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Section: Education News

WASL’s easy compared to new rules

DEBBY ABE; The News Tribune
It started years ago as an easy concept: High school students must pass certain subjects on the WASL by a certain date to graduate.

Now it’s become a test in itself for students and parents to figure out how recent changes to graduation requirements apply to them.

State lawmakers recently postponed a graduation requirement to pass math and science on the 10th-grade Washington Assessment of Student Learning to 2013. They also imposed new conditions on teens who don’t pass the math WASL to take more math classes. How much more depends on which year they’re slated to earn a diploma.

Meanwhile, questions abound on how to interpret the nitty-gritty of those and other legislative changes to the WASL graduation requirement. The state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction is working with the state Board of Education and statewide education associations to give districts guidance, said Molly O’Connor, spokeswoman for the state superintendent.

Here are a few WASL graduation basics, from the state Superintendent of Public Instruction unless otherwise specified:

Do students need to pass any part of the 10th-grade WASL to graduate?

Yes and no. Starting with the Class of 2008 – this year’s 11th-graders – students must pass the reading and writing WASL or a state-approved alternative demonstrating their competency in those subjects.

In addition, the Class of 2008 must pass the math WASL or, after failing to pass it, complete a state-approved alternative or earn one credit (typically two one-semester courses) of math or a career and technical course that includes math. They must earn the credit after the 11th grade and retake the WASL at least once.

Starting with the classes of 2009 through 2012, students who fail the math WASL must earn two credits of math or career and technical courses that include math.

Starting with the Class of 2013, students must pass the math and science WASL or a state-approved alternative. Additional math or science credits won’t meet the requirements.

What is the Certificate of Academic Achievement?

It’s a designation on transcripts telling businesses and colleges that students have a solid foundation of skills and know-ledge in reading, writing and math. Some colleges give scholarships based on WASL scores. Students can earn the certificate by passing those subjects on the 10th-grade WASL or by successfully completing one of the state-approved alternatives to the WASL.

Special education students can take other tests to earn what’s called a Certificate of Individual Achievement.

Students can earn the certificates now, but it’s not a requirement for graduation until 2013, when this year’s sixth-graders graduate,

If teens who don’t pass the math WASL take math courses below high school level, will that fulfill their math WASL requirement to earn math credits?

Districts must decide whether the course fits an individual student’s needs, said State Board of Education Executive Director Edie Harding. To meet the math WASL graduation requirement, the law requires students take classes to help them progress toward meeting or exceeding the state math standard.

What are the state-approved alternatives to earn a Certificate of Academic Achievement?

The alternatives to demonstrating competency in various WASL subjects include:

• Collection of evidence: Students compile classroom work samples into a collection that is scored by the state.

• SAT or ACT college entrance exams: Students earn minimum scores on math (470 or 19); reading, English or writing (not yet determined).

• PSAT exam: Students earn a minimum math score of 47; PSAT will no longer be an approved alternative after Aug. 31, 2008.

• Advanced Placement exams: Students earn a score of 3 or higher on selected AP exams in calculus, statistics, various English courses, history, economics, psychology, government and politics.

• WASL/grades comparison: A student’s grades are compared with those of students who took the same courses and passed the WASL. The option is available to 12th-graders having an overall grade-point average of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 grading scale.

If students don’t pass the math WASL, but pass additional math classes, will they earn a Certificate of Academic Achievement?

No. They will graduate with a high school diploma, but won’t get the certificate designation on their transcript.

Where can families get more information on the revised graduation requirements?

The state superintendent’s Web site at www.k12.wa.us.

Debby Abe: 253-597-8694

debby.abe@thenewstribune.com

NEW WASHINGTON STATE GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

CLASS OF 2008

(Current 11th-graders)

READING and WRITING

Pass reading and writing high school WASL or special education assessment

Pass state-approved alternative.*

MATH

Pass math high school WASL or special education assessment

Pass state-approved alternative*

Take the math high school WASL. Students not passing math WASL need to earn one credit (i.e. two one-semester classes) of math or career and technical education class with math after 11th grade. Must also retake WASL or approved math assessment.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Meet other state and district requirements: culminating project, high school and beyond plan, and course credit requirements.

CLASSES of 2009-12

(Current seventh- to 10th-graders)

READING and WRITING

Pass reading and writing high school WASL or special education assessment

Pass state-approved alternative.*

MATH

Pass math high school WASL or special education assessment

Pass state-approved alternative*

Take the math high school WASL. Students not passing math WASL need to earn two credits (i.e. two one-semester classes) of math or career and technical education class with math after 10th grade. Must also retake WASL or approved math assessment annually.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Meet other state and district requirements: culminating project, high school and beyond plan, and course credit requirements. State Board of Education will increase number of required math credits from current two credits to three credits starting with Class of 2012.

CLASSES of 2013 and beyond (Current sixth-graders and beyond)

READING and WRITING

Pass reading and writing high school WASL or special education assessment

Pass state-approved alternative.*

MATH and SCIENCE

Pass math and science high school WASL or special education assessment

Pass state-approved alternative.*

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Meet other state and district requirements: culminating project, high school and beyond plan, and course credit requirements. State Board of Education will increase number of required math credits from current two credits to three credits starting with Class of 2012.

*Students must take the high school WASL at least once before using one of the state-approved options to Certificate of Academic Achievement