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House Republicans urge
Democrats to uphold
state’s academic standards
House Republicans are
calling on Democrats to uphold important state academic standards that
were created through bipartisan education reform and come to fruition
with the class of 2008. Beginning with the class of 2008, high school
students will have to pass all three sections of the WASL – reading,
writing and math – as a requirement for graduation.
House Republicans are worried about a series of Democrat-backed bills
that retreat from state academic standards. These measures include
eliminating the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) test
graduation requirement, delaying the use of the WASL for a graduation
requirement until 2014, permitting a student’s grades and a “collection
of evidence” to count instead of the WASL, and other concepts that erode
state academic standards.
“Sadly, these bills convey a lack of trust and faith in our students and
teachers. I do not share this view and continue to believe in our public
school system and in the ability of our children to achieve,” said Rep.
Gigi Talcott, R-Tacoma and ranking Republican on the House Education
Committee. “It is not state legislators who set the academic bar higher
– it is the world economy. Our students are competing for jobs with
their peers from other countries that are hungry for economic
opportunity. Our students must meet this challenge head on – and the
Legislature needs to support them in the process.”
“With this retreat from standards, Democrats seem to be giving up on our
students,” said Republican Leader
Richard DeBolt, R-Chehalis. “Retreat
is not an option. We cannot be satisfied issuing diplomas to students
who have not been taught to read and write. When we traveled the state
this last year we consistently heard from parents that they support high
academic standards. They want us to provide teachers with the tools
needed to help every student achieve high standards, and make the WASL a
reliable barometer for measuring the success of our students and
schools.”
House Republican proposals this year include: providing teachers
individualized, immediate, cost-effective computerized diagnostic tests;
allowing immigrant students to complete their high school diploma in a
community college surrounded by students their own age (instead of
testing them in a foreign language as the governor proposes); and
accepting other national tests, like the SAT and ACT, as additional ways
to measure math achievement. They also support WASL remediation that
gives students who are struggling extra instructional attention.
Republicans unveiled their “Commitment to Washington” prior to the
legislative session which includes the commitment to “help every student
achieve WASL standards and graduate on time by offering remedial
classes, tutors and expanded summer school programs.”
A full view of the Commitment to Washington and the specific bills it
entails can be found at:
http://hrc.leg.wa.gov/priorities.htm.
The legislative session began on January 9 and is scheduled to run 60
days.
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For more information, contact:
John Rothlin, Staff
Director - (360) 786-7254
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