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.