Relaxing WASL hurts students

Gov. Chris Gregoire must carry through with a promised veto of any legislative bill that further delays the use of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning exam as a graduation requirement. The 2007 Legislature took a giant step backward on the WASL, and there’s no excuse to repeat that mistake in 2008.

Last year, lawmakers sent a horrible message to K-12 students. They said lawmakers didn’t really mean it when they raised academic expectations in our public school system. They sent that message when they backed off WASL graduation requirements.

Students in the class of 2008 were supposed to be the first required to pass the math, writing and reading sections of the WASL to earn their high school diploma. Bowing to pressure from parents and educators, legislators delayed the math and science WASL requirement until 2013.

We must remember that the WASL was created in 1993 as part of an ambitious education reform measure aimed at pushing each student to academic success. Lawmakers had 14 years to set the standards, develop the test and educate parents and students of the need to pass the WASL in order to graduate.

Fourteen years, and lawmakers still didn’t have it right, they admitted with the delay.

This newspaper had correctly predicted that as the class of 2008 approached graduation, pressure would build to abandon the WASL. It was clear that parents whose sons and daughters had failed to meet the high academic expectations would raise a ruckus. And it was easy to predict opposition from teachers who don’t want to be judged on the success or failure of their students. But many people didn’t think Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson, Gregoire and lawmakers would cave so quickly and so easily. Through their action, they have made a mockery of the past 14 years of education reform in this state.

What was lost in the debate over the WASL was the fact that 85 percent of this year’s seniors have already passed the reading and writing portion of those tests, according to Thomas Shapley former spokesman for the office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. “Ten years ago, if you’d told people that 85 percent of the kids would have passed the testing requirement, they would have thought you were nuts,” Shapley said. “We’ve come so far and had such great success. It would be a pity to turn back.”

Shapley is right.

But that hasn’t stopped 2008 lawmakers from talking about further delays in the WASL requirement. Apparently those advocating delay believe we should not raise the bar of academic expectations. Apparently they believe it’s OK to hand diplomas to high school students who can’t write clearly, balance a checkbook or make the proper change when handed a $20 bill.

That’s shortchanging our students. They deserve better.

The state needs to set rigorous academic expectations, then give the students the assistance and tutoring they need to meet those standards. Alternative certification also is key.

Remember, holding students and educators accountable to tough academic standards is done for one, and only one, reason — so students have an opportunity to succeed in life as adults.

It’s not too much to ask.