The Future of the NWEA

A few weeks ago the Joint Legislative Task Force on WASL Reform had a meeting in Renton where the future of testing was the #1 topic of discussion. Superintendents from Vancouver and Richland gave presentations on how their districts use the MAP assessment from the NWEA, and it sounds like the legislators were very open to the idea of giving that test more play.

That would be great for us here in Medical Lake, since we've been using the MAP effectively for years; I'll let you know when I hear more!

Also, check out this article from Education Week on computerized adaptive testing, which is what the MAP is. It's a good overview of what goes in to constructing those sorts of tests.

--Ryan--

We Need to Know Your Opinion of Terry Bergeson and the WASL

Hello again,

A few weeks ago I mentioned an upcoming project that we were going to be taking part in, organized by the WEA, to gather opinions from the membership on Terry Bergeson's leadership as Superintendent of Public Instruction and particularly on the emphasis that's been placed on the WASL.

At this year's Representative Assembly there will likely be a vote of no confidence taken on Terry Bergeson, and to that end every local in the state is being asked to poll their members. I've developed an on-line survey here to gather your opinions on these vital subjects; please take a few minutes to fill it out. It will be a great help to the Association.

(Please note: The District has no access to these surveys, as I've set up a private MLEA account. Your answers will only be available to the Association, so please be as honest as you want to be! ;-)

Here are some other sources of information that demonstrate the statewide scope of the project:

• From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer a nice overview of the problems many see with the WASL, along with information about the No Confidence vote.
  
• Also from the PI, good letters to the editor and a look at the ever-increasing costs of the test. One estimate says that administering the WASL could cost $47,000,000 next year. For comparison's sake, that's our district budget for 3 years, or enough to offer full-day kindergarten to another 30% of the kids in the state.
  
• The NPR station out of Pacific Lutheran University has an MP3 on the vote situation in Edmonds. it's about a 1-minute listen.
  
• The Everett Herald on the no-confidence vote, as well as The Tacoma News-Tribune.
  
• A release from the WEA describing the project.
  
• The Lake Stevens EA communicating with their memebrs.

If you have any questions, please contact Ryan.

A little something for the upcoming WASL season

Courtesy of David Horsey, editorial cartoonist at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. There's going to be a big discussion about Dr. Bergeson and the WASL at this year's WEA Representative Assembly, and in preparation for that we'll be coming to you in the next few weeks asking for your impressions of both the WASL and our current Superintendent of Public Instruction. Look for information in your mailboxes soon!

Horsey also wrote a thoughtful column, with a good range of reader comments, here.