From OurVoice WEA...

Students and teachers testified this week in support of a bill that eliminates high-stakes tests as a graduation requirement. Known as the “delink” legislation, House Bill 1363 is sponsored by Rep. Sam Hunt.

“Instead of helping my students reach their full potential, I spend too much time testing and preparing my students to take tests. This time takes away from class time we could spend learning,” said Maribel Vilchez, a second-grade teacher at Lydia Hawk Elementary School in Lacey.

Vilchez and others testified before the state House Education Committee
Mandating state tests as a graduation requirement also conflicts with the new 24-credit graduation requirement because it puts the focus on passing a single test rather than providing a well-rounded, complete education.

One of WEA’s top goals for the 2015 legislative session is to “Eliminate the high-stakes nature of state standardized tests, including using them as a graduation requirement, and reduce the number of standardized tests where possible.”

From OurVoice WEA...

Sen. Steve Litzow once again is sponsoring bills that mandate the use of state test scores in teacher evaluations – a proposal the state Senate defeated last year after staunch opposition from teachers and others.

Senate Bill 5748 says, “… for teachers who teach reading or language arts or mathematics in a grade in which the federally mandated statewide student assessments are administered, one of the multiple measures of student growth must be the student results on the relevant assessments.”

WEA opposes SB 5748 and a similar bill, SB 5749. Litzow and others have said the change is needed to qualify for a waiver from the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Educators believe it makes no sense to dramatically change our successful teacher evaluation system when Congress appears ready to rewrite the ESEA.

Another WEA legislative goal is to “Ensure teacher and principal evaluations use appropriate student growth data and that use of standardized tests is allowed but not mandated.”

It's time to fund education... NOW! Help us send a message to the legislature at an Education Town Hall with legislators from the 11th and 41st Legislative Districts. The more people who attend, the stronger message we send. We are counting on you to attend.

• Saturday, March 14, 2015 (10:30AM-12PM)
• McKnight Middle School (1200 Edmonds Ave NE, Renton, WA 98056)

Mark your calendar. It takes just 90 minutes. RSVP now.