New WASL Scores and Testing Changes Announced

Letter from Larry
A Message from Partnership for Learning Executive Director Larry Ehl

Chalk one up for the public sector, which is often unfairly accused of being unable to adapt to a changing world. Responding to concerns from educators, parents and students, Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson announced today significant changes to next year's Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL). For most grades, the test will be shorter and take less time, and teachers will be provided with online tools to administer the test more effectively.

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has assured us that the WASL's rigor will be preserved. Maintaining the test's high standards is important, because it assesses students on skills our state has deemed necessary for post-high school success. Washington students have made great strides since the WASL was first administered in 1997. Scores have gradually increased, we've doubled the number of students earning college credit through high school Advanced Placement classes and we're among the nation's leaders in student scores on the SAT and ACT. So we're doing relatively well for the college-bound students.

But the achievment gap for poor and minority students persists. This is unacceptable and all of us must redouble our efforts to solve this challenge. All students deserve an education that will provide them with opportunities for success--be it in college or the workforce.

 

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Changes to the WASL on the horizon

Next year, the WASL will be significantly shorter for elementary and middle school students. In most grades, the length of assessment will be reduced by 30 percent allowing educators to administer the test over one day as opposed to two.

"These changes have been in the works for some time," said Shirley Skidmore, spokesperson for OSPI. "We've heard feedback from teachers in the field that testing time needs to be reduced and testing dates should be pushed to the end of the year to make tests more cumulative and we're responsive to that."

Accordingly, both elementary and middle school students will face fewer extended-response and short-answer questions in the reading, math and science tests. The rigor of tests will not be compromised by reduction in length, state officials say.

There will be no reduction in test time for high-schoolers, due to the fact that passing the reading WASL is now a requirement for graduation.

OSPI is also considering whether or not to move testing dates earlier or later in the year, based on concerns from some educators that tests are given too early making it hard for the test to be truly cumulative. Others, however, would like the test to be administered earlier in the year in order to receive test scores sooner.

Based on these new changes to the WASL, teachers will soon be able to see Web-based descriptions of every item of the test ranked for difficulty. Eventually, they will also be able to see their students' individual performance online.

To learn more about the WASL and requirements for upcoming classes, visit our graduation requirements page.

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Superintendent Bergeson Announces WASL Scores

Eighty-six percent of 11th grade students in the class of 2009 who took the WASL this spring met standard in reading and writing and 62 percent have also met standard in math, according to data released today by OSPI.

This can be compared to the 83 percent of students in the Class of 2008 who had met reading and writing standards, this time last year.

“I’m very proud of what our educators and students are doing. And, with a little more support, I think we can optimize the system and make sure more students succeed,” said Terry Bergeson, Superintendent of Public Instruction.

For 10th grade students in the class of 2010, 75 percent met standard in reading and writing and 47 percent have also met standard in math.

Science and writing scores in most grades saw improvement, despite the fact that reading and math WASL scores overall remained flat. Gains were also made among Hispanic, Native American and African American students. The states’ overall trends have been up for the last decade: In 1999, just 51 percent of 10th graders met standard in reading and 33 percent met standard in math.

 

Click the diagrams below for more detailed WASL score information.

 

WASL Score Gains and Losses Overall

 

Class of 2009 WASL Scores

 

Class of 2010 WASL Scores

 

To learn more about WASL scores and Washington's education report card, visit OSPI's website.