Disability Month Closer to a Reality

Senate Bill 6313 passed out of the executive session of the Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee this afternoon. This bill requires each October, public schools, colleges, and universities must conduct and promote educational activities that provide instruction awareness, and understanding of disability history and people with disabilities. The activities may include school assemblies or guest speakers.

Prior to the unanimous yes vote in the committee, testimony in favor of the bill was heard from a variety of advocates of disabilities. Included in that group was a number of students who have disabilities. AWSP testified with concerns about the additional burden of implementing the "educational activities" in an already full school day.

12%+ of Students Transfer In and Out of the WA

If you are feeling like there are lots of transfer students in your building, you are not alone in Washington State. Joe Willhoft, Assistant Superintendent for Assessment and Research at OSPI, reported today in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee that there are approximately 80,000 students in the ninth grade in Washington but during a school year there will be 90,000+ members of that class. That means that over the course of a school year over 10,000 students will transfer in and out of schools in the Evergreen State. Now that 12.5% change during a year might not surprise you as a building leaders, but when Dr. Willhoft explained the data, one of the was observed to say "WOW!" The next time you contact your elected official, consider explaining the challenges your school faces in helping transfer students be academically successful.

Third Math Credit Required for Class of 2013...Probably

The State Board of Education approved an amended option for a third math credit late Thursday afternoon. The critical section of the directive was, “ We direct staff to draft rule language for our review at the March SBE meeting that requires all students to complete a third credit of math in an Algebra II course aligns to the new math standards and that meets the content standards to be approved by SBE. This course requirement can be completed through an approved course of student that is comparable in course content but allows the student to earn more than one credit to complete. This will be in effect for the Class of 2013.” Speaking in favor of the 2013 date was Steve DelPorto, Jack Schuster, Warren Smith, Terry Bergerson, Linda Lamb and Sylvia Fox.

At the March, 2008 SBE meeting, draft language will be voted on regarding the content of what the third year of math requirement should be and what year it would be implemented. The final rules will be adopted in May, 2008.

Edie Harding, Executive Director of the SBE, complemented AWSP High School Director Bob McMullen for the principals input on the issue. Ms. Harding also colplimented the AWSP Board members, component board members, the AWSP Legislative Committee and the AWSP staff survey for their thoughtful and prompt responses to the issue of 2012 vs. 2013 for implementation of the third credit of math as a graduation requirement. Nearly 75% of the 47 respondents wanted to keep the requirement in place for 2013.

Clash Coming

Yesterday a legislative leaders panel made up of Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown (D-3rd Dist), House Speaker Frank Chopp (D-43rd Dist), Senator Cheryl Pflug (R-5th Dist), & House Minority Leader Richard DeBolt (R-20th Dist) addressed the issues of the upcoming session. During the Associated Press Legislative Forum, one of the topics addressed was the graduation requirement for the Class of 2008 of the Certificate of Academic Achievement (CAA). All four leaders were less than complimentary on the subject of the WASL. The whole Legislative Forum is available from TVW here.

Three hours later at the AP Legislative Preview, Governor Chris Gregoire was asked about her reaction to the legislative leaders remarks. She was of the opinion that nothing needed to be done to change the WASL this session; that students need to show that they can read and write prior to graduation and that the math needs to be moved up from 2013 to 2012. The complete interview with the Governor can be watched here.

Clearly the legislature is in one corner and the Governor in another. Beginning Monday, January 14th, and through the 60-day session there will much in the way of discussion, debate, and hopefully thoughtful deliberation about how to best prepare students for their future.

AWSP's position on the issue is to maintain the CAA as a graduation requirement for the Class of 2008 and beyond while recognizing the need to offer alternatives to ELL students.

A Day in the Life of a Legislator

With the "short session" beginning in just over a week, watching this 13 minute video will be worth your time as you consider how to influence legislators. Click here to track what a day is like for two representatives of Washington State. Representative Sharon Tomiko Santo of the 37th district and Representative Dan Kristiansen of the 39th are featured in the State House Video Department production. Now if I could just get the phase "lurking lobbyist" out of the script!