It’s that time again: WASL season.
This year will not be all that different from last year.
One change taking place this year is that there will be no optional WASL for ninth-graders. Testing of ninth-graders was cut in an effort to save money — almost $500,000, the state estimates.
In addition, testing for grades three through eight will be about 30 percent shorter, due to a change made by former State Superintendent Terry Bergeson.
The Washington Assessment of Student Learning testing began Monday for all 10th-graders (as well as 11th- and 12th-graders who still need to pass the WASL for graduation) in reading and writing.
WASL will pick up again in mid-April for math and science for high schools, and all subjects for grades three to eight.
The WASL is still the test that students must take in order to graduate. It is still the test that measures a school district’s progress.
“Our teachers work really hard to teach to a state set of standards,” said Dave Davis, director of assessment for Federal Way schools. “The WASL is a sum of that. It’s an assessment of that teaching and kids’ process of learning, but it’s not the ‘end all’ deal.”
Schools and districts are required to pass the WASL as part of the federal adequate yearly progress (AYP) or face loss of federal funding.
Federal law requires that students in grades three to eight and grade 10 must be tested.
The WASL
The 12-year-old WASL was implemented after the state passed the Education Reform Law in 1993, which required a statewide assessment system.
The WASL is comprised of multiple choice, short answer segments and essays. The test is graded by both machine and human scorers, many of whom are Washington teachers.
The WASL is scored on a 1 to 4 level: 4 being advanced, 3 proficient, 2 basic and 1 below basic.
Certain special education students as well as English language learners must also take the WASL, although not necessarily at the same level as their mainstream counterparts. Special education students may be exempt depending on their disability, or may take the test with accommodations such as a longer time period.
English language learning students must take their grade-scheduled WASL unless they are still in their first year of enrollment in U.S. schools. Those students do not have to take the reading and writing portions of the test, but must take the math and science portions.
Private and home-schooled students do not have to take the WASL.
Almost since its conception, the WASL has had its fair share of critics, including Mothers Against WASL.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn, who was elected in 2008, ran for office largely on the platform of doing away with the WASL.
Changes to come
Many of the recently reported changes to the WASL will not take place until 2010, including a change that may get rid of the WASL altogether.
Dorn has already announced plans to replace the WASL as early as spring 2010. His plans call for replacing the WASL with two new tests: The Measurements of Student Progress (MSP) in grades three to eight; and High School Proficiency Exams (HSPE) for high school students. Together, these tests would be called the Washington Comprehensive Assessment Program.
The tests will still be part of a student’s graduation requirement.
This change is dependent upon approval by the state Legislature.
The MSP tests would be offered twice each school year, beginning in the fall of 2010.
The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction says that the HSPE will be shorter and contain significantly fewer extended answer questions. Computerizing the tests will also allow a faster turnaround on results — allowing students, teachers and families more timely information on those students who need to be retested. Additionally, computerizing the tests will save school districts significant resources in time, money and staffing when administering the tests, according to the state superintendent.
The plan calls for the option of computer-delivered testing in math, reading and science in 2010, with statewide implementation by 2012.
Immediately after announcing this plan, OSPI was flooded with calls from districts regarding the move to computer testing. Two concerns for districts included having enough computers to administer the online tests, and how schools would pay for this testing.
OSPI responded to these concerns, stating that more than 70 percent of the schools in the state have a computer lab with 20 or more computers.
Federal Way is one of those concerned districts.
“There is some concern around the true feasibility of online testing and logistics,” said Dave Davis, director of assessment for Federal Way schools. “(70 percent) doesn’t mean anything. You need a better ratio. Twenty computers in Thomas Jefferson High School won’t cut it; that’s 2,000 students.”
Davis said that currently, Federal Way just doesn’t have the infrastructure to support all online testing.
Learn more
For more information, visit www.k12.wa.us
