— from the Office of Governor Jay Inslee —
Statement from Inslee on the Senate student testing agreement
“Today’s [July 8, 2015] announcement from Senate leaders about an agreement on student testing is great news and allows the Legislature to move forward on wrapping up its work for this year.
“The testing fix means nearly 2,000 high school students will graduate this year and no longer have to fear that their college plans are in jeopardy. Those students and their families can thank Senate Democrats for insisting this was taken care of. The agreement includes a two-year suspension of the state’s end-of-course biology requirement, bringing short-term clarity to an issue that will need further work in the future.
“The Senate is now poised to act on the remaining pieces of the budget. I appreciate the work of Senate Republican leaders in agreeing to a compromise that clears the path for final legislative action.”
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2000 kids failed a biology test so the Legislature gave them a legislative pass.
From the Seattle Times:
“Earlier this year, the state board started lobbying lawmakers to abolish the old exam, saying that focusing on biology undermines broader coursework in science, technology, engineering and math (the so-called STEM courses).
Most seniors meet the current biology requirement by passing a mostly multiple choice End-of-Course exam, which they first take in 10th grade and can continue taking until they pass it. About 70 percent of Washington students in all grades who took the end-of-course biology exam last year passed it.
Students who fail the end-of-course exam can take an alternative approved by the Legislature called a Collection of Evidence. That exam covers the same material, but in a different way that more closely resembles classroom work. For example, students answer questions in their own words and can take different parts of the test at different times instead of all at once.
About two-thirds of the students who took took the Collection of Evidence this winter failed it, according to results released last month, prompting the state board of education’s latest plea to the Legislature. The letter says the dismal results were about the same last year when the test was first given.”
In other words, these kids are being “socially” graduated.
I would like to congratulate the staff and students at Orcas Island High School who have had a nearly 100% pass rate on first attempts at the biology EOC and a 100% overall pass rate prior to graduation (no collection of evidence needed). Thank you to the community of Orcas Island for your continued support of our public schools.