No Shift in Priorities at OSPI

Former state lawmaker Randy Dorn has won election to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction by making his opponent a test, rather than a real person.

Dorn capitalized on public frustration with the state's Washington Assessment of Student Learning test. The exam and its place as one of several requirements for a high-school diploma was a central part of the education-reform law passed by Dorn and other lawmakers more than a dozen years ago.

Dorn campaigned on undoing the WASL. But now that he has the office, he should broaden his vision and priorities beyond a single test.

As much as Dorn campaigned to jettison the WASL, in truth he cannot. Only the Legislature can make substantial changes to the WASL, including replacing it with another test.

There is more important work for Dorn and it suits this affable man who, like his predecessor, Terry Bergeson, has spent much of his career working in education.

Rather than charging into Olympia demanding an about-face on one of the centerpieces of education reform, Dorn ought to join with Gov. Christine Gregoire in implementing the rest of the reforms, including more teacher training and improved curricula, particularly in mathematics.

Most students are passing the WASL. Battling to scrap it will have Dorn tilting at windmills when he will be most needed fending off education budget cuts and unworkable federal mandates. Much of the power over education lies beyond OSPI. The governor controls the state budget, half of which goes to education. The state Board of Education oversees graduation requirements and the Legislature passes education laws.

Public education's new chief must be its protector.