SHORELINE — Test results are often considered a big deal. In the case of the 2003-04 Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) exams, the announcement of the results Wednesday, Sept. 1 was a very big deal.
Especially since the data indicate students in the Shoreline School District are making progress. District officials are pleased that growth was made in every content area and at every grade level.
“We certainly expect to see these kinds of results,” Shoreline School District Superintendent Jim Welsh said. “It is really reaffirming when we see them come through and are right on track.”
The results were announced at a news conference Sept. 1 by Terry Bergeson, state Superintendent of Public Instruction. The WASL tests reading, writing and math skills and is given annually to fourth-, seventh- and tenth-graders. New this past year was the addition of a science WASL given to eighth- and tenth-graders, and the state’s decision that achieving standard on all levels of the WASL is a graduation requirement for the class of 2008.
Welsh said the results show that the district is headed in the right direction, and he is pleased with the reading and math scores at all three levels. He also said the at-risk population, or students who qualify for reduced or free lunches, did exceptionally well. Welsh added that the district’s goal is to continue to improve scores.
“More and more students are exceeding standards at all levels; we are particularly pleased with the results of the at-risk population,” Welsh said. “We are pleased with reading and math at all three levels.”
Linda Gohlke, district director of curriculum, instruction and assessment, said a number of things have been undertaken that likely contributed to the improved test scores. There was a focus on looking at how students progress in learning from pre-school to high school, as well as district-wide emphasis on reading and math. Educators also used previous data from other assessments as an educational guide.
Welsh said that now the data has been received, staff from each school will develop goals using the testing data. Preliminary plans for the year were outlined in June, but teachers wait until WASL scores are released to finalize their plans, he said.
“We have been doing that particular procedure for the last 4-5 years now,” Welsh said. “It is the way we check to make sure we are intervening and using the data in a way it should be used.”
WASL scores will be presented to the school board at the Sept. 13 meeting, and more detailed information will be available at that time.
Letters will also be sent home to parents of fourth-, seventh- and tenth-graders regarding the release of the scores.
To view WASL and AYP results for individual schools, go to the OSPI Report Card site http://reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us/.
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