Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed into law Tuesday a four-year suspension of a voter-approved class size measure. He also signed a two-year delay of a biology test graduation requirement.
One rural school superintendent says it makes sense to hold off on these two policies.
Jim Kowalkowski is the superintendent of the Davenport School District west of Spokane. He showed up at the governor’s bill signing ceremony on his way home from an Oregon coast vacation. Kowalkowski said he supports smaller class sizes, but believes a four-year delay of Initiative 1351 is “smart” policy.
“We don’t have the capacity for facilities or for teachers and you’ve got to build that foundation before you can just implement lower class sizes,” he said.
Kowalkowski also supports delaying the biology test requirement that was keeping nearly 2,000 high schoolers from graduating this year.
“I’m all for high standards, but help kids get over the bar, don’t just push them back down,” he said.
Inslee also signed into law a pilot program to help school districts add 500 classrooms to reduce K-3 class size.
The Washington Education Association opposes the delay of the class size initiative and says smaller K through 12 class sizes are a part of basic education.
Copyright 2015 Northwest News Network
