requirement in 2010. The legislation delays both the math and science requirements until 2013. The class of 2008 must still meet the reading and writing WASL requirements in order to graduate. Schools will continue to provide tutoring and other literacy programs to improve students’ reading and writing skills and Governor Gregoire has made improvement of math and science education a top priority in this year’s budget.
Governor Gregoire vetoed sections of the bill that would have replaced the math and science WASL with “end-of-course” exams in math and science, created appeals panels to bypass state standards and exempt some English language learners. She also vetoed the emergency clause that would have made the bill effective immediately.
Under Governor Gregoire’s plan, schools will continue to provide targeted assistance to improve students’ skills and help them meet state reading and writing standards, including:
  • A stronger focus on reading and writing for schools that have large numbers of student struggling in these subjects;
  • Working with parents to help them partner with their student’s school to get the help their student needs;
  • Reviewing and updating student learning plans to make sure they include all of the classes and other assistance, such as tutoring, to keep students on track for graduation; and
  • Investments in additional learning opportunities for students.
Governor Gregoire also detailed plans to help students meet state math and science standards, including:
  • Stronger accountability throughout the entire school system;
  • A study of alternative math and science tests, including “end-of-course” assessments;
  • Setting math and science standards so that they match the curriculum and the graduation requirements; and
  • Providing more professional development opportunities for math and science teachers.
  • “It is important that we show our students, all of our students, that we believe in their ability to learn and we believe in their ability to succeed,” said Gregoire. “Supporting our students means not giving up. Instead, we need to give our students the tools to expand their abilities, so that we help every student achieve more.”

 

Senate Bill 6023, sponsored by Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe (D-Bothell), passed the Senate with 30 votes and passed the House with 56 votes. The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the Legislative session.

 

 

Topics: Washington | Legislature | Math | WASL | Reading | Washington Learns | Writing | Washington Roundtable | Science |