| This year, the state's new graduation | | | | subject they took. These reports will be |
| requirements become "real" as students in | | | | generated by Pearson Educational Measurement, |
| Seattle schools in the class of 2008 receive | | | | the testing company, and sent to Seattle |
| the results of their first attempt at the | | | | school districts for distribution. (Students |
| 10th-grade Washington Assessment of Student | | | | in the class of 2009 -- this year's |
| Learning (WASL). Passing the 10th-grade WASL | | | | ninth-graders -- who took the 10th-grade WASL |
| will be the avenue most students take to earn | | | | will get their results in late August/early |
| the Certificate of Academic Achievement, one | | | | September.)Each score report will show a |
| of the four new statewide graduation | | | | Seattle school student's performance on the |
| requirements. (Students in special education | | | | reading, writing and math WASLs. Science |
| programs may participate in alternate | | | | results will be included in a second score |
| assessments and earn a Certificate of | | | | report scheduled for late August/early |
| Individual Achievement.)The Seattle school | | | | September.Some Seattle school students, |
| district believes every student can learn and | | | | however, won't receive any score report in |
| demonstrate the skills and knowledge tested | | | | June. Students in special education programs |
| on the WASL. While many students will be | | | | who used the two Washington Alternate |
| successful on all three sections of the test | | | | Assessment System (WAAS) options, the |
| on their first try, some students will not | | | | developmentally appropriate WASL (DAW) or the |
| meet standard in one or more sections. There | | | | portfolio assessment, to measure their |
| is help available for all students in Seattle | | | | progress will not have their work scored |
| schools to receive the skills needed not only | | | | until the summer. Results will be available |
| to pass the WASL but also further their | | | | for these Seattle school students by late |
| learning in and after high school.All Seattle | | | | August/early September.Because of the high |
| high schools have developed plans to assist | | | | interest in student results, OSPI will work |
| students in meeting WASL standards. These | | | | hard after receiving the initial score report |
| include adding a 7th period, tutoring in math | | | | from the testing company to provide as much |
| and literacy and in class tutors. The Seattle | | | | accurate information to the public as quickly |
| school district has also committed to | | | | as possible. By late summer, OSPI will share |
| providing each high school with a | | | | a comprehensive look at all 10th-grade WASL |
| building-based manager and additional | | | | data after the science WASL and the WAAS DAW |
| instructional coaching services. Students at | | | | and Portfolio have been scored and after |
| Seattle schools may also take advantage of | | | | districts have had the opportunity to verify |
| school year credit retrieval programs, | | | | student data files. All of these efforts |
| Evening School, Contract Learning, and the | | | | will help Seattle schools determine the |
| Digital Learning Commons. Parents can contact | | | | strengths and weaknesses of areas students in |
| their local Seattle school for more | | | | the various core subject areas.Stacy Andell |
| information about these programs.All students | | | | is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing |
| in the classes of 2006, 2007 and 2008 in | | | | free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and |
| Seattle schools who took the 10th-grade WASL | | | | private K-12 schools. Stacy has a nose for |
| will receive an Individual Score Report with | | | | research and writes stimulating news and |
| a final and accurate score for every WASL | | | | views on school issues. |