Wasl Woes

WASL. Washington Assessment of Student Learning. The most dreaded and looked forward to week of the school year. The week when upper classmen who have passed get to sleep in, and those who haven’t get to show up at the normal time and test until they can see no more. However, this year was different then those previous.

Unlike in the past, where freshman have been encouraged and even forced to take the WASL, the class of 2012 was not allowed to take the test.

“I was really bummed, I know I could have passed it and gotten it over with,” said Wayne Ogle 9.

This move on behalf of the state was not only to save money by testing fewer people, but also in anticipation of an improved test that future grades will have to take instead of the WASL.

“There were no ninth graders testing, so there were about half a dozen testing sites,” said Mrs. Miniutti, “I thought it went smoothly.”

A couple other changes of note to the WASL this year include a new layout, online proctor questionnaires, and audio discs for those with documented reading disabilities. There was also increased security, with teachers accompanying students through the hallways and a strict enforcement of the no ipods/cellphones/electronics rule.