Brief Description: Requiring that the high school WASL questions and answers be released to parents and on the internet.

Sponsors: Representatives P. Sullivan, Talcott, Quall, Simpson, Nixon, Dickerson, Rodne, B. Sullivan, Schindler, Santos, Roach, McCune, Hasegawa, Springer and Kenney.

Hearing Date: 1/30/06

Staff: Sarah Ream (786-7303).

Background:

Each fall, parents of students who took the Washington assessment of student learning (WASL) the previous spring receive their student's results. Some information is provided about content and skill areas where the student may need improvement, but the test questions and student answers to individual questions are not released for test security reasons.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) has a schedule regarding test question development, pilot testing, use, and expiration. SPI discards a test question after it has been used several times because any recognition of the question might bias the test results. In 2001, the SPI began releasing these discarded test questions, along with student responses, so schools can use questions and responses to help diagnose areas where students are having difficulty. These results are also available on the agency's website, aggregated at the school, district, or state level. Approximately one-third of the total questions from the WASL are tentatively scheduled to be released each year.

Summary of Bill:

Beginning with the 2009 assessment, the SPI must release the complete tenth grade WASL, including the correct responses, at the same time as student scores are released. Test information provided to parents must include the student's responses compared to the correct responses and information about how to obtain a copy of the test. School districts must supply paper or electronic copies of the test on request.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 24, 2006.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.