With education funding being a hot topic in Olympia, shouldn’t we be asking how our money is being spent out of the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction? Since Terry Bergeson has been the one in office for over 10 years, wouldn’t an audit be appropriate now? Education is 51 percent of our state budget. “More money” is the cry! Again. Low teacher pay is still an issue. Smaller class sizes has been an issue since I was in school more than 30 years ago.

Just how much is the WASL costing us?

Answer: Plenty! That’s only if you think a test should cost $72 per 10th grade test. (Each.)

Now more money is going to fix the WASL mess.

First it was blaming the parents for not being involved in their children’s education. Then it was blaming the students for not working hard enough and not taking the test “seriously.” Now OSPI is blaming the teachers who need “coaches.” Dr. Bergeson is asking for $4.3 million to “train” the coaches for our teachers. Up goes the cost of the WASL again! Isn’t it time to question if it is the “tool” that is flawed? The WASL has never been subjected to an independent validity study to see if it holds the real blame.

The five-seven years of higher education our teachers endured for their teaching certificates isn’t enough anymore? Now we get to pay for OSPI-trained “coaches” for them. This is a slap in the face to our beloved teachers. They should be outraged at this insult.

Rachel DeBellis

Marysville

Parent Empowerment Network/ Mothers Against WASL