Senator Rich Draheim (R-Madison Lake) responded to flatlined student test scores released recently. Results show just 50% of students can read and 45% are proficient in math across the state. That’s a drop of about 10% in each area since 2019, when scores were already trending downward.    

“Forced Covid shutdowns impacted all of us, but students suffered the most, as we can see by years of test results showing declines in reading and math skills,” Senator Draheim said. “We have to get back on track. That means prioritizing academics over partisan mandates that distract from student learning and eat up critical money for the classroom. A laser focus on fundamentals is what our students and teachers need.”

During the 2023 session, Senate Republicans proposed the Students’ First plan which funded students without mandates and put $100 million towards literacy training for teachers and students to get them back on track.

Schools sounded the alarm that the mandates in the Democrats’ education bills along with their one-party control agenda would leave schools underfunded. One suburban superintendent told his school board, “This is potentially one of the most damaging sessions I’ve seen since I’ve been a superintendent.”