WASL Watch: Whither WEA

Eric Earling at Sound Politics notes that the Washington Education Association is running a little inconsistently these days.

The union's predictions of generations held back by the WASL have not come to pass, while the portions of the WASL causing the most consternation (math/science) are consistently delayed.

WEA has endorsed Governor Chris Gregoire, a WASL supporter and delayer who made education reform one of the primary goals of her first term. WEA has also launched a coordinated attack on former president and incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson, who helped create the WASL and has always made education reform her primary goal. As a part of their attack, WEA endorsed a candidate against Bergeson who has now dropped outof the race.

The Washington Education Association, the biggest teachers union in the state, is now left with a Superintendent whom they have viciously attacked, a test that isn't so bad after all, and nobody to lead their parade.

Perhaps now is the time to ask them to consider merit pay.