House votes to drop Iowa Basic Skills Test

OLYMPIA – The traditional, fill-in-the-bubble Iowa tests would become a thing of the past under a bill the state House passed Monday.

By a vote of 78-19, the House passed a bill eliminating the requirement that all third, sixth and ninth graders take the test.

“The Iowa Test of Basic Skills is not used that often nor that effectively in our public schools,” said Rep. Dave Quall, D-Mount Vernon, who sponsored the bill. In his experience as a school counselor, he said, “Basically, it was a test that was given that pretty much stayed on the shelf.”

Supporters of the bill say the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, the WASL, is a better teaching tool. All fourth, eighth and 10th graders take the WASL test. Starting next year, 10th graders will have to pass it to graduate from high school.

The Iowa Test of Basic Skills and the Iowa Test of Education Development assess skills in reading, language arts and math. Scores are reported as percentile points, comparing a student’s performance with that of others across the nation.

Some lawmakers said they’re not quite ready to put all their faith in the WASL.

“This body wants to rush to having the WASL as the only measurement of success or failure,” said Rep. Jim Clements, R-Selah. “Maybe an outside test … would provide us some balance.”

The bill would allow school districts to continue using the Iowa test, but the state won’t pay for it. The state would save about $645,000 a year. The bill now goes to the state Senate.