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WSSDA had technical difficulties yesterday; we apologize for the delay
of this update.
On Monday afternoon,
the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee used its full
hearing to review an update on alternative assessments to the
Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) and to review five
bills regarding the WASL. First, Joe Wilhoft, OSPI, provided an update
on Certificate of Academic Achievement (CAA) options currently
available to students, as well as a proposed new option. Currently,
approved CAA options are: the collection of evidence; WASL/Grades
comparison; and scores from college admission or AP
tests. Additionally, there is an appeals process that has been
established. Wilhoft also addressed a potential new CAA option: the
use of a segmented mathematics assessment. A segmented math assessment
is currently being piloted by OSPI and was the subject of the first
bill on today’s hearing agenda. SB 6503 would provide
legislative approval for the segmented mathematics assessment to be
used as an alternative assessment. WSSDA’s 2007 Legislative Assembly
was very supportive of this option.
The Committee also
took public testimony on four other WASL-related bills: SB 6494,
SB 6540, SB 6257 and SB 6673.
- SB 6494 – This
bill would remove the successful passage of each content area on the
WASL as a graduation requirement. Instead, it would implement a
multiple measures process, which would include the WASL (or an
approved alternative) as only one component of the graduation
requirement. Each component of the graduation requirement (GPA, High
School and Beyond Plan; culminating project; and WASL scores) would
be evaluated and assigned a different percentage of weight to
determine a student’s weighted graduation score.
- SB 6540 – Last
session, the Legislature adopted a bill to delay the implementation
of the math WASL as a graduation requirement. SB 6540 would delay
the use of the reading and writing content areas of the WASL as a
graduation requirement. Unlike last year’s math delay, which
requires students to continue to take math courses and enhance their
skills, SB 6540 would simply delay the reading and writing
graduation requirement without any additional requirements needing
to be met in the intervening period of time.
- SB 6257 – This
bill would alter WASL reporting requirements by stipulating that the
results of the WASL to be reported in aggregation to the level of
the individual school, which may then be further subdivided by grade
and by school characteristics.
- SB 6673 –
Requested by State Superintendent Terry Bergeson, this bill would
create the Extended Learning Opportunities program to assist
eleventh and twelfth grade students who are not on track to meet
state or local high school graduation requirement. Additionally,
eighth grade students not on track to meet the state standards on
the WASL would also be provided assistance.
Finally, the
House Appropriations Committee held a work session to receive an
update on the progress of the Joint Task Force on Basic Education
Finance. Dan Grimm, chair of the Task Force, provided the report. He
described the work plan that has been established by the Task Force
and how the work has been separated into two phases. The first phase,
which is now essentially complete, was a comprehensive review of the
K-12 education finance system along with a review of the many
education studies that have been undertaken since the Basic Education
Act was first adopted in 1977. The second phase, which will begin at
the conclusion of the 2008 session (with the first “Phase II” meeting
scheduled for Mar. 24-25), will be the development of recommendations.
Grimm explained that his intention is that the Task Force provide
recommendations in the form of legislation and/or budget
language. When asked about the timing of the project, Grimm said the
Task Force should have recommendations prepared “prior to the 2009
session.” Later, he further explained that his hope is that the Task
Force make preliminary decisions in March or April, allow for full
public comment on the options during May or June and have the final
recommendations for the Legislature in November or December. WSSDA
continues to closely follow the work of this Task Force and will
continue to do so as it moves through phase II and into the
legislative process. You are encouraged to be familiar with the work
of the Task Force and provide your input. If you have questions or
concerns, please contact your WSSDA staff and/or your local
legislators. For more information, please visit:
http://www.leg.wa.gov/Joint/Committees/BEF/. |
