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The Everett Herald
January 20, 2006

Senate hears WASL appeals
State lawmakers hear testimony opposing and supporting the standardized tests

By Eric Stevick—Herald writer

OLYMPIA - The Washington Assessment of Student Learning, a high-stakes series of exams that high school students must now pass to graduate, was put to the political test on Thursday.

Leaders of the Washington Education Association, the Washington State PTA and a former governor urged the Senate education committee to drop the requirement of passing the exams to graduate from high school.

Other voices rang out as well, from a Marysville mother concerned about children with dyslexia, to a member of the Tulalip Tribes who believes other assessment options should be considered in determining who earns and who is denied a diploma.

Businesses and school administrators told lawmakers to keep the WASL exams in place as a graduation requirement, saying it will make public education more accountable, and student achievement already is on the rise.

This year's sophomores, the class of 2008, are the first who must pass the WASL reading, writing and math exams to graduate.

The Senate Early Learning, K-12 and Higher Education Committee spent more than two hours listening to testimony on two bills that would reduce WASL's role in high schools.

One, backed strongly by the 78,000-member teachers union and the state PTA, would make the WASL just 10 percent of what would be needed to earn a diploma, and even then require only minimal performance.

The legislation would create a weighted "multiple measures" system, with grade point averages accounting for 70 percent of the graduation requirements.

"While not perfect, the GPA is still the best predictor," said Charles Hasse, WEA president.

The other bill, crafted by former Gov. Booth Gardner, would let students select from a menu of assessment options other than the WASL. They could include a portfolio, industry certification tests, career and technical education assessments, and college entrance exams.

"It is simply wrong to hang the whole success of a student's schooling, or the school's effort to teach to high standards, to a single test," Gardner said.

Marie Zackuse, who has served on the Tulalip Tribes board of directors, asked lawmakers to consider "culturally sensitive options and not just a single test" as alternative paths to graduation.

Others advised lawmakers not to lower the bar.

Arcella Hall, principal at Grandview High School in Eastern Washington, said the expectations that accompany the WASL have led to vast improvements in student achievement at her school, which is 78 percent Hispanic. Grandview is a district in which about 75 percent of the students qualify for free or discounted lunches based on family income.

"I urge you to stay the course," she said. "Stand behind it and have faith in our students."

Mykela Paddock, a sophomore at Seattle's Roosevelt High School, told lawmakers that she believes she has received a better education than if the WASL hadn't been in place.

"I have a hard time comprehending the arguments against the WASL," she said.

Sen. Dave Schmidt, R-Mill Creek, said afterward that there is little difference between what the Legislature has been planning for years and what advocates of reducing the impact of the WASL want.

The Legislature has been planning to adopt alternatives to the WASL for students who take the test at least twice. Those assessments will be reviewed by lawmakers during the 60-day session.

"We are not that far apart," Schmidt said. "The question comes down to: Do you take the WASL first?"