After years of tweaking and refining, and becoming a more important part of student academics, the Washington Assessment of Student Learning could be replaced.

Newly elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn unveiled plans last week to replace the WASL with a new test students would have to take beginning in 2010.

Whidbey Island educators have many concerns about the new assessment, how it will be implemented and whether it will be a valid way to measure student achievement.

The new test, called the Washington Comprehensive Assessment Program, has several goals, which include shortening the tests, implementing computer-based exams and providing a faster return of scores, according to information provided by Dorn’s office.

“We need a state testing system that makes sense to teachers, students and families,” Dorn said in a news release. “Our tests need to be tied to technology and provide immediate feedback to teachers so they can better assist their students. Computerizing the tests will also require far less resources, both in time and money.”

However, officials are concerned the new tests will require a significant investment for all students to take the assessment.

Kurt Schonberg, director of teaching and learning for the Oak Harbor School District, said the limited number of computers available in the schools could mean a lengthy, two-to-three week testing period. The elementary schools have a computer lab that is large enough to generally accommodate one class. When there’s basically three sections of each grade, the testing period could be lengthy.

“I don’t know if it will gain more instructional time,” Schonberg said.

He added that there would also be a period of adjustment for students. They have to become familiar with the format of the new test and, for the younger students, they may have to learn how to use computers in order to take the test.

The computer-based assessment underscores the need for a technology levy, Oak Harbor school official say. For example, Hillcrest Elementary has one computer lab for 600 students. The limited number of computers are also used for more than a single test. Classroom-based assessments are becoming more common in other subjects not covered by the state assessment. Students use the computer labs to research information needed for their social studies assessment.

“What it comes down to is pure numbers,” Schonberg said.

There are concerns whether a valid assessment will be ready for students by 2010. The WASL has years of validity that has come from the hundreds of thousands of students who have taken the test.

Patty Page, superintendent of the Coupeville School District, questioned whether a valid test could be developed in the timeline outlined by the state superintendent.

She also questioned how the new test will compare to the WASL and if it will meet federal No Child Left Behind requirements.

“I think the WASL was a good measure of student learning,” Page said.

Both Page and Schonberg noted some of the benefits the goals of the new assessment offers.

Schonberg said the shorter test window and the quicker turnaround for results could benefit teachers and students. Page added that having the test two times in the year could provide a diagnostic aspect to the test.

Officials want to see how the new test is developed before forming an opinion about it.

“I’m waiting for the rest of the details,” Schonberg said.

Ultimately, any change in the test would have to be approved by the Legislature.