Thousands of Washington sophomores and juniors will take the math WASL this week knowing lawmakers could lower the stakes of the exam.
Both the state House and Senate have agreed to delay the Washington Assessment of Student Learning math test as a graduation requirement and are now trying to decide on how long.
The message from schools is simple: Don’t roll the dice on a legislative bailout.
“I don’t buy lottery tickets. I buy insurance,” said Sondra Ordway, a Mariner High School math teacher who worked with 70 students during their spring break last week to prepare for the math exam.
Testing for high school students resumes Tuesday.
Kamiak High School principal Keith Rittel has been doing his best to keep students focused on the math WASL instead of what lawmakers might do in Olympia.
“From our perspective, the timing could not be worse, simply because of the confusion this is causing,” he said.
School leaders are worried some students will blow off the math WASL if it doesn’t count toward their diploma.
Gov. Chris Gregoire said that would be a mistake, even assuming a delay is eventually approved.
“If they pass it, they’re in great shape,” she said. “If they fail, they have to get involved in remediation and a rigorous set of math courses.
“So they’re not off the hook,” Gregoire said. “It is not a free ride if you fail the WASL.”
Passing the math WASL might seem less important to students, but the test results remain a priority for schools that could face federal sanctions under federal No Child Left Behind law if they don’t improve.
“It’s a really tough battle to fight to really get people to stay the course,” said Greg Schwab, principal at Mountlake Terrace High School.
Schwab worries most about juniors who have been taking an extra math class this year to help them pass a WASL retake.
“My fear is these kids are going to let up on the gas pedal,” he said.
Snohomish County school superintendents asked the state to consider a delay last fall.
Just over half of last year’s sophomores passed the math WASL last spring. The superintendents argued that the state needs more time to find effective math curriculum and instructional strategies to improve the passage rate.
Lawmakers and Gov. Gregoire agree that pushing back the math WASL graduation requirement makes sense. How far has been up for debate. For instance, it would become a graduation requirement in 2013 under a bill passed by the House.
Education experts have been told to find a small number of effective math curricula that match state academic standards.
“We’re going back to square one and we’re going to get it right,” Gregoire said.
Lakewood High School sophomores Yvette Kelp and Nick Borisov say a delay will not affect the effort they put into the math WASL this week.
Kelp, who is taking geometry this year, said she wants to pass the math WASL because it’s a goal she set for herself.
There is, however, another incentive at Lakewood for students who pass all four WASL exams in reading, writing, math and science: off-campus lunch.
That sounds awfully good to Kelp.
“I don’t like it being a graduation requirement,” she said. “I think the teachers give enough tests. One test should not be your overall assessment of how good you have done. Your grade there should count for something.”
By contrast, Borisov believes passing the math WASL should be a graduation requirement.
“Math is universal. It’s all around you. You have to be able to do it,” he said.
Weston High School, an alternative school in Arlington, also has an incentive beyond a diploma for passing WASL scores.
Students earn half an academic credit for each section they pass.
“It’s a big carrot,” said Maurene Stanton, the school’s principal.
Granite Falls High School principal Eric Cahan said most students have the inner drive to do their best, regardless of what state lawmakers do.
“We are trying to focus on the message that, ‘This is a reflection on you as a person. Don’t worry about the media. Don’t worry about the government. Just do your best.’ “
Herald reporter Jerry Cornfield contributed to this story.
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