The problem with education right now is simple: Too many "experts" making decisions. Governor Locke is the worst. The self proclaimed "education governor" has done more damage to Washington's education system than all the others combined. He too is an "expert" on school because he went there once. I have been teaching for 13 years. I have worked with well over 1500 kids in that time and they dont want my input on what needs to be done. Far better to the Governor to appoint someone who helped his campaign to make those decisions, hell, they went to school once too! The public has a negative view of teachers "those who can do, those who cant... teach" I have even ran into that kind of stupidity here on this board. 95% of the teachers in education today bust their ass to make things better, we just dont agree with what they say better is. Test scores on an exam with MAJOR flaws (reliability, validity, bias, just to name a few..) isnt the answer.... Its way to complex an issue for one post. I can say that Terry Burgeson needs to go come the next election, along with Locke. There is going to be an increase of teacher strikes because of their backwards policies if the stay. Next chance we get we need to kill the WASL. Its cost us 1 billion dollars and done nothing positive for education..... done with rant..... FOR NOW.