Orlich on WASL writing

[Arthur Hu <ArthurH@TANGIS.COM>]

By the way, the writing test is supposed to be designed to be
equal in difficulty each year, it scientifically guaranteed. Or at
least the math still is ... is it??

Anybody else's state test this difficult at grade 4?


To:                     wa-ed-deform@egroups.com
From:                   Don Orlich <dorlich@mail.wsu.edu>
Date sent:              Fri, 2 Jun 2000 11:18:40 -0700
Send reply to:          wa-ed-deform@egroups.com
Subject:                [wa-ed-deform] WASL Writing Test

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Fellow wa-ed-deformers.  Two items are presented:  (1) A short item about
the WASL writing exam, and (2) Data from the NAEP's writing tests.  Don't
change that dial.

 In the just released Pullman Community Update, June 2000, vol 6.
no. 6 (newspaper to Pullman area residents) the following items appeared
in a column "Getting Writing Right" authored by the Partnership for
Learning. [no person listed, just PFL.] I shall pull, in context, selected
quotes from the 20 column inch article.

 "Writing was the only area on the test [WASL] where schools across
the board saw decreases in test scores."  ". . . the state has . . .
slowly ratcheted up the rigor of the writing test. . . ."

 "First, the test now contains more difficult writing assignments .
. . fourth-graders . . . write a newspaper-style article explaining their
ideas. "

 ". . . more rigorous scoring procedures. . ." were instituted.

 "With more rigorous quality control now in place, said State
Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson, 'we feel good about
the state of the test today compared with three years ago.  It reflects
the critical skills students need in writing.   It is a challenging test,
we've sharpened the focus, but we have more work to do to help kids
achieve in writing.' "

  OK,  DO FORUTH GRADERS EVEN READ A NEWSPAPER?  THE COMICS AND
SPORTS PAGES, I'D ASSUME,  BUT STAY TUNED,  BELOW ARE  NAEP DATA.

 GRADE 4, 1996., ZERO percent can write "effective responses
containing details and
 discussion."  Grade 8, ONE Percent can; and at Grade 11, TWO PERCENT CAN.
[THIS IS LEVEL 350 ON THE NAEP SCALE, OR MOST DIFFICULT.]

 From NAEP 300 scale, "Can write complete responses containing
sufficient information."
GRADE 4, ONE PERCENT;  GRADE 8, 16 PERCENT; GRADE 11, 31 PERCENT.

 From NAEP 250 scale, "Can begin to write focused and clear
responses to tasks."
GRADE 4, 13 PERCENT;  GRADE 8, 66 PERCENT; GRADE 11, 83 PERCENT.

 From NAEP 200 scale, "Can write partial or vague responses to tasks."
 GRADE 4, 59 PERCENT;  GRADE 8, 96 PERCENT; GRADE 11, 99 PERCENT.

 From NAEP 150 Scale, "Can respond to tasks in abbreviated,
disjointed or unclear
ways."   GRADE 4, 93 PERCENT; GRADE 8, 100 PERCENT:  GRADE 11, 100
PERCENT.

 Orlich's conclusion about the WASL's newly and "more rigorous
scoring procedures" is that the WASL is completely invalid and totally
unreliable as a measure of writing skills.  The national data from the
highly respected National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
clearly shows the WASL to be a "non test" of anything.

 Source of NAEP data: National Center for Education Statistics,
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).   REPORT IN BRIEF,
NAEP 1996 TRENDS IN ACADEMIC PROGRESS.  Revised 1998.  NCES 98-530, Table
4, p. 12.  [Available on line.]



Donald C. Orlich                  Pullman, WA  99164-4237
Professor                         (509) 335-4844
Sci. Math. Eng. Ed. Cntr.         FAX (509) 335-7389
PO Box 644237
Washington State University       Email   dorlich@wsu.edu



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