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Washington Governor Persuaded to Count Tests in Teacher Evaluations

A meeting with America’s top education official has apparently convinced Gov. Jay Inslee that Washington state must act to require public-school teacher evaluations take into account student scores on statewide tests.

A meeting with America’s top education official has apparently convinced Gov. Jay Inslee that Washington state must act to require public-school teacher evaluations take into account student scores on statewide tests.

Inslee spokeswoman Jaime Smith said the governor met Tuesday afternoon with lawmakers from both parties to hammer out a compromise that would make the change in order to allow the state to keep its waiver from the federal No Child Left Behind law — and keep control over some $40 million that comes with the waiver.

The compromise will likely delay the move until the 2017-2018 school year and include a provision that voids the change if the state does not actually get to keep the waiver, Smith said.

Inslee, a Democrat, and Randy Dorn, the state superintendent of public instruction, were drafting a bill to be introduced this week, Smith said.

It is expected to win over enough Democrats to join with Republicans for the bill to pass.

Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
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