WASL Testing

In honor of the first day of WASL testing, here are a few interesting facts about the WASL, along with links to resources, sample test questions, and other information.

From the OSPI WASL FAQ:
  • How do students who are English Language Learners (ELL) participate in the WASL tests? All students who are ELL must participate in all WASL tests scheduled for their grades regardless of the number of years they have been in the U.S. The only exception is students who are in their first year of enrollment in U.S. schools. These students are not required to participate in reading or writing tests, but they must take the math exam [emphasis added]. In addition to participating in WASL, ELL students must take annually the Washington Language Proficiency Test - II (WLPT-II) in reading, writing, speaking and listening.

    This is problematic since the math exam requires a lot of reading and writing- BAB.

From the Mothers Against WASL FAQ:

  • How do I request that my child be excused from participating in WASL? To opt your child out of WASL, simply write a letter to your district superintendent and your child’s principal or fill out the form below and turn it in to your child’s principal and district superintendent. A follow-up call to your child’s school is a good idea, also.

From an April 11th KOMO-TV news story:

  • Lawmakers have already voted to delay the math requirement from 2008 through 2012, provided the affected students take additional math courses. And the requirement to pass the science WASL in order to graduate would be delayed from the class of 2010 to the class of 2013. A letter signed by 35 district superintendents was sent earlier this week to encourage lawmakers to support an amendment that would delay the reading and writing requirement to the class of 2010...It's a huge issue of equity," Soria said. "I don't know that we have successfully been able to convince the legislators the huge factor that poverty plays in how students perform."

Resources

Some companies are, of course, making money on selling WASL prep materials, both print and online. One company, however, is providing it for free: Digital Learning Commons.

And for the kids' perspective on the WASL see: Kent School District 5th graders' video tips for taking the WASL.

Comments

Charlie Mas said…
Here's another fun WASL link:
WASL Technical Report

Of particular interest in this report are these items:

CRITERION-REFERENCED TESTING, starting on page 1-5

APPROPRIATE USE OF TEST SCORES, starting on page 1-7

These statements make it very clear that the WASL is neither intended nor appropriate for use as an individual assessment. The publisher of the test specifically states that any percentile ranking of WASL scores is meaningless and that using the WASL to determine individual student placement is a dreadful error.

Seattle Public Schools uses percentile rankings on the WASL to determine placement in gifted programs for individual students.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.
Charlie forgot one thing. Your child can also be kicked out of the gifted program for not taking the WASL. That's the district's way of making sure all the gifted students in the programs take the WASL. No one else in any other program has to take the WASL.
Anonymous said…
Is that really true? Yet another way to punish people for using their advanced learning services. Dang. I was going to opt my son out of the WASL.
Beth Bakeman said…
Here's what I could find on the district site about the WASL and Advanced Learning:

Why is the WASL being used as one of the three factors of the reevaluation?
Charlie Mas said…
Here's what happens if your Spectrum or APP student opts out of the WASL:

What happens if I have my student "opt-out" of WASL testing?

I don't know anyone who has tested the District's resolve on this issue. I think it is a strange position for them to take when you consider this other statement:
If my student does not pass the WASL in reading and/or mathematics, will my student automatically be removed from the program?

So you can fail the WASL and stay in, because students may not perform well on the WASL for a number of reasons. But opt out of it, and there is no possibility that you belong in the program. You must not be gifted if you opt out of the WASL.

The District painted themselves into the logical contradiction because they refuse to collaborate and cooperate with the community on anything. Then, when people in the community become confrontational, the District leaders cluck they tongues and ask "Why can't you have a more cooperative relationship with the District?"

They wouldn't know what a cooperative relationship looked like.

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