Delivering on a promise by replacing the WASL

PICTURE this: A fifth-grade student sits down in front of a computer in his classroom and takes the state test for reading. The student, in a short time, finishes the test. The teacher quickly receives the results and evaluates where the student could use a little extra help. A plan is immediately put into place.

That is the state test that will soon be in the classrooms in Washington public schools.

After this school year, the WASL will be gone — because of production schedules already in place, the state tests must remain the same in 2009.

Among the many issues debated in my campaign for state schools chief, none dominated more than my promise to replace the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, a flawed, burdensome test that has overwhelmed our students, teachers and parents. I am delivering on that promise by providing entirely different tests for third through eighth grades. The tests will do exactly what state and federal laws require: provide valuable feedback so teachers can initiate an appropriate learning plan for students who have not yet mastered the basic skills in reading, writing, math or science. Parents will also have a clearer understanding of what their child knows and can do.

The elementary and middle-school tests, which will be called Measurements of Student Progress (MSP), will no longer be viewed as punitive, with families waiting five months for results only to find out their children didn't meet standard. By that time, their child is already with another teacher in a different grade. How does that help anyone?

This state lost its way with our assessment system. The WASL dominated the culture and curriculum of our schools. It became a negative. It took too much time to administer, and it hasn't been working that well. Our statewide math and science results continue to be well below expectations, and our reading and writing scores have leveled off.

The new tests will be shorter, take less time and resources to administer, cost less, be tied to technology and provide more-useful diagnostic information. That means results will be returned quickly so support for students can occur almost immediately.

My plan calls for computerized testing in third through eighth grades to begin as an option for districts and schools in 2010, expand in 2011 and become a statewide requirement by 2012. Our goal is to give students two chances to test in a school year, once in the fall and once in the spring. That way, those who need extra support will receive it. Or, if they want to improve their score later in the year, they'll have that opportunity. The latter test will also provide data on the growth of a student if he or she takes the test in the spring after taking it in the fall.

I want to be clear: I am a strong advocate for high standards. Don't mistake replacing the WASL as giving up on that belief. I believe our students must be able to compete at a global level, that families should play a larger role in the schools, and that we should continue to have state tests as part of our graduation requirements for high-school students.

The high-school state tests will be called the High School Proficiency Exams (HSPE). We intend to computerize these tests, starting with reading and science, and with the new end-of-course math tests, in 2011. We are examining other changes to the tests as well, such as computerized scoring of the writing test, but further research is needed.

It's important to keep in mind that the elementary and middle-school tests and the high-school tests have very different goals. The elementary and middle-school tests will give teachers and families a reliable measurement of how a student is progressing and learning basic skills. The high-school test will show whether students have obtained basic proficiency in reading, writing and math. Once they have achieved that, they can continue on whatever educational path they choose, whether it be higher education or technical education.

Starting with less-intrusive and more-diagnostic state tests in elementary and middle schools will help provide a stronger foundation for students when they are challenged in high school.

And that fifth-grade student who struggled a bit on his reading test will have received proper, timely support from his teacher and family to put him immediately on a better path. That's the way education works best, and the new state tests will support that.