Last Thursday, Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn proposed delays to the math and science graduation requirements at the annual conference of the Washington State School Directors Association (WSSDA). Current state law requires students to pass end-of-course exams in math and science starting in 2013 (note, original law called for implementation of a test-based graduation requirement in math in 2008). Dorn's proposal aims to "establish a 'two-tier' bar for the math graduation requirement, beginning with the class of 2015, in which one tier – Proficient – is the goal, but another tier – Basic – is enough to earn a diploma." In simple terms, he is lowering the bar in math. In science, he wants to delay the entire requirement until 2017.
The proposed delays not only compromise our state’s commitment to ensuring every student graduates ready to succeed in college and work, they would weaken our state’s competitiveness for the $4B federal Race to the Top grants.
Editorials from the Seattle Times, Tacoma News Tribune, The Everett Herald, Vancouver Columbian all agreed that our state should not back down from high standards.
Then, on Friday at WSSDA, Governor Christine Gregoire announced that Washington would wait until Round 2 to apply for one of the highly coveted Race to the Top grants, which will reward states willing to take bold steps to dramatically increase student achievement.
We think this decision makes complete sense. Given our state’s lackluster reform environment (think: no authority to turn around struggling schools, no Teach for America, no charter schools, etc., etc., etc.,) and less-than-stellar achievement gains, Washington has its work cut out for itself to win a Race to the Top grant.
But, we agree that we should do everything we can to win the hundreds of millions of dollars, especially with a projected $2.6B shortfall. Our state leaders and legislators need to do everything they can between now and the Round 2 application deadline in June 2010 to increase our chances.