Comments on: Yes, Virginia, there will still be a WASL http://pugetsoundblogs.com/kitsapeducation/2008/11/13/yes-virginia-there-will-still-be-a-wasl/ A forum where you can discuss all those questions that get asked in teachers’ lounges, around dining room tables and before school boards across Kitsap County. With Marietta Nelson. Tue, 10 Aug 2010 21:36:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kathryn Simpson http://pugetsoundblogs.com/kitsapeducation/2008/11/13/yes-virginia-there-will-still-be-a-wasl/comment-page-1/#comment-2 Kathryn Simpson Sat, 15 Nov 2008 19:08:28 +0000 http://pugetsoundblogs.com/kitsapeducation/?p=7#comment-2 Standardized testing shouldn't go away. But this obesssion with the WASL should. We are making tremendous forward progress in K-12 education because we are paying more attention to data and using that data to improve instruction to students (individually and collectively) and professional support for teachers (individually and collectively). But the WASL (especially the math WASL) was supposed to be used to evaluate progress, not become the curriculum. That fact got lost and that frustration is the biggest factor in what lost Terri Bergeson her job in my opinion. For graduation standards, my preference for evaluating our schools and students on the academic quality of the end product is the SAT. Have students take it in the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grades in the early part of the year. It takes about 4-5 hours to administer. So, that is 25 hours over four years and $180 per student ($45 is the current SAT exam cost). Of course, the schools will pay for the testing, but it will be far less time and expense than we currently spend on administering the secondary WASL tests today. Every student takes the test. If they don't make it on the day it is administered at school, they can make it up according to the SAT calendar and availability. It provides students (and their parents and teachers) the TIMELY information they need to request adjustment to their coursework if they need to make ground on deficiencies before the next test and it provides the schools the real evidence and information they need on individual and collective student academic growth so that the schools can adjust and improve accordingly. For students, their highest score on each section will be used to determine two things... First, whether they will earn a high school diploma. There has to be something besides "seat time" that earns a diploma. Establishing a "cut score" on the SAT has already been done. Students can already use the SAT as a replacement for the WASL requirement. Second, their highest scores will also determine what level of financial aid they will be offered to continue their education beyond high school. Incentive for both students and their parents! My thoughts. Randy Dorn got my vote because I felt we have been let down by the incumbent in her last term. We need a stronger advocate for K-12 education at OSPI. I thank Dr. Bergeson for her efforts. My vote was not one of dislike for Dr. Bergeson. My vote was for retooling and refocus. Regards, Kathryn Simpson Standardized testing shouldn’t go away. But this obesssion with the WASL should. We are making tremendous forward progress in K-12 education because we are paying more attention to data and using that data to improve instruction to students (individually and collectively) and professional support for teachers (individually and collectively). But the WASL (especially the math WASL) was supposed to be used to evaluate progress, not become the curriculum. That fact got lost and that frustration is the biggest factor in what lost Terri Bergeson her job in my opinion.

For graduation standards, my preference for evaluating our schools and students on the academic quality of the end product is the SAT. Have students take it in the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grades in the early part of the year. It takes about 4-5 hours to administer. So, that is 25 hours over four years and $180 per student ($45 is the current SAT exam cost). Of course, the schools will pay for the testing, but it will be far less time and expense than we currently spend on administering the secondary WASL tests today. Every student takes the test. If they don’t make it on the day it is administered at school, they can make it up according to the SAT calendar and availability.

It provides students (and their parents and teachers) the TIMELY information they need to request adjustment to their coursework if they need to make ground on deficiencies before the next test and it provides the schools the real evidence and information they need on individual and collective student academic growth so that the schools can adjust and improve accordingly.

For students, their highest score on each section will be used to determine two things… First, whether they will earn a high school diploma. There has to be something besides “seat time” that earns a diploma. Establishing a “cut score” on the SAT has already been done. Students can already use the SAT as a replacement for the WASL requirement.

Second, their highest scores will also determine what level of financial aid they will be offered to continue their education beyond high school. Incentive for both students and their parents!

My thoughts.

Randy Dorn got my vote because I felt we have been let down by the incumbent in her last term. We need a stronger advocate for K-12 education at OSPI. I thank Dr. Bergeson for her efforts. My vote was not one of dislike for Dr. Bergeson. My vote was for retooling and refocus.

Regards,
Kathryn Simpson

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