SEATTLE - The state's top school official, State Superintendent Of Public Instruction, Randy Dorn, wants to delay graduation requirements in math and science. He outlined his plan to hundreds of educators at a conference in Seattle today.
Dorn would like to move the graduation requirement in math to 2015 and in science to 2017.
"We have some of the toughest high school graduation requirements in the nation. It's my job to represent the students, to be fair,
said Dorn.
Last spring, just less than half of 10th graders passed math on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning. And, only a third passed science. The WASL is to be replaced with a new test this spring, but Dorn's plan would let kids off the hook if they fail.
There is a firestorm of criticism over Dorn's proposal.
"No more delays. We have to have the courage as a state to get the job done for our kids," said Mary Jean Ryan, of the State Board Of Education.
Steve Mullin, president of the Washington Roundtable, a state business group, says our students need to be more competitive.
"You need to do significant math and science and delaying and lowering the bar is going in the wrong direction," he said.
Governor Chris Gregoire strongly disagrees with Dorn, but, the state teachers union calls his plan a positive step forward. In January, Dorn will take his proposals to state lawmakers who will make the final decision on graduation requirements.
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