Gregoire hopes to aid those who fail WASL

Gov. Christine Gregoire will seek $38.5 million to help students who fail the 10th-grade Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) next spring, an effort designed to make up for what she considers insufficient aid to date.

"I think we've let you down," Gregoire on Wednesday told two dozen sophomores at Lynnwood High School, all members of the first class required to pass the WASL to graduate. "I don't think we've helped you enough."

Students also should have some new ways to pass the math WASL, Gregoire said, such as taking a number of shorter math exams given at different times, or taking the exam in their native language.

Gregoire's visit to Lynnwood was one of a number of recent appearances where she has unveiled pieces of her budget proposal for next year. Wednesday's announcement covered the $76 million she will request for K-12 education.

Given that less than half of the state's sophomores passed the WASL last spring, concern is growing about using the exam as a graduation requirement starting in 2008.

Students will be able to retake the test up to four times. If they fail twice, they also will be able to opt for some kind of alternative — the details of which are still under discussion. But Gregoire also thinks students need more assistance than they've been getting.

The $38.5 million in additional aid would go to school districts, tied to the number of students who fail one or more of the required WASL subjects — reading, writing and math. The money could be used for extra help during the summer, before or after school, or on Saturdays. The districts would be required to report how they use the money, and how much the students improve. The money adds up to nearly $1,000 for each of the 40,000 students that Gregoire's office estimates will fail.

In math, Gregoire is proposing spending an additional $3.4 million, some of which would be spent developing shorter, WASL-like exams that students could take if they failed the WASL the first time. An algebra exam, for example, might be available for students right after they finish taking algebra.

Gregoire stressed that she's determined to maintain high standards for students.

"The high-school diploma has to mean something so you can get jobs," she said.

Some, such as former Gov. Booth Gardner — a friend of Gregoire's — are pushing to allow students to choose whether they take the WASL or instead tackle an equally rigorous alternative.

Gregoire didn't go that far, although she did say she doesn't think students should have to fail the WASL twice before opting for an alternative.

She does, however, want them to take it once.

"It's the simplest way to show they meet standards," she said, "but it's not the only way."

Other highlights of her proposed budget for schools include $31 million in raises for school employees, required under the law that ties such raises to inflation; $410,000 for a new career-planning program for high-school students; and $100,000 in grants to help students go from high school into a skilled trade.

Linda Shaw: 206-464-2359 or lshaw@seattletimes.com