News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 8, 2004
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke’s Statement on Passage of WASL Legislation

OLYMPIA – March 8, 2004 – Gov. Gary Locke today released the following statement on the state House and Senate’s passage of Third Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2195, regarding changes to the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL):

“I am pleased that the House and Senate have passed legislation I requested to clarify and refine the WASL. This legislation is critical to education reform, and is something I have been championing for quite some time.

“By focusing on the basics of reading, writing, mathematics and, eventually, science as requirements for graduation; and establishing the option of multiple retakes and the development of alternative assessments, the refined WASL will reinforce our state’s high academic standards, help better prepare students to meet or exceed those standards, and provide parents with a roadmap of exactly what will be expected of their children and when.

“In addition to the WASL legislation, I am also looking forward to the Legislature passing other key pieces of our education package. This includes legislation to strengthen the state’s Learning Assistance Program (LAP); authorize the collection of the full amount of voter-approved school levies; and develop charter schools with an emphasis on assisting underachieving students.

“I would like to see all of these bills arrive on my desk this week.”


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