Contact Information

  • Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gregoire�s statement on proposed changes to WASL

For Immediate Release: January 21, 2009

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire issued the following statement today on Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn�s suggested changes to the Washington Assessment of Student Learning:

�I appreciate Superintendent Dorn�s desire to improve the WASL, as it is critically important that Washington has an effective assessment system. As we learn more about assessments, we should be willing to consider changes that make the system more workable and increase its value in guiding student learning.

�I support Superintendent Dorn�s idea of providing more diagnostic information for teacher use, as well as his suggestion of having the State Board of Education determine the validity and reliability of the tests. I would also like to see assessment results getting to students and teachers sooner, as Superintendent Dorn proposes.

�We have made significant strides to improve how we assess our children�s education, including the development of shorter tests and new end-of-course assessments to better measure student learning. I look forward to working with Superintendent Dorn as we continue to make improvements to Washington�s assessment system that preserve the high level of standards we have set for our students.�