Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 26, 1997
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Governor to highlight education reform at parent meeting

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke will speak to parents of Olympia public school students about new state tests covering reading, writing, communication and math at a public meeting tonight. The entire community is also invited to attend the informational session at Centennial Elementary School, 2637 45th Ave. SE, from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.


The meeting in Olympia is part of a statewide effort to help parents and other members of the public understand the new tests and the broader effort to raise academic standards and improve student achievement. Locke and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson asked school districts to sponsor the meetings. Nearly 100 school districts across the state accepted the invitation and are sponsoring meetings tonight.


By the time 70,000 4th grade and 68,000 7th grade students take the new tests between April 21 and May 9, at least 174 school districts will have conducted similar meetings with local parents and communities.


Locke said assessment is a critical element of the standards-based reforms being implemented in all public schools. "Now that we have defined what all students are expected to learn, the next step is to find out how well students are doing in reaching those standards," Locke added. "Then the focus will shift to designing an accountability system so that the state rewards success and helps schools where not enough students are achieving the standards."


Locke emphasized that the new tests are not only designed to measure student achievement. "The new assessment system will reveal what students really have learned in enough detail to actually help teachers improve instruction."

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