WASL must stay, school chief says
Sunday, September 7, 2008 1:07 AM PDT
By Andre Stepankowsky
Printable version
E-mail this articleWashington's schools are in better shape than the public perceives, and the state needs to keep insisting that students pass the WASL exam, the state school superintendent said during a campaign stop in Longview last week.
However, Terry Bergeson said "I blame myself for not using the bully pulpit" of her office to adequately spread the word about the state's successes. She said there's also too much negativity focused on schools' performance, much of which she blames on the federal No Child Left Behind law.
In an interview with The Daily News editorial board Thursday, Bergeson said suggesting that the state scuttle the WASL, as her opponent in the November election suggests, "is blowing smoke." It would set back the state's effort to improve schools and prepare children for a competitive world in which "we're getting our buns kicked ... by the Indians and Chinese," particularly in math.
Despite the controversies surrounding the test, the WASL "has made schools accountable, especially in high poverty schools like Kessler Elementary" school in Longview, where scores have improved dramatically, Bergeson said.
Starting with the class of 2008, students must pass the reading and writing portions of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning exam to get a diploma. The Legislature this year delayed the math passage requirement until 2013 because too many students have struggled to pass.
The WASL is THE issue in Bergeson's re-election campaign, in which she faces Randy Dorn in her bid for a fourth four-year term as State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Dorn advocates replacing the WASL "with a testing system that is more fair, more understandable and takes less time."
It's a message resonating in at least some quarters. Although Bergeson captured the most votes of a field of six candidates in the August primary, taking 39.3 percent of the vote, Dorn trailed closely at 34.1 percent.
Dorn, the executive director of the Public School Employees of Washington, the state's second largest school worker's union, has the endorsement of the state teachers' union. Bergeson, who is endorsed by a broad range of individuals and organizations, said holding students to high standards is working. She noted that 91 percent of the class of 2008 passed the reading and writing portions of the WASL. For the sixth straight year, Washington students were first in the nation in SAT scores. And state results of the ACT test - given to high school juniors who plan to attend college - also are among the highest in the nation.
She also touted an increasing number of students going on to vocational and technical training programs.
WASL is part of the reason for the state's successes, she said, because it makes student and educators accountable.
She acknowledged problems with the test that her office is trying to fix.
Math standards have been revised to make them more understandable and basic so that students learn essential math functions, such as multiplying and dividing fractions, she said. In the past, too much emphasis was placed on problem solving and not enough on basic computational skills.
Starting in 2010 the WASL will be given in May instead of April, Bergeson said. Teachers have sought this change because after the WASL is over, students tend to think the school year is over, wasting a month of school time, Bergeson said.
She's also planning to reduce the amount of time the test takes to administer by a third, she added.
Bergeson blistered the No Child Left Behind Law, saying that it places too much emphasis on where schools are failing.
Under the law, a school can meet most of more than 30 measures of achievement, but it's ruled in failure to make "annual yearly progress" if it falls short in just one area. It's demoralizing to educators, Bergeson said. "We can't do enough. We can't succeed."
The federal law's mandates to measure yearly progress also is why - unnecessarily, in Bergeson's view - Washington now administers the WASL to all classes kindergarten through 10 (with the exception of 9th grade). It used to only test 4th, 7th and 10th graders. That should be enough, she said.
Nom D'Plume wrote on Sep 7, 2008 7:04 AM:
" A message to parents of students: Keep in mind that the WASL siphons at least three weeks of class time. Included in that time is everything from mandated pre-WASls to the actual exam. The actual WASL takes two weeks to administer. This test costs multi-millions of dollars each year. Imagine what could be done with three more weeks and millions more dollars for our schools. I urge you to "Vote Dorn" for OSPI. "
Kelso98626 wrote on Sep 7, 2008 8:06 AM:
" I personally think the WASL is uncalled for and so do many people in the kelso district. I have five kids in the district which four have taken the WASL. Two are in honors classes and don't pass the WASL and two that have a little harder time with school that usually pass the WASL on one part or another. The WASL take time away from there actually learning teachers and students are totally stressed out the whole school scene changes. They get snacks and water and they study on just on the WASL. PEP rallys to boost there energy. I think if that must focus on regular school work than maybe we wouldn't have to take the wASL. Everyone would be focus all the time and there wouldn't be a drastic change in setting. "
LH wrote on Sep 7, 2008 10:27 AM:
" When I read some of the posts it's clear that many of the posters didn't pay attention in class & most likely couldn't pass the English/writing/spelling portions of the WASL. I know they teach proper grammer from kindergarten yet I see & hear misusage daily. Is more testing the answer? There needs to be a way to check a student's progress, but taking days even weeks out of class time seems counter productive. "
Just a person wrote on Sep 7, 2008 10:29 AM:
" When these kids Graduate and get out into the REAL world I'm sure their potential employer is going to check their WASL score to see if they will hire them or not. I have 2 kids in Kalama Schools. When my oldest took the WASL his teacher started talking to the kids about the test in OCTOBER just to get them prepared. All that does is stress the kids out think about this BIG test they have to take. I know lets all get together and sue the state for undue stress and worry they put on our kids just so we can waste more of our tax dollars. "
Ral mom wrote on Sep 7, 2008 10:36 AM:
" I personally believe that the Wasl is a huge waste of time. Not only do we take weeks of actual learning time away from these kids, but I believe it is unfair is some instances. My daughter is a 4.0 student and has been since 6th grade, she is in honors classes and will be doing running start. Her scores came back from her wasl and she was above the state guidelines by a few points. My problem lies in the fact that A. how does a student with average grades do well in these tests, and B. what about those kids that dont do well in a testing enviornment? Since my daughter was in grade school she has stressed over and worried about these tests every year she has to take them. Is this ok to put that much pressure on these kids? In my opinion if we want to know if the kids are learning what we expect of them then why not test the teachers? "
An observer wrote on Sep 7, 2008 10:53 AM:
" It's exspensive,it takes up weeks of class time and it is invalid! Fire,Burgeson! "
bert wrote on Sep 7, 2008 11:45 AM:
" As I read these posts it strikes me how much emphasis is placed on the stress these tests put the students through. When they go to college don't they have mid-term and finals that create stress? Maybe the colleges should do away with these exams so as not to cause undue stress. That way they will not have any stress when they get out of school except for maybe, how they are going to support themselves, marriage and children and how they are going to have enough for retirement. . But hey, at least school will have prepared them for a stress free life. "
Viewpoint wrote on Sep 7, 2008 12:22 PM:
" About half the students in Washington take the SAT for college admission and on average their scores rank with the best in the nation. The WASL is not aimed to improve the achievement of those students. They dont need the motivation and obviously the teachers are sucessful in teaching them. Its aimed at the half who are not motivated and poorly supported to succeed in an academic school curriculum. The resources and curriculum are being narrowed to address the needs of thosed unmotivated students. Prediction: Between this narrowed focus and lack of adequate resources to meet ALL students needs, more of the highly capable students will flee the public school system to private schools and Running Start, and you will hear more clamoring for charter schools, vouchers, and publicly-paid distance learning programs. "
Ella Mentry wrote on Sep 7, 2008 12:42 PM:
" WASL doesn't take up "three weeks of class time." It "takes up" literally every single day of the school year. The test itself is a short window. Prepping for the test, practicing for the test, learning how to pass the test...this is what our children are doing all year. When school started last week and I saw so many eager young faces with their shiny new shoes and crisp jeans...my only thought was..."Poor kids...they have no idea what they're in for." WASL victims. This issue is more than just a simple test. It's about extreme fiscal waste, Bergeson giving false numbers to the public, Bergeson refusing to answer questions for three years (resulting in a statewide vote of no-confidence in her), Bergeson spending billions of dollars only to say, QUOTE: "We've hit a wall with this thing." No one wants to pull the plug on a 12-year project that we've spent almost 2 billion dollars on. But sometimes it's better to cut the losses, start over, and lay a better foundation. Randy Dorn has fresh vision: exactly what our students deserve. "
Ella Mentry wrote on Sep 7, 2008 12:53 PM:
" QUOTE: Math standards have been revised to make them more understandable and basic so that students learn essential math functions, such as multiplying and dividing fractions, she said. In the past, too much emphasis was placed on problem solving and not enough on basic computational skills. END QUOTE. OH. MY. GOSH. It was Bergeson who initially insisted that those "basic skills" of computation were NOT necessary, but rather *thinking* skills are what needed to be mastered. SHE is the one who pushed hard for "reform math" where concepts like multiplication tables and simple single-digit adding and subtraction memorization don't even APPEAR in the new textbooks we spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on! Further, we have to ask ourselves: Since this year they "revised" the revised math standards (anyone else lose count on which "revision" we're on now?)...does that mean my students received less of a math education LAST year? Were the teachers just ignorant LAST year and not able to teach basic math skills because the EALRS weren't UNDERSTANDABLE? Every single thing Bergeson says is an insult to the students in this state and an insult to the dedicated teachers who have braved the rocky road OSPI forces them to travel on. Get the woman OUT and let's move forward with some common sense. THANK YOU ANDRE for placing her insane quotes in your article. "
Ella Mentry wrote on Sep 7, 2008 1:05 PM:
" Terry Bergeson, during her campaign, has continually blamed the federal No Child Left Behind act. Even in the above interview, Andre writes she "blistered it." This confuses some of us who have known Terry for many years. She is attempting to take the focus off her extreme failure during the past 12 years, and place it on "those nasty feds." Interesting. Here's what she said in October, 2003: "Washington State fully supports, deeply believes, and actively pursues the goal of No Child Left Behind (NCLB); ALL students achieving at high levels. We welcome the additional support NCLB has brought to focus on quality education, the improvements needed to reach all children, and the need, nationwide, to close achievement gaps. We support a feasible and fair accountability system." Bergeson was a loud supporter of this law. Now that her leadership is being questioned, she conveniently blames NCLB? Politics as usual. "
kelsograd wrote on Sep 7, 2008 1:16 PM:
" Interesting that the Chinese & Indians are doing so much better. That is becuase their parents expect their children to do well, whereas American culture is afraid to demand anything from their kids. Pure laziness on the part of todays American dads "
ac wrote on Sep 7, 2008 1:27 PM:
" I agree with the above posters: fire Bergeson. My children go to school to learn subject matter, not to study test-taking. However, a lot of time and money is spent on WASL and WASL prep. In the meantime, school report not enough funds to hire teachers to teach special classes or buy supplies. A lot of our tax money is siphoned off at the state level to support WASL development and bureaucratic offices. At home we know about having to do with adequate cheaper alternatives. Why can't the state get the basic education model instead of overpriced, but not necessarily better, WASL version. So vote NO to Bergeson and her WASL baby, and YES to Dorn "with a testing system that is more fair, more understandable and takes less time." "
bert wrote on Sep 7, 2008 2:57 PM:
" Kelsograd: just curious as to why you choose to single out Dads? "
LJD wrote on Sep 7, 2008 4:06 PM:
" Todays students are the victims of an experiment gone horribly wrong. Someday, someone somewhere will hopefully pull their head out of something and I'm not talking about a hole in the sand. "
Kay English wrote on Sep 7, 2008 4:35 PM:
" RAL Mom: Sped teachers who must test their lower achieving students use the WAA - a portfolio of student projects to measure academic growth. Of course, this method is not testing what the students know, but how creatively the teacher can gather student work into a notebook to show the student is learning. Incredibly, these notebooks can fail the "test" because the teacher has not put the notebook together properly, or has not included the student work that shows "progress." And, if the student eats some of the pages while the teacher isn't looking, well then, it is incomplete......... "
kelsograd wrote on Sep 7, 2008 4:44 PM:
" Dads are responsible for their children. Ideally dad & mom make the best environment for the child. But, it does not matter if dads are living with them or not, dads are the responsible parent. As always there are exceptions, such as a death of the dad. "
barney123 wrote on Sep 7, 2008 4:58 PM:
" Perhaps if the schools were allowed to revert to the ways of the past, this wouldn't be an issue. Whatever happened to school being Monday-through-Friday from 7:50 am to 2:30 pm? No more of this stupid "late arrival" or "early dismissal" crap every other week. All this accomplishes is the teachers beating the kids home! I have three neighbors who are teachers and they are home at least 30 minutes before the kids on early release days. Also, the way the math is taught these days, it's no wonder they fail. Students are NOT taught to do math the correct way...instead, they need to rely on calculators to perform basic math. What's with the "box" they're being taught for multiplication??? I had to re-teach my child the correct way to multiply AFTER graduation! Their response was "That's not how I learned to do it. We always had a calculator available. Why do I need to know how to multiply?" I was floored!!! Performing basic math is a necessity, not a bonus! "
my 2 cents wrote on Sep 7, 2008 4:58 PM:
" The biggest complainers are the kids who cant pass them.My kids passed them first time,they did not gripe about them. "
Ella Mentry wrote on Sep 7, 2008 7:32 PM:
" We'll never know the bottom line of what we've spent on WASL, but last year alone it was $112 million. One hundred twelve million dollars. And I just got a list of school supplies from my daughter's teacher...basic things they don't have any money in the budget for. "Please bring in above items to be shared in the classroom." $112 million for a test, but no money for glue sticks and markers. Oy. "
tatman wrote on Sep 7, 2008 8:40 PM:
" i have children in lv schools, my youngest is spec needs. now for him the test will be fit too his needs, why are they not changed for others who may not understand the material? my experience with the district is they try too fit the kids too thier mold not fit too the kids mold. as far as im concerned the test is BS, they have so many expectations but with limited resource for the kids, laying off paras and teachers, etc. so good luck kids, i wish you all the best. "
just living wrote on Sep 7, 2008 10:29 PM:
" These WASL's are a waste of resources, colleges are not looking at their WASL scores to be accepted. If the students are only learning what is on the WASL, what about the rest of education they are missing out on. BERT: the issue isn't taking an exam, finals or midterms, because you can usually flunk or get a low grade and still pass the class if your homework and other test scores are much higher. The issue is the teachers only teaching whats on the WASL and nothing else. ANS Kelso Grad: That is the weirdes remark yet! What does this have to do with responsible dads? Seems to me both parents are equally responsible for helping their children. Unless you think dad's are smarter than mom's - then thats another can of worms you just opened up and I pity your soul. "
just living wrote on Sep 7, 2008 10:32 PM:
" Administering it to kindergarteners? See if they can write their name, tie their shoes and color in-the-lines? Seriously, lets start stressing out our kindergarteners now....hmmmm...would that mean the drop outs would start at 1st grade? "
bert wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:29 AM:
" Kelsograd: I don't know your situation or where your perspective comes. Plus this is off topic. Here are some cold hard facts. In America today well over 50% of marriages end in divorce. When there are children involved the Mother is always given preferential treatment when it comes to custody. I can tell you from personal experience that even when the Family Court does an extensive investigation, in my case twice, and the recommendation based on those investigation both times are that full custody be given to the Father, the Judge(Johanson) can disregard the recommendation and grant custody to the Mother. The Father is normally given minimal "Visitation". The Father becomes a financial supporter but only a "Visitor" in their child's life. Yes having both parents in the home is always the best environment for the children but when that is not possible there are often other factors that need to be considered when judging one parent or the other. "
TDN Bad Boy wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:47 AM:
" Let's put some perspective here. Nom D'Plume and Ella Mentry are against the WASL mainly for one reason. When scores are announced like recently and Longview-Kelso kids score below the state average, smart people want those scores tied directly to the teacher pay raises. If the kids don't perform compared to the others kids across the state then something has to be wrong with the classroom message being delivered . . . i.e. Teaching. Those two teachers have offered every excuse in the book against this. And they are dead wrong. Every good business that I know of operates on quality incentives for its workers. Government employees like teachers should be no different. The WASL is an excellent tool to measure teacher performance. And administration and teacher pay raises should be tied directly to the WASL, not the blanket raises they recently recieved. Parents if you want to see your kids do better in school this is the best way. It's time to reclaim the way our schools are run and pay is delivered. The WEA has ruined this state, and it is time to kick the union out, stop the blanket raises to satisfy union campaign votes and return control of the schools to the taxpayers. This is ridiculous. "
Viewpoint wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:29 AM:
" Why teachers’ pay should not be tied to WASL scores- Are you talking individual teachers pay? All teachers in a building? In a district? A teacher of a specific student with a specific score? Some teachers have students who do well and some who do poorly in the same class. A tenth grader’s WASL scores are the result of a multitude of factors- previous teachers, previous districts, perhaps even education in other states and countries, family economics and education levels, health, learning disabilities, motivation, aptitude, etc. Sure a teacher’s teaching skill can make a difference in whether or how much a student learns, but it’s not the biggest factor and not all students will respond the same. A teacher’s knowledge and skill can be evaluated but WASL scores are not it. "
boo275 wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:46 AM:
" Bad boy, think before you type......
"The WASL is an excellent tool to measure teacher performance. And administration and teacher pay raises should be tied directly to the WASL,"
I agree with some of your post, but to tie the WASL directly to pay raises is a horrible idea..... Teachers would only teach how to pass the WASL instead of teaching kids any material outside the WASL. Great for statistics, terrible for the kids. "
"The WASL is an excellent tool to measure teacher performance. And administration and teacher pay raises should be tied directly to the WASL,"
I agree with some of your post, but to tie the WASL directly to pay raises is a horrible idea..... Teachers would only teach how to pass the WASL instead of teaching kids any material outside the WASL. Great for statistics, terrible for the kids. "
just living wrote on Sep 8, 2008 11:06 AM:
" boo275, the teachers ARE teaching the kids how to pass the WASL. This is why this exam needs to be removed so that the teachers can teach material outside the WASL. "
TDN Bad Boy wrote on Sep 8, 2008 11:07 AM:
" I didn't say it should be the only criteria for a pay increase. But it should be directly associated. I don't think when a district fails to meet the average or be above the average for the state that the administration or the teachers should be rewarded with full pay raises. There has to be some performance incentive. To just hand out unfunded blanket raises to satisfy the WEA union that supported a certain governor in the election is dead wrong. And until this state retakes control of all facets of education in this state, districts like Longview and Kelso will see huge raises go out to administrators and teachers even though students score below the state averages on tests like this. The teachers and the union hate this concept. Gee I wonder why? "
An observer wrote on Sep 8, 2008 1:31 PM:
" Bad Boy: What so hard to understand, teacher are already "forced" to give up way to much quality time to teach to this test which until I see otherwise and (Please show me some materials outside of the OSPI)is an "INVALID MEASURE OF STUDENT PROGRESS!" "
TDN Bad Boy wrote on Sep 8, 2008 2:59 PM:
" First of all, I don't buy the argument that they have to "teach the test." They should be teaching what's on the test as part of their regular ciriculum. If they are not, then the administration is not doing the proper job of overseeing course instruction. Second of all, I do not see any test that tests ALL of the students in the state as "Invalid." I don't care if the test only sees if 3rd-graders know how to spell cat, the kids in Longview and Kelso should not be below average. Let's see if I want to drive in Longview-Kelso, I have to take the same test as somebody in Lynden, Port Angeles, Yakima or Pullman. I have to pass the same test. All the students across the state are taking the WASL. You cannot say this is an invalid measuring stick. To be invalid, the kids in other districts would have to take a different test. They DO NOT. It may not be the type of measure you want it to be but until something else replaces it, IT IS a valid measuring stick of how our students are being taught compared to how other students are being taught. And to me, that is a direct reflection on the skill of the teachers and the administrations. When they do not measure up well against the other students around the state, I consider the teachers and the administrators as doing less than a competent job. Raises should reflect that. "
toledoone wrote on Sep 8, 2008 5:48 PM:
" I don't have children in school anymore. They have long since graduated. WASL did not exist when they went to school. Don't know much about it but it seems that smart folks write a test to measure achievement. And then the smart folks lowered the bar when the children didn't measure up. And they still can't pass. My guess is that there is something wrong with the teaching process. I am sure I just made a large number of teachers upset with me. That's okay, they were upset with me when I went to school too.
Our turkey farmer friend in Chehalis says that the state spends 1.7 million dollars to translate the test in 6 diffent languages. Could that possibly be true. Are we not living in America. I would think that all childred would take the test in English. I probably just made some other folks mad too. That's okay, I was making them mad at me a long time ago too. "
Our turkey farmer friend in Chehalis says that the state spends 1.7 million dollars to translate the test in 6 diffent languages. Could that possibly be true. Are we not living in America. I would think that all childred would take the test in English. I probably just made some other folks mad too. That's okay, I was making them mad at me a long time ago too. "
Nom D'Plume wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:02 PM:
" TDN Badboy: You are, once again, displaying a total ignorance of the issues facing schools, teachers, and administrators. Additionally, there are many businesses in the private sector that pay based on an hourly wage, not performance. The WASL system is hopelessly flawed as a reliable measurement of student learning. Furthermore, teachers are not even informed of what is on the WASL test prior to it being administered. In fact, teachers are prohibited, by law, from even reading the test questions and student responses. The idea that teachers are neglecting their charges because scores are low is illogical at best, especially considering they aren't informed of what will be on the all-to-important test. Washington State has some of the best SAT, ACT, and college entry rates in the nation. That indicates that the problem lies with the WASL, not the teachers. More disturbing is the belief that anything worth learning is measurable on a standardized test. Thank goodness the teachers have the WEA and NEA to protect them from ignorant zealots who would make decisions based on blind capitalism rather than facts and research. Regarding performance-based-pay, give up on it. It is ridiculous to assume all employees should be payed by such a system. Imagine if your doctor was paid in such a manner, "Sorry doc', your heart patient died. No pay for you an this one. No matter that he smoked 3 packs-per-day and weighed 500-pounds." Teachers are paid based on Bona-Fide belief that every is doing their best. "
Nom D'Plume wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:18 PM:
" The vast majority of teachers work very hard to do their best to ensure the students are learning. It is not the fault of teachers or administrators that kids are chronically absent, refuse to work when present, or lack the drive to work. I suppose the best way to pay teachers would be the way mill-workers and longshoremen are paid: by-the-hour. I'd be more than happy to get paid an hourly rate to teach, plan, take classes, write curricula, answer parent phone-calls, grade papers, attend meetings, coordinate with other staff, etc... Unfortunately, the taxpayers can't afford to pay us that way. I don't mind the tough kids, the grumpy parents, and ridiculous interruptions during the school day. What I can't abide, however, is uninformed people, who are too lazy to get the facts, spouting-off about issues they can't possibly fathom. I have worked successfully in the private sector. I could still make a bundle there. I, however, choose to take on the challenge of educating those on whom our future depends. If you really care about education, do some research and know the facts about the WASL. No one is trying to avoid accountability. We just want valid tests for students. And, by the way, I wrote this posting (as with all my others) from my HOME computer. NOT ON SCHOOL TIME. So no need to tell me to get back to work, as you have in the past. Well, got to go, more papers to grade. "
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