Parents, too, were up in arms over the quality of education afforded their children. Legislators responded to the alarm with pioneering legislation saying students must master math, reading, listening and writing before they are handed their high school diploma. The WASL test is administered in fourth and seventh grades to test student achievement in the four key areas with a final test in the sophomore year. Only those students who pass the test and earn a certificate of mastery will graduate. Lawmakers wisely phased in the testing period over a long period of time with the graduating class of 2008 the first required to pass a certificate of mastery.
Accountability is the cornerstone of the performance-based education reform effort.
Schools whose WASL test scores are under acceptable norms will be held accountable for their poor performance. That's as it should be. It's not surprising that many in the education establishment have resisted these reform efforts. Unfortunately they have drawn some lawmakers into their corner. Pressure from the teachers union, school officials and some parent groups is beginning to take its toll in the Legislature.