There are several bills this session dealing with the almighty WASL. Some seek adjust the test and the requirements and some would eliminate it as a graduation requirement.
Today, both the House and Senate held hearings on all these bills, and our very own Lisa Macfarlane came down to testify. Those that know Lisa, know that she believes strongly in high expectations for ALL (not just some) students and accountability.
This is a summary of her testimony today.
SB 5414: WASL workgroup recommendations
LEV supports this bill which sets the goal of creating a system of assessment that provides more immediate feedback, measure student growth throughout the year, and strive to be computer based.
LEV shares the view of the WASL work group that we should continue the Reading and Writing WASL as graduation requirements.
HB 1646: Making adjustments pertaining to the high school Washington assessment of student learning in mathematics and science
Similar to SB 5414, but it maintains that the math and science assessment graduation requirement. We prefer the House version over the Senate version.
SB 5260: Eliminating the WASL as a graduation requirement
LEV strongly opposes this bill. We feel like the bill is going in the wrong direction, and trying to solve a problem that we don’t have. Kids aren’t not graduating because of the reading and writing WASL. We have appropriate alternatives in place so that they can demonstrate their skills and knowledge.
Adjustments in WASL are necessary. We like the direction that Superintendent Randy Dorn is going — shorter, less expensive, more diagnostic, faster turn around with test results and the incorporation of technology.
We believe that the research is clear: diminished expectations and the lowering of academic standards contribute to the achievement gap. We need rigorous graduation to ensure tht standards and expectations are high for ALL kids, not just some.
SB 5459: Creating multiple measures to meet high school graduation requirements
LEV opposes this bill. It lowers standards at a time when our students need to leave high school better prepared more than ever. This proposed weighted graduation score would be complex and confusing. We don’t think it is necessary since we have alternative assessments that give students alternatives to the WASL.
SB 5498/HB 1562: Eliminating the annual math assessment requirement
We support this bill. It removes the requirement that high school students who have not met the mathematics standard take an “annual mathematics assessment.” Students would continue to be required to earn two additional math credits after 1oth grade.
We have hundreds of students in the class of 2009 who, for one reason or another, did not take a math assessment last year and will not be able to graduate. This will create a strong incentive for students to take the assessment because they will not be required to take additional math classes.
