Summary   |  Background   |  AeA Positions for 2005 Legislative Action  |  Key Contacts

Summary
The ability of Washington State ’s high technology industry to compete rests on the cornerstone of a well-educated and technically competent work force.  A strong public school system is the foundation of a healthy democracy and sound economy.

To provide the work force for the future, it is critical that we maintain our commitment to clear and challenging academic standards, meaningful assessment, accountability for results, and greater flexibility in education regulations to allow schools to meet these challenges.  In addition to basic academic skills, students need:

• The ability to think analytically, logically and creatively, and to integrate experience and knowledge to form reasoned judgments and solve problems.

• To understand the importance of work and how performance, effort, and decisions directly affect career and educational opportunities.

Standards must be linked to skills students will need in the workplace.  Industry- developed skill standards should be used to strengthen the transition from education to employment by helping schools and students know what today’s work requires.

Background

Washington State has shown great leadership by passing standards-based education reform in 1993 and renewing and clarifying that commitment last year in House Bill 2195.  To assure students gain essential academic skills we must support them by implementing an orderly plan to meet the graduation requirements which begin in 2008.

Key components of a plan include:

• Opportunities for students to certify by retaking part or the entire 10th grade WASL.

• Integration of an alternative assessment plan and an appeals process for students unable to demonstrate proficient academic skills on the 10^th grade WASL

• Creation of appropriate remediation resources for students struggling to master academic skills.

AeA Positions for 2005 Legislative Action

Because high quality education is a bottom line issue for high-tech companies, AeA supports the following:

• Continued funding and support for the implementation of standards-based education reform, the Education Reform Act of 1993.

• Consideration of an alternative assessment plan and an appeals process for students in special circumstances to demonstrate their knowledge of the 10th grade standards.

• Funding of Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform (LASER) to support science teacher training and use of inquiry-based science education.

• Funding for Math, Science and Engineering Achievement (MESA) to assist underrepresented students in additional areas of Washington .

We are especially interested in maintaining challenging standards in math and science and staying on course with the assessments, accountability and quality of instruction in these areas.  To do less will compromise our children’s ability to succeed in the future.

Key Contacts

Public Policy Director
Nancy Atwood
(206) 949-8844

Executive Director
Terry Byington
(425) 497-1707

This page was last updated on 03/29/05.  
Copyright © 2005 American Electronics Association.  All rights reserved.