9486 in the collection
Washington Grass Roots Group Fights Back
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GRASSROOTS TEST RESISTANCE FORCE MOTHERS AGAINST WASL CALLS FOR STATEWIDE BOYCOTT OF TEST AND RESISTANCE TO FEDERAL NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND LAW
Contacts: Juanita Doyon, organizer, Mothers Against WASL, Spanaway
253/846-0823
Rachel DeBellis, parent member, Mothers Against WASL, Marysville
360/708-9323
Michelle Derus, parent member, Mothers Against WASL, Lake Stevens
425/397-7287
Patricia Bailey, teacher member, Mothers Against WASL, Seattle
home: 206/242-5156 work: 206/252-9700
Date: August 26, 2003
Upon the release of 2003 Washington Assessment of Student Learning scores,
MOTHERS AGAINST WASL CALLS FOR CONTINUED STATEWIDE BOYCOTT OF WASL TESTING AND FOR RESISTANCE TO FEDERAL NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND LAW
Mothers Against WASL calls on all parents to study the issue of high-stakes
testing, review the WASL test, become aware of the multiple controversies
surrounding this assessment and file an opt out form with their child's
school and district, stating that their child is not to participate in any
form of WASL, be it the 4th, 7th, or 10th grade test or a trial or "mini"
WASL in other grades.
Mothers Against WASL supports teachers and encourages them to use their right
of free speech to share their expert opinions on high-stakes testing in
general and the WASL specifically with parents and community members and work
to support the positions taken by The Washington Education Association in
their effort to introduce common sense into the system as follows. Mothers
Against WASL joins WEA in calling for these changes:
1. Delink the 10th grade WASL from high school graduation requirements.
2. Support the parent or guardian's right to exempt children from the
WASL without penalty to their schools.
3. Conduct a thorough, objective external study to reevaluate the WASL.
Mothers Against WASL agrees with Positions 2 and 3 of the final report of the State Board of Education’s Certificate of Mastery study committee, in their findings that “While a test may give reliable scores for a unique group of students, it must be proven to give reliable scores for all students if it is going to be used to make high stakes decisions about all students.”
http://www.sbe.wa.gov/reports/CoM%20Final%20Report.htm
Mothers Against WASL supports local school boards and administrators and
encourages them to use their right of free speech to share their expert
opinions on high stakes testing in general and the WASL specifically with
parents and community members and work to support the positions taken by the
American Association of School Administrators, the American Educational
Research Association, the National Association of School Psychologists and
others, against the use of high-stakes testing.
Mothers Against WASL calls on all local adults to resist, refuse and revolt against the federal take over of OUR local schools in the implementation of No Child Left Behind/Elementary and Secondary Education Act legislation.
In addition, Mothers Against WASL calls on the Washington legislature to
1. Speak against the implementation of federal curriculum and testing mandated
by the No Child Left Behind law.
2. Halt the use of the WASL until it is proven valid and reliable.
3. Allow all past WASL scores to be expunged from student records upon
parental request.
Mothers Against WASL is an Internet-based growing force of parents,
teachers, administrators and community members throughout the state of
Washington.
Mothers Against WASL
2003-08-26
INDEX OF OUTRAGES
Pages: 380
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