The math WASL test may be changing in a way that helps more high school students pass what will eventually become a graduation requirement.
Instead of taking the test all at once, covering the world of 10th grade math, students who have previously failed the math WASL will be allowed to take the test in three pieces over the course of the school year.
This way students can focus on, say, studying basic math and algebra and take a test covering only those subjects.
All the key concepts are still covered by the end of the year, but the tests are spread out to increase the odds of success.
Hundreds of Snohomish County students took the first test in this pilot program earlier this month, joining about 8,000 students statewide.
Scores don’t count this year, but education leaders say this may be the best way to help more students pass.
About 64 percent of the senior class statewide has passed the 10th-grade math WASL. That leaves about 26,500 seniors who have not passed.
“The theory is if we teach it in smaller chunks and greater depth, students might be better able to demonstrate what they know,” said Mary Ann Stine, director of curriculum and instruction for the Everett School District.
The Legislature last spring delayed passing the math WASL as a graduation requirement until 2013 when it became clear thousands of students would be denied a diploma. It did, however, mandate that students take math each semester until they pass the WASL or graduate.
The December “segmented math” WASL covered basic math and algebra. February’s will test geometry and measurement. May’s will cover probability and statistics.
January lesson plans at Everett High School include four days on volume and four more days on one of geometry’s basics, the Pythagorean theorem, which will be part of the February WASL.
Segmented math is not for all students who fail the WASL; many could pass if they continue taking higher-level math classes, Stine said.
Everett School District statistics show that the higher level of math a student takes, the greater the likelihood they will pass the WASL.
Another concern is that some students have a solid grasp of much of the material on the WASL and “simply don’t need to spend all that time” covering all of the sections offered in a segmented math class, she said.
In the Mukilteo School District, 264 students took the first third of the WASL math exam, including 124 from Mariner High School, 85 from ACES Alternative High School and 55 from Kamiak High School.
The students all are enrolled in segmented math classes.
District officials are eager to see the results, said Andy Muntz, district spokesman.
“It’s another chance for us in terms of evaluating what we are doing,” Muntz said.
The Marysville School District has been teaching segmented math courses, but has chosen not to offer the WASL test in pieces.
“We were still becoming familiar with the actual content,” said Ray Houser, an executive director of teaching and learning in Marysville. “The jury is still out because it hasn’t been around long, but I’m real curious to see how the kids (statewide) do.”
The Washington State School Directors Association will push for the segmented math option during the upcoming session of the Legislature.
State Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, who has questioned whether the WASL should be required for graduation, said the new approach holds the promise of more students passing the math WASL.
“I would bet it would make a difference,” he said. “We started out the WASL with this big grand idea and we have to adjust it. You do adjustments like this to make it more like reality.”
Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or e-mail stevick@heraldnet.com.
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