AddThis Feed Button

Open-ended Items Pushed Out

Washington state's leaders, unwilling to pay $47 million for one year of testing, have asked for cost-saving changes to the assessment program. Cutting open-ended responses is the favored choice. The cost of administering the Washington Assessment of Student Learning could jump between $15 million to $25 million in 2009. Those estimates, based on changes needed to meet NCLB requirements, are in addition to $22 million already budgeted.

The state superintendent's office had already considered reducing the number of questions that require student to write answer or show their work. Instead, the state is likely to invest in more rapid turn around time and diagnostics that would help teachers and parents understand where students need improvement.

Source: Seattle Times, Costs of administering the WASL set for sharp increase

About Us

Beyond the basics, students will need 21st century competencies to survive and thrive in the future. They will have to know how to think critically, apply knowledge to new situations, analyze information, understand new ideas, communicate effectively, collaborate, solve problems, and make decisions. School districts are looking for ways to help students acquire these new skills while they also address NCLB mandates.

This 21st Century Connections site links students, teachers and administrators to the latest resources, creative tools and educational leaders behind digital learning. Provided by Lenovo, Adobe, Intel and Futurekids, the site is hosted by Technology & Learning, NewBay Media.

Visit our other sites: