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PARTNERSHIP FOR LEARNING ARTICLES WEB SITES
Partnership for Learning Articles - Glossary
A+ Commission
The Academic Achievement and Accountability Commission (A+ Commission) was created in 1999 by the Washington state Legislature to develop and provide oversight for an accountability system focused on continuous improvement. The A+ Commission is composed of nine members including the state superintendent, a teacher, a principal, a district superintendent and several business and community leaders. Visit the A+ Commission online at http://www.k12.wa.us/accountability.
Certificate of Mastery
The Certificate of Mastery (CoM) will serve as evidence that Washington students have achieved the state's Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EARLs). The Certificate of Mastery was developed as part of the 1993 Education Reform Act, which states that, "…successful completion of the high school assessment shall lead to a Certificate of Mastery. The Certificate of Mastery shall be required for graduation but shall not be the
only requirement for graduation."
In January 2000, the State Board of Education established that the class of 2008 will be the first class required to demonstrate achievement of the reading, writing, math and listening standards as measured by the 10th-grade WASL in order to earn a diploma (with science added in 2010).
Once the Certificate of Mastery becomes a graduation requirement, students will have multiple opportunities to retake the assessment in the areas in which they did not meet standard and they will have time for targeted assistance during their last two years of high school. The State Board of Education has created a Certificate of Mastery study committee to help it study the validity and reliability of the 10th-grade WASL as a graduation requirement. This new requirement won't become effective until the board determines the test is absolutely sound for this purpose. The board is scheduled to make its determination in 2004. The study committee and the Superintendent of Public Instruction are committed to investigating means in addition to the 10th-grade WASL for students to demonstrate achievement of the standards.
For more information on the Certificate of Mastery, visit the State Board of Education online at http://www.k12.wa.us/sbe.
Classroom-Based Assessments
The most frequently used assessments are classroom tests prepared by teachers. These can take the form of brief, informal quizzes or more formal-midterms or final exams-and cover a longer period of class work.
Commission on Student Learning
The Commission on Student Learning was created by the Washington state Legislature in 1992 to develop a set of clear and challenging standards, an assessment system to test
whether students have mastered these standards and recommendations for an accountability system to hold schools and school districts accountable for improvements in student learning. In 1999, the Commission's functions were transferred to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Criterion-Referenced Tests (CRT)
The Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) is an example of a criterion-referenced test. These tests measure students' performance against set standards. The WASL, for example, measures whether students have learned the specific skills, concepts, facts and ideas found in Washington's academic standards (EALRs), not how they have performed against fellow Washington students or their peers nationally. By using a combination of multiple-choice, short-answer and essay questions, the WASL allows for a deeper assessment of important skills and knowledge found in the state standards. (See also norm-referenced tests).
Educational Service Districts (ESDs)
Nine regional educational service districts serve the school districts and state-approved private schools in Washington state. ESDs function primarily as support agencies, delivering educational services that can be offered more efficiently or economically on a regional basis. The services and programs available from the ESDs are funded through three main sources: state allocations from OSPI, special federal and state grants for specific programs and cooperative agreements that are formed through the ESD and supported by member districts who join together for a common goal or service. The ESDs also get revenue through certification fees, workshops and investment earnings.
Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRs)
Washington's academic standards, known as the Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRs), describe the specific knowledge and skills in various core subjects Washington's public school students are expected to learn as they progress through school. They were developed primarily by Washington teachers. The Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) has been developed to measure how well students are mastering these academic skills.
Norm-Referenced Tests (NRT)
The goal of these tests is to learn how students compare to each other by measuring their scores against an average national score. Norm-referenced tests are scored using a national curve in which half the students receive a score above 50% and half below. The
comparison group is called the "norm," explaining why these tests are often referred to as "norm-referenced" tests. Norm-referenced tests are generally comprised of multiple choice and/or true-false questions. Norm-referenced assessments such as the Iowa Test of Basic Skills and the Iowa Test of Educational Development are used in Washington state.
Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is the primary agency charged with overseeing K-12 education in Washington state. Led by Superintendent Dr. Terry
Bergeson, OSPI works with the state's 296 school districts to administer basic education programs and implement education reform on behalf of more than one million public school students. For more information, visit the OSPI Web site at http://www.k12.wa.us.
Performance-Based Education System or Standards-Based Learning
Performance-Based Education System or Standards-Based Learning
A performance-based educational system places significantly greater emphasis on how well students are learning and places significantly less emphasis on state-level laws and rules dictating how instruction is to be provided. Decisions regarding how instruction is provided are to be made, to the greatest extent possible, by schools and school districts, not by the state.
Resource provided by Partnership for Learning.
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