WASL Editorial: The Politics Heating Up

Too early to pull the WASL plug

WHEN it comes to the Washington Assessment of Student Learning test, the devil is in the details, which, unfortunately, are in short supply.

This year's scores on the WASL showed strong gains in nearly every grade and subject, but the marked improvement hasn't quelled fears that many students will not be graduating. Let's all slow down. First, we're predicting failure before it has occurred. Test results up to now offer little more than informational data for education statisticians. The WASL becomes a graduation requirement in 2008. Let's see what this spring's test-takers do before we predict their academic demise.

Students will be provided many routes up this mountain. The state Legislature voted to allow alternative assessments. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction is developing them.

The prediction that many of our students won't graduate is premature because it assumes they will not pass the WASL despite five tries and would also fall short on the alternative assessments. That is a big assumption considering we don't know what the other assessment tools will look like. Solution? Wait until the facts bear out or disprove our fears.

This advice is not contradicted by Gov. Christine Gregoire's plan for students struggling to pass the WASL. Indeed, her proposal is right on time.

The $38.5 million the governor is requesting from the Legislature would help schools offering summer school, remedial work and tutoring for students who need help meeting the new academic standards.

The WASL is the centerpiece of education reform. It is the way we measure how well students have met the heightened learning requirements. There is no way to avoid demonstrating the body of knowledge outlined on the WASL, nor should there be.

The alternatives under way won't be an easy way out. They are expected to measure the same high learning standards that the WASL measures, merely using different tools such as a collection of work or high grade-point averages in key courses.

Much of the consternation surrounding the WASL is fear of the unknown. This is the unsettling part of the road toward academic excellence — where the end is not visible and could resemble any frightening specter conjured up.

The answer is not to turn around or pull over, but to prepare ourselves and our students well enough to move forward.

Copyright © 2005 The Seattle Times Company