When Governor Inslee made the decision last spring to end the school year early because of the Coronavirus pandemic…the move was supported by the State School Superintendent Chris Reykdahl.

But now three months into this school year … Reykdahl says having most of the state in distance of blended learning models is creating another problem.

"They're failing a lot. In the beginning we thought it was about devices and connectivity and that is certainly still some of it, but they're failing because they're not engaged. We've asked young people to self-guided, self-motivated, independent learners. To sit there for six hours, even if it's flexible, doesn't work for them."

Reykdal briefed the State House Education Committee on the situation and asked the body to give him more flexibility to make statewide decisions from his office.

It's an issue that hits very close to home for the State Superintendent.

"I have two kids in school right now, 3.9 GPA until this year. I've got a son failing two classes he's never failed in his life. He's taken AP classes all three years. He's struggling right now. This instructional model does not work for a lot of kids, period."

He adds, however, that the trade-off that many school districts are making by being conservative on returning students to the classroom is fewer COVID cases and deaths.

But a rising concern is that the failures will lead to higher suicide rates among students.

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