OLYMPIA – Some lawmakers are pondering whether to extend the same reprieve on the WASL reading and writing tests that’s being proposed for math.
“Why not look at the whole system and not just math?” said state Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell, chairwoman of the Senate’s education committee.
Under state law, students aiming to graduate in 2008 must pass all three sections of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning.
Legislation pending in the state Senate and House of Representatives would delay the math requirement for three years. Those bills could be amended to include reading and writing, effectively postponing the high-stakes nature of the test.
“We’ve opened the door. Once you open the door you can’t limit the discussion,” said Rep. Dave Quall, D-Mount Vernon, the chairman of the House education panel.
“I don’t want to limit the discussion,” he said. “We know math is a challenge. For some, reading is the challenge. For others, writing is the challenge.”
Some lawmakers question the fairness of the WASL. They are particularly concerned for students with limited English skills and learning disabilities, and they aren’t convinced workable alternatives to the WASL are in place to help those struggling to graduate.
There is also concern that some students might pass the math portion and fail reading or writing, making them ineligible to graduate. However, 99 percent of students who passed math also passed reading, according to a state report.
Gov. Chris Gregoire and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson want only the math deadline delayed.
Bergeson said Monday the state is better equipped today to help students having trouble in reading and writing than in math.
“We know how to diagnose. We know how to intervene in ways that we don’t have in mathematics,” she said.
“If the school is willing and the kid is willing, we can get there,” she said. “With math, I’m not so sure.”
Just 58 percent of the state’s juniors have passed the 10th-grade WASL math exam they need to graduate. By comparison, 87 percent have passed reading and 86 percent have passed writing.
Snohomish County school superintendents favored a math delay in a proposal to state leaders.
“We haven’t asked for reading and writing,” said Marysville Superintendent Larry Nyland.
Nyland said schools have been able to address reading and writing skills more quickly and more effectively than math, and it shows in improved test scores. He said a delay in reading and writing could slow the pace of progress.
Mukilteo Superintendent Marci Larsen has similar concerns.
“We certainly have had a number of years working with the reading and writing and have gained ground over time,” Larsen said. “We certainly don’t want to lose that momentum.”
Rep. Larry Haler, R-Richland, is pushing legislation to offer other testing options besides the WASL for a graduation requirement.
“I’m bringing the issue forward because my four school districts say the WASL is just devastating children’s lives,” he said.
Marc Frazer, vice president of the Washington Roundtable, which represents some of the state’s largest businesses, said his organization would strongly oppose a delay of reading and writing graduation requirements.
“Delay would accomplish nothing,” he said.
“For those concerned about fairness, one must ask: What is fair about holding students to a lower standard? There is no chance they will meet the standards unless we begin by expecting them to do so.”
McAuliffe said more must be known about those who fail the WASL before delaying anything.
“We have to keep the pressure on in the system. We have to make more people accountable,” McAuliffe said.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
