Please allow me to comment on the otherwise fine commentary of Kyra-Lin Hom last week concerning the (Washington Assessment of Student Learning - WASL - exam). She called it a standardized test and it is not. There are two kinds of tests given in schools: standardized and criterion-referenced. The WASL is an example of the latter.

Standardized tests are given to hundreds of thousands of students across the country at approximately the same time of year. These scores are then placed on a curve (the bell curve we all know about) and school districts and school boards can see how their district does compared to others. Standardized tests are not designed to assess individual students; testing companies make that very clear.

A criterion-referenced test, on the other hand (the WASL), scores answers according to specific criteria for each question. For example, a four-point question in the reading section requires students to address certain points in their response. If they address all of them clearly, they receive all four points. If some of the criteria are not addressed, they receive

proportionately fewer points. Unlike standardized tests, criterion-referenced tests can be used to assess individual students.

I hope this clears things up.

Dave Gardner

Genesee Hill