Parents for the first time will soon be able to see their child’s completed WASL tests.
Until recently, the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction had made the high-stakes Washington Assessment of Student Learning tests off-limits because of concerns over the security of the questions.
Some parents successfully challenged that practice, citing the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which gives parents access to their child’s school records, including tests.
“This is huge,” said Ric Williams, assessment director for the Everett School District. “There shouldn’t be any secrets. There shouldn’t be any surprises. … The better informed parents are, the more they’ll be able to understand and support the assessment.”
It’s something teachers and administrators can only dream about, he added. “They’ve not allowed us that kind of access.”
Just how and where parents will be able to view their child’s WASL tests remains to be seen.
“There are still a lot of unanswered questions,” said Kim Schmanke, a spokeswoman for the state schools chief.
“We are trying to figure out a long-term process.”
The state education agency hopes to iron out access and security questions in the next several weeks.
Parents who were allowed to review their children’s tests earlier this spring saw them before they were sent to other states to be scored. They did so under tight security in Olympia and only after signing confidentiality agreements.
Exams are sent to assessment centers in different states based on grade level and subject areas. In the past, they have been kept in those centers for a set amount of time before being destroyed.
Now, the state must determine how to retrieve the tests in cases where parents and guardians request to see them – while at the same time keeping the test questions secure.
“We need to make sure that no child has an unfair advantage or disadvantage,” Schmanke said.
The Washington State PTA praises the change as another way for parents to get involved in their child’s education. The group hopes to work with the state on access issues.
“It’s really important that it’s parent-friendly and not intimidating,” PTA President Linda Hanson of Everett said.
Hanson expects many parents to take advantage of the new option, particularly parents of children who have struggled with WASL tests and are in danger of failing parts of the 10th-grade test, now required for graduation.
Scott Sheehan, an Edmonds father of three, said he would be interested in seeing how the WASL questions are framed and how his children answer them.
He sees a parallel between the tests and his job managing a funeral home. Both have historically been shrouded in mystery, and Sheehan said it’s important to be as open as possible to remove fear.
“If we can understand what the state and national objective is, then we can feel more involved,” he said of the WASL tests.
Denise Foster of Snohomish said she is interested in seeing the questions faced by her three daughters, particularly one who will be a sophomore next fall and has struggled on past tests.
Foster said she has been appalled by past WASL math questions released to the public, which she said were confusing. And she’s not hopeful a look at the actual test will boost her impressions.
“I think we could spend our money more wisely,” Foster said.
Typically, 30 percent of WASL test questions are “retired” each year and become available in practice exercises for students, Schmanke said. The others are set aside and may be used in future WASL exams.
Schmanke said the parental review should ultimately help parents, students and the state agency as adults see what their children are expected to know.
“They’ll see these are the kinds of skills and knowledge they want their kids to have,” she said.
Melissa Slager and Eric Stevick are writers for The Herald in Everett.
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