The statewide 10th-grade test scores released today present further evidence of fundamental problems with the state's WASL-based student assessment system and the misdirected priorities at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson.
After a year of increased remediation and resources, the latest WASL reading and math scores show a declining percentage in the number of students passing while the writing scores show only a modest increase in those meeting standards as defined by Washington's graduation test.
However, on national tests, such as the SAT, ACT and the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Washington students have outperformed their peers in other states.
Classroom teachers and other members of the Washington Education Association support state tests as one component of a comprehensive assessment system, but they have long objected to using the WASL or any other single test to make high-stakes decisions about students, including graduation.
In addition to the experience of frontline educators, a wealth of research shows that using multiple methods to assess whether students have met academic standards is more valid, accurate and fair than using a single test such as the WASL.
Yet Bergeson continues to promote a WASL-centric assessment system that is counter to the best interests of students. While the state is delaying the use of the math WASL as a graduation requirement, more than 9,000 students in the class of 2008 haven't passed the reading and that same number have not passed the writing WASL and may not graduate.
Just as alarming is the decline of 9,000 students in total enrollment since last year's scores were released, signaling a potential alarm of a rising student dropout rate as a result of the WASL used to deny high school diplomas.
During Bergeson's decade-long tenure as the state's top school official, educators have grown increasingly frustrated with large class sizes, low pay and inadequate school funding for basic education.
The Washington Education Association has 80,000 members, including K-12 teachers, education support professionals and higher education faculty members.
