Mr. Chew, I respectfully disagree.

Mr. Chew, the Seattle teacher who refused to give his students the WASL, urges the state to “immediately abandon” (which, btw is NOT a solution) the WASL in an editorial today. While I respect his views and it’s clear he believes he has his students’ best interests at heart, Mr. Chew is unfortunately missing the bigger picture.

He says, “The WASL has done nothing to decrease high-school dropout rates of more than 30 percent; in fact, it will increase them as approximately 16,000 students who stayed in school and passed their classes are denied diplomas this June. Today, without a diploma, they will be locked out of what could have been their futures — an unethical "reform" if there ever were one.”

Now, I agree the WASL isn't perfect. Far from it. Even OSPI admits it needs improvements. But, the problem with education reform is not the WASL or any test for that matter. The WASL isn't supposed to decrease the dropout rate. It’s supposed to help ensure that all students are prepared for the harsh realities of life after high school. And contrary to popular belief, the WASL, or any other assessment, does not increase the dropout rate either. Research shows time and time again that ALL students – no matter their race, background or income level – are capable of passing a basic test like the WASL with the right guidance and support.

I have a perfect case-in-point for you. Take a look at ELITES – a support group created by Osbaldo Hernandez, a local high school student who saw many of his fellow Hispanic classmates dropping out and growing discouraged. Hernandez didn’t look around and blame the school, the system or the WASL. He helped turn these kids around by encouraging them, offering support to navigate the school system, and telling his friends that they could do it. They could meet any challenge and graduate.

The problem with education reform is, in fact, exactly the opposite of what Mr. Chew is claiming. The real problem is that we continue to fight the notion that the majority of today’s students need more than a high school diploma to get a job that can support a small family. It reminds me of those thetruth.com commercials that tell you real facts about smoking that smokers just don’t want to believe.

In education, it goes something like this.

FACT: By 2014, 77% of new family-wage job openings in Washington will be held by workers who have had education or training beyond high school.

MOST PEOPLE: “I don’t believe it! Not all kids need college. Heck, I didn’t go to college and I did just fine.”

While this may be a true story and yes, not all kids need to go to college, the reality is MOST kids DO need education beyond high school in today’s increasingly global, technological and competitive world. (“What? I don’t believe that either!” And here we go again…)

But here’s the kicker: Giving kids a diploma when they are unable to demonstrate mastery of the basic skills needed to even enter these postsecondary programs, is what will truly lock them out of their future. Equity is about preparing ALL students for life after high school. It’s about making sure a diploma in Bellevue means the same as a diploma in Yakima. And like it or not, the WASL helps to measure whether or not both are more than just a piece of paper.

And that’s the truth.

Oh, and…

P.S., a comprehensive test like the WASL is actually cheaper than end-of-course exams, which is the other testing option that the state has considered.
P.P.S., As of August 2007, 11,352 (not 16,000) students still needed to pass either the reading, writing (or both) WASL to graduate. However about 4,000 of these students haven’t registered a score at all, presumably having never taken the test. Also, updated WASL scores since then will be released soon, hopefully bringing this number down further.
P.P.P.S. I am told that the majority of students who are not on par to graduate are lacking course credits, not merely failing the WASL.