If some ninth-graders decide to take the 10th-grade Washington Assessment of Student Learning in 2006, they will do so at some risk.

The state Superintendent of Public Instruction’s office announced the early testing initiative in January, but has written a follow-up memo to clarify key points after receiving questions from across the state.

Beginning with the class of 2008, this year’s freshmen, high school students will need to pass the WASL’s reading, math and writing exams to graduate. The Legislature last year agreed to allow up to four retakes of any or all WASL exams.

A WASL score earned by a ninth-grader will be posted on that student’s transcript. The rules already in place to use retakes to improve scores appearing on the transcript will apply, according to the state memo.

That means students who pass a WASL subject but want to improve a score will have to pay for a retake beginning in 2006.

It also means that if a ninth-grader decides to take the WASL, it will count as a “real” try and not a “practice” try, state officials said.

Only the student’s highest WASL score will appear on the transcript.

“You could spend one just to find out how close (you are) to the standard, but you would (use) one of your chances,” said Greg Hall, the state’s assistant superintendent for assessment and research.

Other points of clarification include:

* The early testing is totally voluntary and will begin in spring 2006. The state doesn’t have any firm estimates about how many students will try it, but Hall is guessing about 5 percent will take the test early.

“This should be a totally student- and family-drive choice, with support from teachers who can best advise students about their readiness for one or more of the tests,” the memo said.

* Ninth-graders could choose to take one or more portions of the tests. Hall believes reading and writing will be the more popular options.

* Ninth-graders taking the WASL must follow the same high school testing schedule, regardless of whether they take the test in a high school or junior high school setting.

Hall said the option will give students the opportunity to pick one or two of the WASL sections to knock off early, freeing more time to concentrate on a subject in which they are less confident.

Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or stevick@heraldnet.com.