Tags: Dorn, education, WASL

Dorn’s press conference is playing on TVW right now. Go. Watch.

Not convinced? Here’s what Dorn just said on the technology:
“I don’t have to tell print journalists that the use of technology will rock your world. ”

And now for more on Dorn’s power to change the WASL without legislative approval: According to the draft schedule, there’s a 10 a.m. hearing next Tuesday when Dorn has the stage during a work session to present his “action plan” for the WASL.

We’ll have that live. Also, I’ll very soon have a clip where Dorn foreshadows this very day.

Tags: Dorn, WASL

Here’s a press release from Senate Democrats that I was forwarded just now. It’s from Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, who has worked on the WASL since before it was created. Most recently, she worked over the interim with a group of legislators on a WASL reform bill.

Here’s what she says:

Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, chair of the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee submitted Senate Bill 5414 this morning to implement the findings of the bi-partisan WASL workgroup that she created last year. She also responded to state Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn’s proposed changes to the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL).

McAuliffe said:
“Superintendent Dorn’s recommendations and those of the WASL workgroup share common ground. We both want to develop a balanced assessment system that parents, teachers and students can get real results from – not just test scores. We need a system that informs instruction and addresses each student’s individual learning needs.

The WASL workgroup recommends multiple testing formats to both enhance student learning and gather the data that we need to continue improving our schools. In whatever specific path we take, our common goal is to enhance student learning.

This will be a collaborative process with Superintendent Dorn. I’m looking forward to working with him to refine our state testing system to meet the needs of students, teachers and parents.”

Tags: Dorn, McAuliffe, WASL

As posted below, Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn said he can change the WASL because the law gives him the latitude.

I checked on that with a staff member. They don’t speak on the record, so I’ll paraphrase what I understand.

State law outlining the WASL has some broad requirements and some narrow requirements. For example: There is no section in the law that requires it to be administered with paper-and-No. 2-pencil. (Or at least, I should say, no section that either of us knew of.)

That means administering the test on computers is a possibility that doesn’t require Legislative approval. It does, however, require school districts to have adequate computer supplies.

One example of a narrow requirement: The high school math test must be administered end-of-course. That means students take the Algebra test when they finish the Algebra math class. That’s an example of something that would require legislative approval.

More soon on the Legislative approval piece.

Tags: Add new tag, Dorn, WASL

We’re airing Dorn’s press conference at 12:30 (in an hour) on TVW. You can also watch online.

Also: I just saw Austin Jenkins of Inside Olympia. He told me a bit more about the idea of testing on computers.

Basically, each student would take the test during their regularly scheduled computer lab time. Students couldn’t share the answers with their friends with later computer lab classes because all the test are different.

I’ll find out more on that in the next few minutes. See you at 12:30.

Tags: Dorn, WASL

Very interesting, from Dorn’s Q&A on the new Measurement of Student Progress and High School Proficiency Exam (nee WASL).

Q: Does Supt. Randy Dorn have the authority to replace the WASL?
A: Yes. Under Washington law (RCW 28A.655.070), the superintendent has the ability to modify the state assessment system. The state Legislature, if they desire, can request input in the changes.

I had assumed that any changes would need Legislative approval. I’ll check into exactly how much requesting power the Legislature has…

Also: The Q&A says test results will be back in two weeks. That’s fast.

Tags: Dorn, WASL

Here is the PDF of the plan. (Mouse over for full reading without leaving the blog.)

Here is the proposed timeline for scrapping the WASL and implementing a replacement.

I’ll be reading these as you are. E-mail nikis@tvw.org with questions/comments/copy editing. More posts on this shortly.

Tags: Dorn, education, WASL

Here is the announcement from Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn’s plan to replace the WASL.

I’ll have another post after I get a chance to read it, but here’s the first things that jump out:
He proposes computerized testing.
He proposes shorter, less expensive tests with quicker return rates (that would mean either cutting the writing section, having in-state teachers do the grading or both?)

“We need a state testing system that makes sense to teachers, students and families,” Dorn said. “Our tests need to be tied to technology and provide immediate feedback to teachers so they can better assist their students. Computerizing the tests will also require far less resources, both in time and money.”

Tags: Dorn, education, WASL

At 10 a.m., new Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn will unveil his plan for scrapping the Washington Assessment of Student Learning. (And replacing it.)

We don’t know what he’ll say yet, but legislators do: During yesterday’s hearing from the task force that came up with recommendations for reshaping the test, one of the House Education committee members asked: How close are these recommendations to Dorn’s plan?

Rep. Pat Sullivan replied: Dorn’s plan comes out tomorrow, so we don’t want to spoil his surprise. But there are a lot of similarities.

Here’s the hearing:

Come back at 10 a.m. for more information.

Tags: Dorn, education, Schools, WASL

I’m on my way out the door but wanted to mention two quick things that reached my inbox this afternoon.

First, mark your calendar for Wednesday at 10 a.m. That’s when Randy Dorn, newly elected Superintendent of Public Instruction, will “announce his plans to change the Washington assessment system, including the replacement of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning.”

From the press release:
“In recent years, a consensus has developed within the state Legislature and the public that changes to the assessment system are needed. A less complex and more responsive system of measuring students’ progress is critical to help them achieve the basic skills they need.”

Dorn also says the WASL as we know it will be gone by spring of 2010.

“…by spring 2010 the state assessment – including its name – will change and resemble what lawmakers, educators and the public want.”

Go here for more on that.

And

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission has given the OK to a new Columbia River Spring Chinook Salmon plan.

“The new five-year policy is consistent with catch-sharing provisions recommended by a joint subcommittee of the Washington and Oregon fish and wildlife commissions, while also providing some additional early-season commercial fishing opportunities sought by the Oregon commission.”

But there’s still no consensus between Washington and Oregon on the salmon plan. That means they’ll need to hash a few more things out before this is final. That said, here’s their policy:

• A conservation “buffer” to maintain a low risk of exceeding impact limits on wild salmon listed for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).
• A high probability of an uninterrupted 45-day sport-fishing season on the lower Columbia River in March and April.
• 25 percent of the sport fishery’s allowable impacts to fisheries above Bonneville Dam.
• A stable commercial fishery in off-channel “select areas” such as Deep River in Washington and Youngs Bay in Oregon.
• Commercial fishing opportunities in the mainstem Columbia River in March and April.
• Sport and commercial fishing opportunities in May if the run is large enough.

Read more here.

Tags: Dorn, Fishing, Legislature, News, WASL