At last. Its gone. Now carry on with real education instead of obsessing with "making the numbers"..

We have spent too much money and too much time on the WASL. We need to spend time educating students and stop teaching to a test. Especially for our severely disabled population it is rediculous! These students deserve to be educated to the best of THEIR ability.....NOT to a TEST! WAY TO GO RANDY DORN!

I am glad to see this changing. My son was in the first grad. class that it was required. He failed the Math section twice by just a couple of points. But when he took his SAT he scored really high. So his SAT score counted for the math protion. Makes you wonder whats wrong with the Math portion of the WASL when a child can score high in the SAT.

Finally! Randy Dorn is the change we needed. I would like to see the heads of all state agencies put up for public vote. This would make them more receptive to the public they serve. We could start with DOH and DSHS!

Getting rid of the WASL is a right step in the right direstion. Freezing teacher's salaries is not. They are already at the "bottom". Has anyone mentioned freezing school administration salaries? Possibly, doing some "house cleaning" in those offices? They have assists to the assists, etc. etc. They're supplied vehicles and stipends for driving those vehicles, not to mention their expense accounts and "high end" salaries.

Randy Dorn was a great choice! Even though my high school daughter had already passed her test, I am glad he got rid of the WASL, it took too much time and did nothing to prepare our kids for the "real world". Allen, you're doing a GREAT JOB on "Upfront"! Thank you.

Hurray for Randy Dorn!!! Change can't happen fast enough.
The WASL has dragged our kids down academically through a subjectively graded bloated experiment (gone horribly wrong). The time investment was ridiculous. Specifcally the Math WASL never gave an indication of math proficiency it was more a test in ability to read instructions and write to the grader. After reviewing my child's results I was shocked at how illogical and subjective the grading was - never transparent. The emphasis seemed to lower the common denominator -- dumbing down our education and our kids with it.

Out with the wasl, my grandaughters are both in the eigth grade and absolutly hate the wasl. They said if im not mistaken from April 13th to May 1st. I have to provide snacks for them they come home tired each day, for example my oldest eigth grader came in from the wasl every day aadn slept from 3pm to 7pm for dinner its ridoucles. And every year all this years she would never pass the math wasl so she would cry and say she not good enough for it. And she almost dropped out till she got some good therapy. It happens every year so when she saw the news this morning she was actually looking forward to taking it next year. THANK YOU KING 5.......

Dear King 5,
Thanks for the coverage on the story, yet I believe the focus of the story is incomplete. I have yet to hear an investigation cover the important and driving piece of "AYP" from the federal NCLB legislation. As I understand it, by the year 2014 all U.S. students including Washington State students, must pass their state's test. That's 100% and no one that I talk with expects that to be met, yet districts across the state are being forced along a curve to meet this law. Why no coverage? I believe this to be as important or even of greater importance that the WASL itself. Why hasn't any state challenged the Federal mandate to meet AYP? I think it unconstitutional, because each state has a different assessment and therefore there isn't fair competitiveness between the states for federal dollars for education. While federal monies are not a large part of our state's spending on education, we don't seem to be able to live without it and therefore "play the game" to get the money. It seems that states should be using a more valid and reliable standardized test that treats all states equally for getting federal dollars. PLEASE report on this matter as it is of utmost urgency. It directly affects what is being taught, how it is being taught, and who teaches what is to be taught to students

Hurray for Randy Dorn!! The WASL (particularly the Math WASL) can't happen fast enough. Every year it is given is a year we lose in their education. After reviewing my child's math WASL I found the test to be more focused on wirting and comprehension thatn math, the grading was not only subjective and weighted but completely obtuse (the opposite of transparent). What a waste of time on an experiment gone horribly wrong.

It's about time! I'm tired of teachers teaching for the WASL instead of what'simportant. They are more worried about funding and raises than the children's education. Next, the creators of the GED, College Placement Tests and the new "WASL" need to get together and make sure they are all on the same page when it comes to the "standard". Students, myself included a few years ago, have to obtain a GED because they can't pass the WASL. You can score high on the GED, but still fall way behind "College Level" when trying to enter college. Tell me how that works? More ways to get money? When you finish your k-12 education, whether it be a diploma or GED, you assume that you are ready for the next step.

As a certified teacher in Washington in my eleventh year of teaching, I would like to share excerpts of the following letter I sent to Supt. Dorn last night:
Dear Superintendent Dorn:
I have read your article, “Bringing Change and Improvement to the State’s Student Assessment System”. In looking at your plan through the lens of a Washington state educator...I have some thoughts to share with you.

I appreciate your passion about the need to shorten the tests, reduce the amount of time spent testing, minimize costs, and provide more diagnostic information to teachers/families. These are worthy goals that I wholeheartedly support. That said, I have a number of questions not addressed in the Q&A section on the OSPI website.

First of all, I am wondering about your claims regarding reducing the number of written response questions: Didn’t OSPI already completely remove the extended response questions from the WASL for elementary students, effective this year? How will the “no more than a quarter” of your new tests’ written responses be taken and scored? Will students need to type their responses? If so, how will typing skills affect test scores? We have no standards or expectations for keyboarding skills that I am aware of. How will this affect the validity and reliability of the test? In addition, many schools in our state do not have the technology to support a computerized test. Who is going to pay for that? What will it cost to maintain those computers?

Secondly, while computerized testing is more cost effective to score, what about higher order thinking skills? Aren’t the “real life needs” of students in this century to be thinkers and problem solvers? Isn’t a test that is predominately multiple choice and fill-in the blank a step backward? This screams “ITBS” with a different name. We moved from ITBS testing to the WASL because assessment drives instruction. The WASL was formed based on our state’s high standards and prior to No Child Left Behind. The problem is not the original intent of the WASL, it is the No Child Left Behind legislation that has muddied the waters. Yes, your Measurements of Student Progress and High School Proficiency Exams will help us ensure that “no child is left behind” in terms of basic skills, however, this leads to my third set of questions and statements.

What is the real goal of replacing the WASL? From all appearances, it seems it is to better meet the No Child Left Behind requirements. How will the new administration under President Obama affect NCLB? I am very concerned that the surface claims of your changes to our state assessment will satisfy potentially soon to be antiquated NCLB requirements. I am concerned these changes will drive instruction away from standards-based teaching and higher-order thinking skills. How is this being addressed?

My fourth set of questions is regarding the dichotomy I see between your claim to support spending less time on testing and your “making testing available twice during the school year in the spring and the fall.” You state that testing twice in the school year would “afford students more than one chance to show proficiency, and provide diagnostic and growth information to support individualized teaching plans.” What is an individualized teaching plan? Do you mean “student learning plan”? Please clarify the term “individualized teaching plan”. Additionally, I am wondering how testing twice a year is “less time spent testing”? The cost of this at the district level would be huge. Testing more than once a school year sounds formative rather than summative to me. Don’t classroom teachers already do this well without the cost of a state agency? Furthermore, your plan to design tests for each subject that “are to be administered in a single sitting, allowing for students to possibly test in two subjects in one day” is alarming to me. I know numerous teachers who would stand by me when I say that piling on more than one high stakes assessment in one day is not what we meant when we said that students need to spend less time testing. What is the developmental appropriateness of this?

I reiterate, I support reducing state assessment costs, shortening the tests, and reducing time spent testing. These goals are responsive to some of the concerns regarding our state assessment. The route to getting there has me highly concerned and this is why my questions are pointed and many. They should be. As a parent, educator, citizen, and voter, I am holding you to a high standard. The quality of the assessments you develop will not only test our students’ skills, they will be evidence of yours. I hope I am not the only one asking these questions and look forward to answers to each and every one of them along with references to the widely proven research ensuring your decisions are sound.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,
Michelle Zimnisky, MEd
Certified Teacher

It is a good idea to make changes when the system we are using does not truly meet the need or objective it was meant to.
I believe one change should be year around school. Breaks for summer, winter, spring of a week or two. Do away with the three month vacation giving everyone time to forget the last thing learned. It is one thing the rest of the World is doing as well as a few states in the USA. We read reports such as,
"Over and over staff say they spend less time reviewing subjects, because of the shorter vacation breaks". Plus class size is smaller and fewer building are needed. All done with a less per student cost.
If you are going to change, change to something with a track record... that works... not another social test.
I have two children out of college, one in college, and one in High School. All agree with the year around idea. Has anyone else asked the students what they think?

Allan Stevens
Father of 4

My daughter has been in special education since she was 4 years old. I was told as her parent that she couldn't take an alternative WASL last year her first time taking it since she was Home Schooled for a few years before. She didn't do well since her reading level at 11 years old last year was at a 2nd grade. I was told after taking the WASL the first time, she was able to take an alternative. When I met with her teachers last November to update her IEP (Individual Education Program - programming allowing her to get help in school), I was told she would be able to take a 2nd grade WASL. I met with her teacher and principal last week about a different problem, have found out that she has to take the 6th grade WASL, but she does get the aid in all areas accept the Reading. A teacher or proctor gets to read all the info that she would need to answer the questions and then she would need to answer it on her own. The Reading she would have to do entirely on her own. The kids are failing the WASL, the WASL is failing the kids. I don't think it should be a requirement to graduate, just like all colleges don't necessarily look at SAT scores. After listening to Randy Dorn on Up Front today and seeing that he has finally able to abolish this test gives me a smile to know that I did a great job voting for him. I think there should be some better alternative for kids in special education since they are already struggling to be a normal as they can be with your developmental delays. The WASL and/or any other test that replace it, should have a special set up for the kids in special education so that they are not taking the exact same test as the kids that are not in special ed. Their test should be geared to what level of school that they are on so that they and their parents do not get stressed out over their children taking a test that doesn't help them. My oldest daughter (a junior last year) had to take the 10th grade WASL since she was being home schooled and it wasn't a requirement. After talking with people at her school about her taking the WASL, they put her into an English PAS class. She took the WASL and missed the Reading section by only 4 points. She was able to retake it in August and then missed it by only 3 points. We found out that this PAS class will substitute for the Reading WASL. She also took the math originally but didn't pass it, but they changed the graduation date that it was needed to graduate, she didn't retake it in August. I found out this year in her senior year, that she has to take the math WASL plus take a math class (Pre-Calculus). Both of my kids were homeschooled by my mother-in-law for 4 years and then attended a private school for 1 year and my oldest was able to work at her own pace and was able to complete a lot of her high school classes earlier. This year she only had to take 1/2 semester of English, PE, and her 2nd year of foreign language and the rest of the day she goes to the Marine Technology building in Seahurst Park for PSSC (Puget Sound Skills Center). She needs to find out if there is a Math PAS class she can take, without having to take the Math WASL this spring. I, as a parent, am confused since they say that the Math WASL is not needed for the Class of 2009 to graduate, but she still has to take it. Because she didn’t take a math class this year as a regular class but found out through a math teacher that came to her PSSC that she would have to take a math class this year.

Thanks Randy for booting the WASL. While you're at it, boot the professional certification program for new teachers (not to be confused with the National Board program). I just finished my Pro-Cert and what a complete waste this program is to teachers with less than six years of experience and to the tax payers! In one class, I had to purchase the same book that was used in a class taken during my undergraduate studies.

For those who don't know, when a new teacher graduates from college after proving already they can teach, they must fork out another $5k to complete what is called "the professional certification." This program was established after the year 2000. Most new graduates are going into debt because they receive ZERO funding from their districts/state for this redundant program.

Keep the National Board program, since this is OPTIONAL for teachers who want to pursue this. Remove the Pro-Cert component for new teachers. It's government redundant "taxes" like Pro-cert that makes new teachers, who are only making about $30k/year, choose other professions. Perhaps have new teachers earn 'x' many credits in their field by a certain date versus making do a program they already completed during their college undergraduate programs.

I totally agree with removing Pro Cert! If there was a #2 complaint amongst newer teachers, it has to be the pro-cert requirement. If this is going to be required, there needs to be 100% funding from OSPI for this. You're essentially telling educators with less than six years of experience that "they are not worthy" compared to their other colleagues who have been teaching longer. In reality, it's the younger teachers who are bringing in new ideas, curriculum, etc. for about 1/2 what a district is paying a tenured teacher. Also, these younger teachers (or teachers with less than six years) are leaving the profession for more lucrative positions where their talents are respected.

Too many educators have complained this is a complete waste of their time (vs. something like the National Board which is more individually driven). I would be in favor of a system that requires ALL teachers to earn 'a specified # college credits' in a 5 to 10 year period that relates to their field.

The WASL test is an expensive failure of Terry Bergeson, the past Superintendent of Public Instruction. Millions of dollars were spent over years and students kept failing it, particularly the math portion.
Math coaches were hired, summer school classes were added, but nothing changed because the Everyday Math curriculum, also promoted by Bergeson, did not give adequate preparation or practice in basic math skills. Instead of changing to Singapore or Saxon math, the Seattle Schools recently expanded Everyday Math into all the elementary schools.
The legislature should get out of Randy Dorn’s way and let him make the urgent changes needed to improve education in Washington State.

Thank you Randy Dorn, for realizing that some changes are needed. But please: are you serious that the changes are effective for the class of 2010? My daughter is a member of this class, here are my concerns:
1. She has already passed the 10th grade WASL (actually, passed it in 9th grade). Now she has to face her senior year with not one but two replacement tests required for graduation?
2. This is a test that hasn't even been written yet, let alone piloted, and she has to pass it (twice?) within the next 18 months?
3. She is signing up for SATs and ACTs beginning in March of this year - three months away - and trying to find time to prepare for them (along with 3 AP classes, sports and a part time job.) Now she has to backtrack and think about another high school test?
4. She will be taking 2 or 3 AP classes next year, with the hope of doing well and getting a jump on some college credits. She will have to loose instruction time in her senior year for another state test?
5. She is going to be busy with college application essays starting next fall, a huge time consuming effort for anyone who has had a kid apply to 2 or 3 colleges. Should she mention in them that she won't know if she will actually graduate from high school until late spring?
5. She will be busy next year fulfilling the requirements of our districts' Culminating Project, an ever-growing headache. So, let's add on some more stress to these kids?
You can't be seriously thinking that this should take effect as a graduation requirement for the class of 2010. How does she opt out????????

I have the same questions Kirsten has regarding the math portion of the WASL. My child is a senior in high school this year. He/she has passed both the reading and writing portions of the WASL, but not the math. Why is it that the state is going to force the students of the class of 2009 to take the math WASL in April if A) the WASL will no longer be given after this school year, B) passing the math WASL is no longer a requirement for graduation as long as the student takes and passes a math class in their senior year (which I have NO objection to at all). The state could save a ton of money and students would have more REAL class time if the math testing were not required.
Think about it; do you honestly think these kids give a crap about the math WASL when they know they DO NOT have to pass it to graduate? All they have to do is show up and put their name on the test booklet, maybe draw some pictures in the space provided for the "writing" part of the "math" WASL, and turn it in. This is a two day two hours a day test (just for the math portion). What a huge waste of time and money (for the state to pay teachers to score these tests). These kids are not stupid!
I also agree that the WASL is "failing our kids". This very flawed test has made even more students feel like failures and they give up on themselves. The stress and anxiety put upon BOTH students and teacher's is crazy. Students are dropping out of school at an alarming rate, and our very good VETERAN teachers are leaving the teaching profession in droves, although no one will ever admit to it! The No Child Left Behind Act is "leaving more children behind than ever before". My child made this statement in a math class two years ago after the teacher started a conversation about the link between the NCLB Act and the WASL. The teacher threw my child out of his class!! Lesson learned here...if your opinion is not the same as this bully teacher's is, keep your mouth shut. I was and still am furious at the way my child was treated by this jerk. He should not be allowed in the classroom in my opinion! I can't tell you how thrilled I am that this is our last year in the public school system in Washington State.

I'm a nine year old, so I personaly have taken the WASL. I am pleased that the the test is being removed, just as long as they replace it with a more encouraging test so that me and my fellow students aren't pressed to complete the test because of needless threats that if we don't pass the test, we are not able to go to the next grade. The test has frayed several nerves including my own. Now that the WASL is being removed, I am eagerly awaiting the new test to start in 6th grade. I am happy that Dorn has decided that the test is needless.

Hopefully the new test will be independently scored so there won't be any chance of passing children through just to make our districts, teachers and public education system look good.

The WASL was a waste of time. Some kids do not do well with tests, even if they know the subject matter. Passing a test should not be the only requirement for graduation; it should be a small percentage. Class work, teacher comments, and a variety of their work should count. I took a look at a WASL math sample and with two years of college I couldn't figure it out!

Discontinuing the WASL is a very bad idea. It is already abundantly clear that the various school districts are not capable of providing an acceptable education. Without a standardized test, there is no “least common denominator” to account for. It’s already bad enough that we have lowered our educational standards to the “lowest common denominator”, but when teachers continually strike even when the economy is failing, it's unacceptable. Teachers salaries are based on 9-10 months yet equivalent to 12-months (please don’t tell me that you all work more, I know teachers that do not work the extra months, or seem to find time to regularly be home from “work” by 4:pm), strike for more money because they’re working too hard. So guess what...you get more money, a year later you realize…wait I’m still working “hard”…I deserve more money. End of my tirade.
The fact that Dorn wants to instigate more diagnostic tests…is he joking? Do teachers not give quizzes and tests throughout the year? do they not adjust their curriculum based on the results? Given this statement and the myriad of teachers complaining, I’m guessing not (anymore at least). Are teachers not accountable for anything? BS that they are “teaching to the WASL”. That is the least common denominator, not the standard. They should be teaching more than just what’s on a test. Life is much more complex and you have MULTIPLE YEARS to pass on those instructions, life experiences, history, etc.
I acknowledge that there may be necessary changes to the standard. I was told that the WASL standards included all students, handicap and other. That is ridiculous to hold special education students to the same level. Yet those students better not receive a high school diploma either.
It is not a “right” that every student must pass and have a high school or higher education. Case in point, not everyone is created equal no matter how bad you want them to be.

Discontinuing the WASL is a very bad idea. It is already abundantly clear that the various school districts are not capable of providing an acceptable education. Without a standardized test, there is no “least common denominator” to account for. It’s already bad enough that we have lowered our educational standards to the “lowest common denominator”, but when teachers continually strike even when the economy is failing, it's unacceptable. Teachers salaries are based on 9-10 months yet equivalent to 12-months (please don’t tell me that you all work more, I know teachers that do not work the extra months, or seem to find time to regularly be home from “work” by 4:pm), strike for more money because they’re working too hard. So guess what...you get more money, a year later you realize…wait I’m still working “hard”…I deserve more money. End of my tirade.
The fact that Dorn wants to instigate more diagnostic tests…is he joking? Do teachers not give quizzes and tests throughout the year? do they not adjust their curriculum based on the results? Given this statement and the myriad of teachers complaining, I’m guessing not (anymore at least). Are teachers not accountable for anything? BS that they are “teaching to the WASL”. That is the least common denominator, not the standard. They should be teaching more than just what’s on a test. Life is much more complex and you have MULTIPLE YEARS to pass on those instructions, life experiences, history, etc.
I acknowledge that there may be necessary changes to the standard. I was told that the WASL standards included all students, handicap and other. That is ridiculous to hold special education students to the same level. Yet those students better not receive a high school diploma either.
It is not a “right” that every student must pass and have a high school or higher education. Case in point, not everyone is created equal no matter how bad you want them to be.

As the daughter of a fifth grade teacher, I have heard quite a lot of problems that came from the WASL. I believe a change is desperately needed and hope this is in the right step. Great questions have been brought up including what effect this will have on No Child Left Behind. I too would like King 5 to investigate more on what these changes will do to NCLB, and if there is any progress to changing or demolishing NCLB. I do not agree with the program, nor do I think it can ever be successful when the government wishes to see every single child, in every single school, to pass, at least not when they are taking tests that are above their level.
Another great question was how the schools are supposed to have their kids take these tests on the computers, when many smaller school can't even afford to keep up on the old computers they have. Computers are a great new source for the bigger schools who can afford it. Is Randy Dorn going to make sure that every single school in Washington State has enough computers for their students to take the test in the right amount of time? Is he going to make sure that the computers are up to date and working properly? There are too many schools already trying to cut things in their budget, buying new computers is not at the top of their list.
I also respectfully disagree with Jeff's comment "..I know teachers that do not work the extra months, or seem to find time to regularly be home from “work” by 4:pm.." There will always be "bad apples" with every career. But to condemn all teachers, just because you know some who don't work extra time, is not right. What about the teachers who bring home their work to grade, or the ones who come in on the weekends to make sure their classroom is ready. Do you see those teachers? I realize that I am completely biased in the matter. But living with a teacher, seeing what they do, hearing what they go through, yeah I don't think I would call it "work" either maybe heroic is better.

First, I feel the WASL does need to be replaced. I am tired of my children being taught just to pass a test. The test is too long taking up two weeks of valuable instruction time.
Second, I would like to comment on Mr. Dorn's answers to the budget. I find it interesting the first thing he mentioned to save money is to eliminate school security and school safety. I have to ask where has this man been the last 30 years as the safety of our children has been put more and more in jeopardy. How many more school shootings, assaults, bullying, harassment, theft do our children have to endure before educators understand that school safety is their issue and part of the basic needs of a school. I put my children into the care of a school for the majority of their day. I think a school has a paramount duty to do all they can to reasonably ensure the safety of those children.
I think this is a whole different subject that should be explored.

Jeff: I also respectfully disagree with your comments. My first question to you is: Do you have children? If so, are they old enough yet to be in school? By the tone of your comments I don't think you do, or if you do they are in private schools? Here's an update on today's public school education. NO, I am NOT a teacher, and I do NOT work in or for the schools!
Not every person (or child) learns the same way. We have known this for years. The WASL test tries to force every student to fit into a round hole, even if they do not learn this way. Since the inception of the WASL test, the entire school day revolves around the WASL. When my child was in the 4th grade (at that time it was the first year students took the WASL) there was virtually NO science or social studies taught that school year because they were not WASL subjects. Science has become a WASL subject since then, but history/ social studies have not.
The entire math program in our school district was changed when my child was in the 5th grade "to teach to the WASL"!!! YES, our teacher's "teach to the WASL"!! I heard it with come out of the mouth of our Assistant Superintendent a few years ago at a school board meeting!! I had a straight A math student who was totally lost when the program was changed. The WASL test for some kids (not all) is difficult, stressful, and a waste of time. Why should our kids' high school graduation status hinge on ONE high stakes test after 12+ years of school?
Regarding teacher's: Most high schools, junior highs and middle schools' day starts between 7:30-8:00AM. Therefore, teacher's are required to be "at work" by 7:00AM. Our high school and junior high let out at 2:30PM and teacher's are required to stay until 3:00PM. That is an 8 hour day in my book. Ask the teachers you know what grade they teach. Most teacher's arrive early and stay late. They take work home with them, work on weekends and Saturdays, and don't forget all of the open house and science fair nights when they are "working". During the summer most are in school themselves staying caught up on required credits necessary to keep their teaching certificate. Some are in college working on their MBA's. Get your facts straight Jeff before you start bad mouthing teachers and give "advice" about the WASL. You don't have a clue.

What are the statistics on the number of kids that are having trouble with this test. Is it the usual poor me that we are seeing were the minority gets the say so instead of the majority. The parents and the kids that want to work at it will do fine. Maybe if they are able to control the kids in school it would help. When I was in school the teachers were lazy and the kids that didn't want to work at it were pushed through until they graduated and couldn't read. This is what were headed for again you need a way to make kids and teachers do what it takes. Things are to easy for the spoiled brats in this country. What are countries doing that are passing up are kids doing. I bet there not making things easier. Smaller class sizes and less work for the kids is not the answer. Parent involvement and better work ethics is the answer. Why can parents home school without a degree. This makes no since.

Les: I don't have the official statistics on the kids having trouble with the WASL. I can tell you that approx. 50% of the students across the state are failing the math portion of the WASL. That in my mind is a very large number, and hardly the "minority". I'm not saying "poor me" at all. My child did pass the reading and writing portion of the WASL. The math part of the test is mainly "story problems" as we would know them. I happen to have a child who can look at a math problem and give you the correct answer right now. The WASL requires that students write a 2-3 paragraph essay on exactly how they found their answer. If the student does not write the "essay" part of the problem out but just gives the correct answer, they get 0 points for said problem. However, if they attempt to write the essay and come up with the wrong answer, they will receive points.
Just like story problems back when I was in school, I could care less what time the train gets into the station. I'm not on the train! If I really need to know I'll look at the schedule! This is how my child's mind works (just like mine) right or wrong. We are both visual and logical learners. My child is not a spoiled brat, thank you very much. I would much rather see these kids taught "real world" math...how to balance a checkbook, read a bank statement, and give me proper change when I purchase something!!
My child has had a ton of parental support over the past 18 years. Common sense and the basics in life will take you much further than a bunch of letters behind your name.

Mom of a senior: I can hear the frustration in your voice. If the major problem seems to be the math section of the test why invent the wheel again just change the math. This is the way we do things in the U.S.A. If someone is not happy we change it until it has grown into something we can't control. And spoiled brats was not meant for all kids they know who they are. I work as a shift supervisor at a prduction plant and we have trouble finding kids that can pass the general apptitude test we have just to get hired. Between cell phones and video games are kids are going brain dead. There is very little work ethic that we instill into are kids. Maybe you can explain to me why parents can home school without a degree but teachers have to go 5 years of college. I'am sorry your child is having trouble with the math but with a little more hard work I bet they can get there. I coached young kids for years and have seen kids do great when they didn't think they had it in them its all about motivation. Negative talk about the test will create a negative attitude from your child. Don't give up there is always a way to make it work. Things aren't easy in this life that is a good lesson to teach your kid. Randy is like most other politicians he just wants to come in like he is the big hero.He should be promoting better work ethics.Good Luck.

As a senior in High School I know the pressures of the WASL. This new testing idea is a good choice although it is NOT a good idea to make it necessary to graduate.
Helping struggling 9th graders pass their classes I have seen that these students can understand the work presented but when faced with a test they fail. So no matter how smart they are they can't take tests.
So when you tell a student that they have to pass a test to graduate, they don’t pass. Then you get faced with drop outs.

HELLO not what the next generation needs out in the economy!!!!!!!!!!!

NO matter how SHORT or what it’s taken on it doesn’t matter. All it does is keep them stressing more about graduation.

Not only that, the students should be tested more on what they have learned not what they are programmed to learn.

Right now the WASL or even this new test is still testing how well students have learned the test not the actual content that was taught.

When they go out in the society they are not going to know ANYTHING but how to take a standardized test. WHAT job is there in the economy that all you need to know is how to take a test?

All people think about are what they think is best for the students, not what the students think or what is actually good for them. The students are constantly put down for their test grades, how do you think that student is going to react?

They get discouraged and their self-confidence is lowered. They give up, or get angry at school because they can't express themselves. They are angry at school because they are classified by their grades, instead of their personality or creativity.

Many people, including some teachers, look at students in this way. My experience with these 9th graders that are failing is more that what others see. They can trust me and what they have said to me or what i have noticed is just that. They have to take test to pass their classes. Working with them i can tell that they DO know the material, but once again they don’t do well on tests. As a result of that they stop doing work because they don’t think it is helping them at all; so why put up the effort.

In this economic time, I believe the creative component of school should be emphasized, not the testing components. This is because we need to be educating new ideas of how we can improve the society, not getting stuck on old ideas that don't seem to be working.

Great breakthroughs in the society happened only because people had the ability to explore new ideas and try new ideas. They didn't happen when the students were discouraged to try new things and limited to things that they are to be tested on.

As a senior in High School I know the pressures of the WASL. This new testing idea is a good choice although it is NOT a good idea to make it necessary to graduate.
Helping struggling 9th graders pass their classes I have seen that these students can understand the work presented but when faced with a test they fail. So no matter how smart they are they can't take tests.
So when you tell a student that they have to pass a test to graduate, they don’t pass. Then you get faced with drop outs.
HELLO not what the next generation needs out in the economy!!!!!!!!!!!
NO matter how SHORT or what it’s taken on it doesn’t matter. All it does is keep them stressing more about graduation.
Not only that, the students should be tested more on what they have learned not what they are programmed to learn.
Right now the WASL or even this new test is still testing how well students have learned the test not the actual content that was taught.
When they go out in the society they are not going to know ANYTHING but how to take a standardized test. WHAT job is there in the economy that all you need to know is how to take a test?
All people think about are what they think is best for the students, not what the students think or what is actually good for them. The students are constantly put down for their test grades, how do you think that student is going to react?
They get discouraged and their self-confidence is lowered. They give up, or get angry at school because they can't express themselves. They are angry at school because they are classified by their grades, instead of their personality or creativity.
Many people, including some teachers, look at students in this way. My experience with these 9th graders that are failing is more that what others see. They can trust me and what they have said to me or what i have noticed is just that. They have to take test to pass their classes. Working with them i can tell that they DO know the material, but once again they don’t do well on tests. As a result of that they stop doing work because they don’t think it is helping them at all; so why put up the effort.
In this economic time, I believe the creative component of school should be emphasized, not the testing components. This is because we need to be educating new ideas of how we can improve the society, not getting stuck on old ideas that don't seem to be working.
Great breakthroughs in the society happened only because people had the ability to explore new ideas and try new ideas. They didn't happen when the students were discouraged to try new things and limited to things that they are to be tested on.

Yes to killing the WASL! No to killing standards! Yes to mulitple tests. No to stressed, dumbed down kids. No to schools creating jobs for themselves. Yes to educating kids, honestly educating kids.

WOW they took all that time out of my 2 girls education. All those days where spent on this test.
Thank God!! All that money they spent and all that time our kids lost.
Both my girls where just test dummys for this WASL. in the yrs of 2002 & 2006, what a shame.

I STILL THINK WE NEED TO TEST THE TEACHER AND ANYONE WHO DEALS WITH OUR KIDS.

YAH!! Way to go Randy Dorn!

So the past 12 years of my child's education has been based on one single test and now it's kaput....WHAT A COLLOSAL WASTE OF TIME and $$$$!!!! Sick and tired of kids being tested all for nothing. Given the fact that colleges don't give a rats about a state test and all they care about is the SAT why don't we just test to the SAT test??? At least it's useful and will save families hundreds of dollars in practice tests. Sounds like a no brainer to me.

Well it seems that lowering the bar or not having a bar is the solution. Frankly, if you cannot pass the simplistic WASL test in 10th grade you have been asleep at school on the taxpayers account. It would be to your advantage as a student to work for personal academic achievement, but you by not being measured think you will squeak by and graduate. You might, but eventually your ability or lack there of will expose you. You will not be able to compete with other more deserving students who will be the future contributing citizens receiving success. So, I personally praise the loss of the WASL measuring stick and know that natural selection will as it always has relegate those with poor study habits to the poorer positions in our society. Thank you Washington parents against WASL you have reduced the competition my children will have to contend with for success. We need ditch diggers as well for the grand road construction plan that is going to save our United Socialist States of America…