Spokane7
42°
November 19, 2009 in City
Governor opposes delay in WASL math and science
Gov. Chris Gregoire says she opposes state schools chief Randy Dorn’s proposal to delay the requirement for students to pass state math and science tests to graduate.
Dorn announced on Thursday a proposal to delay the math requirement until 2015 and science until 2017.
The governor says the state’s economy depends on Washington students leaving high school well trained in math and science. Gregoire says the superintendent is concerned about the state’s graduation rate but she is concerned about preparing kids for life.
Dorn also wants to establish a “two-tier” bar for passing state math tests. If students fall short of passing at a “proficient” level, they could still graduate if they score at a “basic” level and pass four years of math classes.
Last spring, just 45 percent of 10th-graders passed math on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) and 39 percent passed science. The WASL is to be replaced with a new test this spring.
Rumors about Dorn’s proposals generated strong concern from groups such as the League of Education Voters and the Washington Roundtable, an association of corporate executives. Both organizations have been pushing for high-school standards that prepare all students to go to four-year colleges, even if they are not so inclined.
Dorn’s proposal “doesn’t appreciate the role that math and science play in our economy, and our future,” said Lisa Macfarlane of the League of Education Voters.
Many people also think the passage rate in math and science will go up when students know the test counts for graduation.
But Dorn said he thinks students are doing their best on the math test now. He says his proposals would lead to a fairer system — one that would allow him to look people in the eye and assure them that all students had a reasonable chance of graduating.
The Legislature would have to approve the proposals before they could be enacted.
For the past two years, the state has required high-school students to pass tests in reading and writing to graduate, with plans to add science and math by 2013.
While few have failed to graduate because of the reading and writing tests, there is considerable concern about the prospect of also having to pass math and science.
Dorn insists he’s doesn’t want to lower the bar, but says there are a number of problems with expecting students to pass the math and science tests as planned.
One, he said, is that the state recently updated its math and science learning standards — and the state hasn’t yet updated its tests to reflect them.
Gregoire signs gay marriage bill 
EWU Text-to-Win Contest 
Enter to win tickets to see Adam Carolla at the Knitting Factory 
WSU Text-to-Win Contest 
PlanB on November 19 at 12:28 p.m.
Gregoire needs to listen up. Dorn’s election was a mandate on the WASL and high stakes testing. The WASL had more than enough time and tweaking to prove it had any value, and it failed miserably with disastrous results.
madscientist on November 19 at 1:27 p.m.
preparing kids for live? (3rd “paragraph”,last sentence)
how about some editing spokesman?
brit_aroad on November 19 at 1:39 p.m.
As an educator for 16 years I can tell you the problem is not, and never has been the tests themselves. These tests are passable by the majority of our regular education students, even if takes multiple tries. The actual problem is twofold:
Firstly that American students have never been held accountable by standards based tests (unlike the rest of the world) and are unsure how to react when judged by them. Secondly that we want everyone to pass the test. Look this is real life, everyone doesn’t pass the first time (or at all). How many people fail their driving test the first time and yet we don’t hear a huge outcry to make that easier! What should have happened (and what was the intent of the original bill) was that students took the test, their scores were reported on their transcripts and then it was up to employers/colleges etc. to determine how to compare students (at least then they’d be comparing like with like). Thus placing the onus on the kids to do well and not on teachers to dumb it down to teach to the test. Educators would then use the data to make improvements in their teaching.
terrymr on November 19 at 2:10 p.m.
So why are schools telling the class of 2010 that they have to pass the math test or complete equivalecy work in order to graduate ?
terrymr on November 19 at 2:18 p.m.
Does it really make sense to expect everybody to have the same skill set when they graduate ? Why not require proficiency in football and welding too ?
shanusmaximus on November 19 at 5:00 p.m.
@Brit_abroads
“Firstly that American students have never been held accountable by standards based tests (unlike the rest of the world) and are unsure how to react when judged by them.”
You mean the American school system is more worried about feelings and self-image than preparing children for the future. Would that be correct?
“Secondly that we want everyone to pass the test. Look this is real life, everyone doesn’t pass the first time (or at all).”
I.E. Everyone is a winner and there are no losers. Lets all go have a pizza party!!
“What should have happened (and what was the intent of the original bill) was that students took the test, their scores were reported on their transcripts and then it was up to employers/colleges etc. to determine how to compare students”
I think they want to point the blame anywhere they can without looking into the maw of truth. The whole system is more worried about getting along, emotions, self-image and social engineering than it is worried about real education or real life. The American educational system lives in a politically correct fantasy world. They believe and I think they teach kids to change the world to what they WANT, versus teaching kids how to ADAPT to the world as it really is. At least that is the way it looks to me……..
From the article….
“Both organizations have been pushing for high-school standards that prepare all students to go to four-year colleges, even if they are not so inclined.”
Why can’t we deal with the fact that not everyone should go to college? This society CRAPS on skilled labor.
Rifleman__Dodd on November 19 at 11:12 p.m.
I oppose a delay in getting rid of Christine.
We had California Standard Tests when I was a kid and the Teacher/Parent conference went over those.
I concur that the feel good, everyone passes method does not work. By failing, we motivate (hopefully) those that can pass but dont. Those that cant pass it and dont want to well we call them the unemployed, elected or government employees.