WASL Gone?

At a press conference recently, new Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn announced his plans for replacing the WASL. Dorn asserts that he has the authority to change the test without legislative approval.

Dorn consulted with legislators and Gov. Chris Gregoire before making his announcement, but emphasized that he did not need their approval to make the changes. Under state law, the superintendent can, in consultation with the state Board of Education, develop and revise a statewide system to test proficiency in reading, writing, math and science.

Some disagree.

Senate Minority Leader Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla, called Dorn "pretty arrogant" for speaking about what he could and couldn't do without the Legislature.

"It's as if he's never served in the Legislature before," Hewitt said of Dorn, who was chairman of the House Education Committee. "Well, we're still controlling the budget, and we still make the laws in this state."

WashACE has strongly supported rigorous accountability requirements for the schools. Steve Mullin of the Washington Roundtable appeared with the superintendent at yesterday's press conference. His comments in this Spokesman-Review story effectively capture our conerns.

Mullin said that his group would oppose any changes that might make the WASL?less rigorous,�� even if it meant saving time or money.

At Wednesday?s news conference, Mullin spoke cautiously, saying the Roundtable appreciated being consulted on the matter, and that there?s plenty of common ground? in requiring a test for graduation, for instance.

But as far as other specifics, Mullin would say only that?I think there are potentially some parts of what he?s proposed that we may have continuing concerns about.��

We'll be watching closely. Meanwhile, watch the press conference.