OLYMPIA – Public math and science education in the state is failing Washington’s children, lawmakers said Wednesday as they passed a measure aimed at improving kids’ performance in those subjects.
The House bill passed 90-7 and now heads to the Senate. It would implement several recommendations of the Washington Learns task force, which spent 18 months examining the state’s education system and was co-chaired by Gov. Chris Gregoire.
Rep. Glenn Anderson, R-Fall City, pointed to nearly half of Washington’s 10th graders failing the math portion of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning last year, calling it a “clear and unambiguous failure.”
“Parents are expecting us to fix this problem,” he said.
The measure calls for the state Board of Education and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, with advice from national consultants and citizen advisory panels, to develop new math and science standards. The bill also calls for the state to develop three math and science curriculums that can be used statewide.
Nothing would require school districts to use the designated curriculums, although there are incentives to use them, said the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Ross Hunter, D-Medina. He said making the curriculums consistent would allow teachers to “hit the ground running” when they move from district to district.
The bill also would create a math and science instructional coaching program, create alternative ways for teachers to obtain certification in math and science, make tests available to school districts so students can gauge their math readiness for college, and create an after-school math support program.
The House’s proposed two-year state budget released last week includes more than $106 million for math and science programs.
The House on Wednesday also passed:
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