- Superintendent Randy Dorn Announces Plans to Replace the WASL
- Washington's First STEM High School to Open this Fall
- The WASL: Who, what, why and how
- League Education Voters Releases Citizen's Report Card
- Building a Movement: Excellent Schools Now
Superintendent Randy Dorn Announces Plans to Replace the WASL
Superintendent Randy Dorn unveiled his plans for a new state assessment system Wednesday, including the replacement of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning. The new system will begin to take effect in the 2010-2011 school year.
“I was elected on a promise to replace the WASL with a fairer, less expensive system of measuring student learning. This announcement today affirms my intention to do what’s right for our kids and our schools and to deliver on that promise as quickly as is possible,” said Dorn, who was sworn in as the state’s 15th superintendent of public instruction on January 13.
Because of time constraints, Dorn said no changes can be made to the WASL during this school year. However, beginning in spring 2010, the state will replace the WASL with two new tests: the Measurements of Student Progress (MSP) in grades 3-8 and the High School Proficiency Exams (HPSE).
The new state assessment system will be called the Washington Comprehensive Assessment Program (WCAP). Dorn has six goals related to state testing:
- Shorten the tests
- Reduce the amount of time students spend on written responses
- Return scores more quickly
- Increase the use of technology (statewide computer testing)
- Provide more diagnostic information (strengths and weaknesses) to teachers/families
- Minimize costs
Dorn’s plan calls for computer-delivered reading, math and science tests to be available as an option to school districts beginning in 2010 with the goal of statewide implementation by 2012. The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) will look closely at the feasibility of computerized scoring of the writing test. That would further reduce costs.
“We need a state testing system that makes sense to teachers, students and families,” Dorn said. “Our tests need to be tied to technology and provide immediate feedback to teachers so they can better assist their students. Computerizing the tests will also require far less resources, both in time and money.”
The grades 3-8 Measurements of Student Progress tests will be offered twice each school year, beginning in the fall of 2010. This allows students the opportunity to show proficiency more than once and provides diagnostic and educational growth information to better support individualized teaching plans.
The High School Proficiency Exams will be shorter and contain fewer extended answer questions, although Supt. Dorn is comitted to retaining the test as a graduation requirement.
Computerizing the tests will also allow a much 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.
At Partnership for Learning, we're encouraged that Supt. Dorn and his team share in the belief that there are certain basic skills students should master before graduating. Maintaining a state assessment system that ensures students master those basic skills is important, and we look forward to working with Supt. Dorn on the WASL and other improvements to our education system in the future.
To learn more about Superintendent Dorn’s plan for a new state assessment system, please visit OSPI’s website.
Washington's First STEM High School to Open this Fall
After two years of planning, funding difficulties, and location challenges, Tri-Cities will open the region’s first Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) high school. Recently named “Delta High School,” the cutting-edge institution—which is open to all students in the area—will provide an environment where students can learn the skills necessary to succeed in 21st Century careers.
The road that led to one of Washington’s first STEM high schools has not been easy. Until recently, due to a lack of funding, the opening of the school was in question. However, Battelle recently closed the gap and donated the remaining $1.2 million needed. Now the school plans to be up and running in the fall. So with all of the setbacks and challenges behind, students in Tri-Cities can look ahead and “put on their innovative thinking caps.”
The school, which is located at Columbia Basin College’s Richland campus, will open its doors in August to 100 freshmen. Thereafter, one grade per year will be added until the school serves 400 students. Delta High School will have innovative curriculum and professional development programs, and students will also have learning opportunities outside the classroom.
With technology rapidly advancing and more nations competing in the global economy, it is essential students learn how to gather and analyze data, think critically, and solve complex problems. One only has to look at how President Barack Obama communicated digitally throughout his campaign, to imagine how technology will continue to advance. What lies ahead is uncertain. But what is certain, is students in Tri-Cities have greater opportunity through STEM for gaining the 21st Century skills they’ll need.
To learn more about Delta High School, visit its website.
The WASL: Who, what, why and how
Ever wonder how many students passed the high school WASL (93%)? Or what's happened to our drop-out rate since the dawn of the WASL (it's gone down), or graduation rate (it's gone up). Or how the test is changing? Or why we even have a test like the WASL?
We're here to help. This week, Partnership for Learning released an updated "Frequently Asked Questions about the WASL" on our website. Learn more about the WASL visiting our "Assessments" page.
League Education Voters Releases Citizen's Report Card
Curious about the grades a Washington education would get if states were given report cards? The League of Education Voters Citizen's Report Card lets you know. Published every two years, the report shows where Washington has made progress from early learning through higher education and where there is plenty to improve upon.
To view this great tool designed to empower citizens with information, visit the League of Education Voters website.
Building a Movement: Excellent Schools Now
A Community Breakfast
Join us for the launch of a dynamic, new statewide coalition, Excellent Schools Now, co-led by Partnership for Learning and the League of Education Voters. This new coalition brings together a unique blend of the state's education, business and community-based organizations. At the breakfast, hear some of the state's most influential figures in education reform talk about their priorities for transforming our schools and learn more about what you can do to help prepare every Washington student for college, work and life.
Date: Thurs. Jan. 29, 2009
Time: 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Location: Governor's Hotel, Olympia, WA
To RSVP email: Susan Pollack