The WASL is back and, beginning today, there’s a whole lot of testing going on.
Students from third grade through high school will be taking the exams, although high school students got a head start in March when they completed the reading and writing portions of the WASL.
This week, high school students will take the math and science sections of the exam. Although students don’t have to pass the math exam to graduate, they must keep taking the exam and math classes, if they don’t pass the WASL, until they graduate.
Elementary and middle school students will be tested over the next three weeks. In the state, 1.6 million test booklets were distributed to schools this spring.
At Lynnwood High School, roughly 600 students will be taking the first of two sections of the math test today, spread out in the school’s theater, library and gym.
“We have not quite half the school testing,” said David Golden, school principal.
The exams are geared for sophomores, but some freshmen choose to take it early and some juniors and seniors are trying again to pass it.
Lynnwood High has more than 20 tutorial options for students who have either already passed the WASL or for freshmen who are waiting to take it.
In the future, the WASL will be shorter for elementary and middle school students, with more multiple-choice questions and fewer questions requiring extended written answers.
Even so, state officials believe the testing value of today’s exams and the shorter exams next year will be comparable.
“We have worked with our national advisory committee on assessment and reviewed the structure of a shorter test and whether or not the test scores will have the same meaning,” said Joe Willhoft, director of assessment and student information for the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. “They have given us the green light. This has gone through a complete technical review.”
For the first time, passing the high school reading and writing WASL or an alternative to the WASL is a graduation requirement for this year’s seniors.
Another change ahead is the eventual phase-out of the WASL math exam.
However, nothing will change the math graduation requirements for students through the class of 2012.
The class of 2013 will have an additional option of choosing between the WASL and end-of-course math exams. Beginning in 2014, the existing WASL will be phased out and end-of-course exams in Algebra I and geometry or end-of-course exams in Integrated Math I and II will be required for graduation.
Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or e-mail stevick@heraldnet.com.
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