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BOARD BRIEFS STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT & THE WASL |
February, 2006
Rick Gantman, Superintendent
Student Achievement and the WASL There has been a lot of discussion lately about the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL), and rightly so! The discussion has included questions such as: Is the WASL too difficult for our students? How much focus on the WASL should our school put on the test? Should passing the WASL be tied to graduation requirements? The Mount Baker School Board would like our community to consider the following when thinking about the WASL:
The WASL is not a “stand alone” test. It was developed using sophisticated educational research methodology and is based on the state’s Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRs). The EALRs are a set of learning goals that were developed by educators, parents, and business leaders that focus on what a student needs to know and be able to do in order to be successful in today’s competitive world. WASL skills have been organized into Grade Level Expectations (GLEs) and Mount Baker School District has developed our curriculum to be aligned with the GLEs to make sure that our students are well prepared and confident when approaching the WASL. Also, our new elementary report cards are now tied to the GLEs to provide a clear picture of a student’s progress in the EALR → GLE → WASL picture.
The WASL is not a test of memorization or factual recall. While some factual knowledge is necessary, the test is mostly about applying knowledge, using higher level thinking, and communication skills. In some states there is concern about “teaching to the test”; however, in Washington, since the WASL is not merely a memory test, our curriculum focuses on the advanced skills and abilities as well as basic factual knowledge.
Whether the state keeps the WASL tied to graduation requirements or not, Mount Baker School District should stay the course in supporting all students to high achievement. Many improvements and adjustments have been made to the WASL in the past few years. As all of this work takes place, Mount Baker must continue its school improvement efforts and continue to personalize our educational program for each student to ensure his/her success. Please follow this link to the Curriculum Corner for additional information.
