Everett, Wash.
Published: Friday, October 10, 2008

It's a tight race for state schools chief

WASL critic Randy Dorn seeks to keep Terry Bergeson from serving a fourth term

By Kaitlin Manry
Herald Writer

 OLYMPIA -- Graduation requirements, what's taught in schools and the WASL are on the line in the race to lead Washington schools.

With the backing of the state teachers union, former legislator Randy Dorn is trying to unseat Terry Bergeson, who has been the state superintendent of public instruction for 12 years.

Bergeson won the primary with 39 percent of the vote, but Dorn had a slight edge in Snohomish County and many experts expect this to be the closest race for schools chief in recent memory. In mid-­September, an independent pollster found more than half the people surveyed undecided, with Dorn leading Bergeson among voters who had made up their mind.

The position pays $121,618 a year.

Dorn, executive director of the state's union for classified school employees, has spent much of his campaign criticizing the Washington Assessment of Student Learning test. As a legislator, he supported the formation of the standardized test, but he says Bergeson developed an exam that's too long and doesn't accurately measure students' learning.

If elected, he said he'd shorten the test considerably and, like Bergeson, would hold off ­making the science WASL a graduation requirement. He also has talked about buying a test from another state or developing an alternative test to replace the WASL,

"We have become so focused on having the WASL be so long and take up so much instructional time," he said. "That right there puts so much focus on it that we tend to forget about these other learning opportunities that are so important. ... It should be about having a real gauge of where kids are and about having a plan to move them forward. That's what the assessment system was supposed to be and it's just been a total failure."

Bergeson acknowledges that there have been problems with the WASL, but she recently shortened the test and believes it is now clearer and better at measuring knowledge. She believes diplomas are more meaningful and graduates are better prepared for their future now that students need to pass portions of the WASL or an approved alternative to graduate.

She says Dorn is focusing too much on the WASL at the expense of scores of other issues important to schools.

"I know, first of all, how to bring together all the constituents -- the business leaders, the teachers, the policymakers, the parents and community," she said. "He doesn't know how to do that. ... All he talks about is how do you replace the WASL. That's absurd. We don't have time to go backwards three or four years to buy a test from another state. It's absurd."

Bergeson, who has the backing of one of the state's most powerful unions, Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, and said she may support making students pass more courses in order to graduate, but she wouldn't support adding any new testing requirements. Dorn said he wouldn't support adding any new graduation requirements.

Schools throughout the state are tightening their budgets, and both Bergeson and Dorn have plans to help struggling schools.

Dorn wants to change the way schools are funded to give more money to schools with high percentages of students from low-income families and students who are learning English as a second language. Currently the state gives school districts a set amount of money for each student. He believes it costs districts more to educate students who don't have computers at home or who are new to the country, and he believes the state needs to dole out money accordingly.

"We need to fund on a per-student basis on the amount of need it will take to get (each) student to grade level," he said. "I think that's way different than saying every student is the same."

With endorsements from 54 legislators, Dorn, a former state representative, said he can work with lawmakers to boost education spending.

Dorn believes he can save money by cutting down on WASL spending. He also plans to send a letter to all school superintendents asking them to identify duplicate programs or areas where the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction can trim spending.

Bergeson is also looking at plans to change the way education is funded. She wants to give teachers higher pay and move away from a reliance on property taxes to help fund schools. She said she'd fight for more education money in the state budget and would look within her office to trim programs that aren't working.

"There will be no question that we have to shift resources," she said. "I'm sure programs will have to be cut. I know the programs that have been successful with helping students learn."

With the national economy falling, both Dorn and Bergeson said they'd concentrate on enhancing career and technical education programs.

Another key issue for Bergeson is working with the new presidential administration to reform the No Child Left Behind Act, a federal law aimed at raising achievement for all students. Dorn said key issues include lowering the state's dropout rate and preserving school elective programs, such as art and music.



Reporter Kaitlin Manry: 425-339-3292 or kmanry@heraldnet.com.
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA