WASL achievement gap costly to fix, officials say

The Washington Assessment of Student Learning serves as "a messenger" that students of color continue to lag behind white students and some Asian students, and the so-called academic achievement gap still exists, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson said Wednesday. Bergeson spoke about the achievement gap along with Seattle School Board member Darlene Flynn and Seattle Public Schools Chief Academic Officer Carla Santorno at a community forum at the downtown Seattle Public Library.

The three said closing the achievement gap will take focus, better teacher training and a methodical approach across the state. And they agreed it would cost a lot more money. As they spoke to a roomful of education stakeholders and advocates, many in the room seemed keyed up for another session of lobbying legislators for more education funding.

"It would be irresponsible for me to sit here and pretend that good intentions, knowing what we need and commitment is enough," Flynn said. Across the state, WASL scores among ethnic minorities and low-income students lag behind those of white students, some Asian students and upper-income students.

While 57 percent of white 10th-graders statewide and almost 60 percent of Asian students passed reading, writing and math on the 2006 WASL, only a quarter of black students did. And though the gap is narrowing over time in reading, it is not closing in math, according to figures from Bergeson's office.

The three panelists said they know how to fix the achievement gap and pointed to efforts under way. Santorno plans a two-week principal "boot camp" next summer to try to improve principals' academic leadership. Great principals are key to schools that are doing well now, she said.

Bergeson said she's pushing the Legislature to fund all-day kindergarten and other early-learning programs, and Flynn said now that the district's finances are in line, the school district is taking a "systematic" look at academics.

Despite the difficulty of the problem, Flynn said she is optimistic.

"I really believe we have what it takes to get this done," she said.

Emily Heffter: 206-464-8246 or eheffter@seattletimes.com