What about the WASL

1
What about the WASL?

• Everything You Need to Know About Taking the WASL
  Tests
• (welleverything but the answers!)

2
Does the WASL still exist?

• There have been NO CHANGES to WASL testing for
  this year.
• There are plans to revise the states testing
  program, but this will not be in effect until
  next yearand it is not certain at this point
  what the changes will be.
• Bottom line You still have to take the WASL, and
  it still counts!

3
Who takes the WASL?

• All sophomores
• Except those who took and passed tests as
  freshmen
• Juniors and seniors who have not yet passed the
  10th grade WASL
• Freshmen are no longer allowed to take the WASL

4
What is the WASL?

• The Washington Assessment of Student Learning
• The WASL tests the BASIC information all students
  should know by the spring of 10th grade.
• These tests ask students to demonstrate their
  knowledge, skills, and understanding of the
  EALRs, as well as prove that they are learning at
  a pace that meets the GLEs.

5
What is the WASL? (cont.)

• The WASL is a test that is standardized and
  on-demand.
• All students respond to
• the same questions
• under the same conditions
• at the same time.
• Passing the WASL automatically earns you a
  Certificate of Academic Achievement, which is a
  graduation requirement

6
What is an EALR?

• Essential Academic Learning Requirement
• common standards for learning and teaching
• Academic standards reflect what Washington state
  educators, parents, business leaders, community
  leaders, and state and national experts say
  students must know and be able to do in order to
  be successful in the world beyond school.

7
What is an EALR? (cont.)

• There are four overarching EALRs
• Read with comprehension, write with skill, and
  communicate effectively.
• Know and apply the core concepts and principles
  of mathematics science social studies the
  arts and health and fitness.
• Think analytically, logically, and creatively,
  using experience and knowledge to make reasoned
  judgments and solve problems.
• Understand the importance of work and how
  performance, effort, and decisions affect future
  career and educational opportunities.

8
What is a GLE?

• Grade Level Expectation
• These academic standards give greater detail
  about the specific things students should know by
  the time they complete a class at a grade level
• i.e. what reading skills you are EXPECTED to have
  at the end of 10th grade

9
Whats on the WASL?

• 10th graders take tests in Reading, Writing, Math
  and Science. Each test has multiple parts.
• Reading (2 days)
• Writing Persuasive and Expository (2 days)
• Math with tools and without tools (2 days)
• Science (2 days)

10
Whats on the WASL? (cont.)

• Students are asked to both select and create
  answers to demonstrate their knowledge, skills,
  and understanding
• Multiple choice questions
• Short answer questions
• Extended response questions
• Problem solving questions
• Essay questions

11
Who wrote the questions?

• Classroom teachers and curriculum specialists
  from across the state
• They form two content committees for each grade
  level
• i.e. Reading/Writing, Math/Science

12
How do they know they are good questions?

• All questions go through this process
• Write (according to EALRs)
• Review
• Pilot test
• Final review
• Approval
• A Bias and Cultural Fairness Committee also
  reviews questions to ensure that nothing will be
  offensive to or might disadvantage a population
  of students.
• All questions that receive final approval go into
  a pool of questions, from which the WASL tests
  are created.

13
How is the WASL different than other standardized
tests?

• Emphasis on THINKING, not guessingnot only do
  you have to choose the right answer, but often
  you will have to explain how you got that answer.
• Your score reflects how YOU are learning the
  EALRs, rather than giving you a score that
  considers how well OTHERS are doing.

14
How much time does a WASL take?

• The WASL is NOT TIMED.
• Note Students may have as much time as they
  reasonably need to complete their work.
• Our schedule allows two hours per test.

15
What are the rules for the testing room?

• NO
• Pens
• Mechanical pencils
• Cell phones
• Ipods
• Computer use (i.e. after you are done testing)
• must be off and out of view during the whole
  testing session
• YES
• 2 pencils
• Snacks
• Water
• Homework (i.e. to do after you are done testing)

16
When is the WASL?

• The 8 test sections are spread out over 8
  mornings
• Reading Monday-Tuesday March 16-17
• Writing Wednesday-Thursday
• March 18-19
• Math Monday-Tuesday
• April 13-14
• Science Monday-Tuesday
• April 20-21

17
What if Im absent during the WASL?

• YOU NEED TO BE HERE!
• If you are not present for each day of a test,
  you will not receive a score.
• Missing any part of a test means that you have to
  retake the test.
• August
• Next school year (March April)

18
How is the WASL scored?

• A standard-setting committee meets once the test
  is given to determine the level of performance
  required to meet standard on the EALRs.
• Students need to achieve a score that represents
  approximately 65 percent of the points possible
  on each test to meet standard or pass.
• Your score will place you in one of four levels
• Level 4 Advanced
• Level 3 Proficient
• Level 2 Basic
• Level 1 Below Basic
• Your goal is to get a Level 4 or Level 3 on each
  section of the WASL!

19
When do I get my scores?

• You should receive a preliminary report sometime
  in June
• Finalized reports will be available in the fall.
• The detailed report includes
• results
• points earned
• next steps
• strengths
• weaknesses

20
What if I dont pass the WASL?

• You wont graduate! But dont worry
• You can re-take the test 4 times. For the current
  sophomores, those 4 test times are
• August 2009 (prior to Junior Year)
• March/April 2010 (Junior Year)
• August 2010 (prior to Senior Year)
• March/April 2011 (Senior Year)
• Note that this last chance is cutting it
  closescores may not be back before graduation!

21
What are the alternatives to the WASL?

• Other ways to earn the Certificate of Academic
  Achievement (after 2 unsuccessful attempts at
  WASL)
• WASL/Grades Comparison
• This option is only available to students in
  12th-grade with an overall cumulative Grade Point
  Average (GPA) of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 grading
  scale.
• Collection of Evidence
• samples of your work that show you meet
  grade-level standards
• PSAT/SAT/ACT/AP Test Comparison
• scores that meet or exceed state-designated
  levels
• These options are NOT easier and
• are MORE time-consuming
• and you have to PAY to take the other tests!

22
Why is the WASL important? The intangibles

• A common measuring stick
• Gives you, your family, and your school the
  opportunity to make sure that you are getting the
  skills youll need to do well in your final years
  of high school, as well as in your future.
• Accountability factor and incentive to improve
• Shows your character and perseverancewe have to
  do many things that we dont like to do, but we
  might as well give it our best effort!

23
Why is the WASL important? The tangibles

• Schools use test results to plan required classes
  for students
• Students who do not pass may find themselves in
  special WASL classes next yearonly offered at
  FHS.
• May result in less elective options!
• Employers are starting to ask for WASL scores as
  a part of their hiring process.
• Your WASL scores will be included on your high
  school transcriptcolleges and universities will
  look at this!
• WASL scores currently have no impact on
  admissions to public colleges and universities in
  Washington, but that may soon be changing.

24
Why is the WASL important? The REALLY BIG
tangibles

• Tests results are used to direct funds and
  targeted help to schools.
• You will have to pass the WASL in order to earn a
  Certificate of Academic Achievement and graduate
  from high school.

25
Why should I NOT skip the test?

• Your score still countsas a ZEROfor the
  schools results.
• The schools results can determine things like
  funding and curriculum.
• For example, if scores are consistently poor, the
  school may require more classes in math, English,
  etc. and offer less electives.
• You wont graduate!

26
How can I prepare for the WASL?

• Be a good studentcome to class and do all of
  your work.
• Practice! Use the sample tests and released items
  from previous tests. Visit the OSPI website
  http//www.k12.wa.us/Assessment/WASL/testquestions
  .aspx
• Get enough sleep the weeks before and during WASL
  testing.
• Eat breakfast on the test mornings, and take a
  snack to eat during the test.

27
Final thoughts

• For more information about the WASL test, visit
  the OSPI website at http//www.k12.wa.us/assessmen
  t/default.aspx
• Use the links along the side to find out what you
  want to know.
• BE CONFIDENT!
• YOU CAN DO IT!