Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 3, 2003
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke, Superintendent of Public Instruction Praise State’s Progress on Education Reform, Outline Next Steps

Gov. Gary Locke and Terry Bergeson, state superintendent of public instruction, said today that Washington state continues to build on its success in education reform. Locke and Bergeson praised the continued improvement on the 2003 Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) and outlined the next steps needed to make sure all students are meeting or exceeding the state’s higher academic standards.

“Our students are making some of the greatest academic gains in the nation,” Locke said. “On the 2003 WASL, all three grade levels made gains in reading, writing and math. The National Assessment of Education Progress reported that our fourth and eighth graders scored above the national averages in reading and writing. And when it comes to the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), our state is first in the nation among states with 54 to 66 percent of students participating. In short, our education reform efforts are working.”

The governor also said he is encouraged by the state’s 70 percent success level under the new federal “No Child Left Behind” law. But he vowed to work with Bergeson and the state’s congressional delegation to try to change some of the assumptions and calculations used in the law, and make sure the federal government fully funds it.

“There are many criteria used to determine whether a school, school district or the state has made ‘adequate yearly progress,’” Locke said. “Many of our schools or districts labeled as ‘needing improvement’ have a high percentage of non-English speakers. It is not fair to say these students are not meeting their goals. Many of these schools are indeed making progress.”

Locke and Bergeson acknowledged there is more work to do. They pledged to work hard to get critical education legislation passed in the 2004 legislative session. They stressed the need for legislation that would:
· Establish retakes for the WASL;
· Offer alternative assessments;
· Assure that every eighth grader has a plan to meet his or her graduation requirements; and
· Make changes to the state’s Learning Assistance Program (LAP) so it can be even more effective in helping further close the achievement gap.

“The achievement gap that still exists in our state is unacceptable,” Locke said. “We believe that all students – regardless of where they live, how much money their family makes or what language they speak – can meet our state’s new graduation requirements, given enough time and attention.”

Bergeson said, “Washington students, by all measures, are now performing better academically than almost all other students in the nation. Now it’s time to take that success to the next level to ensure that all of our students in all of our schools have equal opportunities to succeed. I look forward to working with the governor, the Legislature, and our education, business and community leaders to close the achievement gap. If we make this a true community effort, I know we can succeed.”

Locke and Bergeson are working with Partnership for Learning and other education groups across the state to educate parents on the 2008 graduation requirements through the Class of 2008 Campaign. Material is being mailed this week to parents of eighth graders that will help families work to guarantee a successful high school graduation for their child.

Reiterating his message that reading is the key to all academic success, Locke today also praised the thousands of Washington children who participated in his 2003 Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge. The governor urged all children under the age of 18 to read 15 hours or more before Labor Day and report their success to him via e-mail or letter.

With responses still pouring in, nearly 5,000 children have met the challenge so far. The governor is confident this year’s total will exceed last year’s total of nearly 6,000 participants.

Each child who participated will receive a signed certificate from the governor and is eligible to win a trip for a family of four to Disneyland, courtesy of Disneyland and Alaska Airlines. The random drawing will take place in a few weeks.

Locke started the Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge last year to encourage Washington students to continue reading during summer vacation and add to the reading gains they made during the school year.

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Related links: www.governor.wa.gov; www.k12.wa.us

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