Gov. Gregoire takes action on WASL, consumer protection bills

For Immediate Release: March 30, 2009

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today signed House Bill 1562, which eliminates the requirement for high school students who have not met math standards on the 10th grade Washington Assessment of Student Learning to annually take the math portion of the WASL.

�This legislation in no way reduces our state�s education standards,� Gregoire said. �I am committed to seeing our students prepared for a 21st century economy, which will require a work force trained in math. This bill simply removes some of the confusion surrounding the current rules related to math assessments in the eleventh and twelfth grades.�

High school students who don�t satisfy the current math assessment retake requirements will still be required to take additional math credits before they graduate.

�Graduation is an important milestone � too important to deny solely due to a technicality,� said the bill�s sponsor, Rep. Marko Liisa, D-Mukilteo. �Today, high school seniors across the state have one less worry.�

�This bill is a good one for students in that it eliminates an unnecessary and confusing requirement without compromising the state�s effort to hold students accountable for achieving high standards in math,� said Gary Kipp, executive director of the Association of Washington School Principals. �The reasons for each of the state�s graduations requirements should be clear to students and their families. Removing this component of the math requirement will bring clarity to many frustrated students.�

Gregoire also signed Senate Bill 5671, which ensures that those consumers interested in buying a financial product have clear information so they can determine if the product is right for them.

�People deserve to have as much information as possible on their investment products, especially during this economic downturn,� Gregoire said. �They should be able to rely on fully informed recommendations of investment professionals. This bill makes Washington laws consistent with the laws already in place in the majority of states.�

�This legislation is about consumer protection,� said the bill�s sponsor, Sen. Jean Berkey, D-Everett. �Producers of annuities must have reasonable grounds to believe that the products they are selling are suitable for their clients. This bill will help protect our seniors.�