Parent Questions Benefits of WASL
RICHLAND - Nearly 50 percent of students in Washington took the WASL this year and didn't pass. This included one local Richland High School student, who was just a few points shy of passing the writing section.
"I think the state's going to have some struggles," said Superintendent of Richland Schools, Dr. Rich Semler. "We're not talking about five or six kids here. We're talking about tens of thousands."
Wednesday, local parent DeAnna Winterrose questioned the benefits of the WASL after reviewing her son's test scores. Parents have the right to look at their child's actual test sheet and bring along a witness to watch. KEPR Newswatch reporter Chelsea Kopta accompanied the student's parents as that witness.
"The subject nature of the WASL test is what has brought this issue to the forefront," said Winterrose.
With four boys in the Richland School System, Winterrose said she is very familiar with the WASL. After several review sessions, she believes WASL assessments are often graded incorrectly.
"The test is not a precise or accurate measure of where students need work," said Semler. For instance, Semler said a student who is good at math but has poor reading skills, can score very low or even fail the math section because of a student's inability to interpret a problem - not calculate it.
Small math equations like that often leads to big problems, said the Richland mom, when rewarding points to problems becomes an arbitrary process.
"My husband and I, the superintendent and my advocate couldn't determine, in many cases, why points were rewarded or why why there were withheld," said Winterrose.
The problem becomes complicated, according to Winterrose, when parents want to appeal the results that are keeping their kids from donning a cap and gown.
"A student missing the standard by just a few points has the opportunity to appeal that score yet parents have to come in and look at the test to determine which questions missed and then hope that the question is worth enough points to merit an appeal," said Winterrose.
Appealing a few points is a battle Winterrose said she is more than willing fight, and wants other parents to know about, when the future success of students are on the line.
"The technical reports say that this is not very good for high stakes decisions on children," said Semler. "Graduation requirements are what I'd like to call high stakes."
Richland school representatives said they're working with parents who want to appeal or review their child's test scores. Richland superintendent Semler hopes the state will look to make changes but schools plan to continue using the WASL.
"I think the state's going to have some struggles," said Superintendent of Richland Schools, Dr. Rich Semler. "We're not talking about five or six kids here. We're talking about tens of thousands."
Wednesday, local parent DeAnna Winterrose questioned the benefits of the WASL after reviewing her son's test scores. Parents have the right to look at their child's actual test sheet and bring along a witness to watch. KEPR Newswatch reporter Chelsea Kopta accompanied the student's parents as that witness.
"The subject nature of the WASL test is what has brought this issue to the forefront," said Winterrose.
With four boys in the Richland School System, Winterrose said she is very familiar with the WASL. After several review sessions, she believes WASL assessments are often graded incorrectly.
"The test is not a precise or accurate measure of where students need work," said Semler. For instance, Semler said a student who is good at math but has poor reading skills, can score very low or even fail the math section because of a student's inability to interpret a problem - not calculate it.
Small math equations like that often leads to big problems, said the Richland mom, when rewarding points to problems becomes an arbitrary process.
"My husband and I, the superintendent and my advocate couldn't determine, in many cases, why points were rewarded or why why there were withheld," said Winterrose.
The problem becomes complicated, according to Winterrose, when parents want to appeal the results that are keeping their kids from donning a cap and gown.
"A student missing the standard by just a few points has the opportunity to appeal that score yet parents have to come in and look at the test to determine which questions missed and then hope that the question is worth enough points to merit an appeal," said Winterrose.
Appealing a few points is a battle Winterrose said she is more than willing fight, and wants other parents to know about, when the future success of students are on the line.
"The technical reports say that this is not very good for high stakes decisions on children," said Semler. "Graduation requirements are what I'd like to call high stakes."
Richland school representatives said they're working with parents who want to appeal or review their child's test scores. Richland superintendent Semler hopes the state will look to make changes but schools plan to continue using the WASL.
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