The Ritzville Adams County Journal - Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887

Soon the 2023-24 school year will begin.

This will be the third school year after Gov. Jay Inslee and state public schools Superintendent Chris Reykdal imposed longer COVID-19 school shutdowns than most of the country. The shutdowns began in March of 2020, lasted the entire school year of 2020-21, and continued to interrupt schooling the fall of 2021.

Yet, last week, Reykdal published a piece on the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction website reporting students are “not behind,” but “gained a lot” from the mandated shutdowns:

Seriously? Students “gained a...