The clock is ticking for state educators, who by fall 2006 must have alternatives to the Washington Assessment of Student Learning in place for students who have the skills but still fail the tests.
State law requires that those alternatives be just as rigorous and objective as the WASL tests. Many questions remain, including who would be allowed to take advantage of the options.
Some lawmakers support the idea of making the WASL tests just one of the choices for students to prove they have the skills for graduation.
“I wish (the alternative assessments) were in place now, and maybe you take whatever assessment is most appropriate,” said state Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell. “But we don’t have them yet. … I would like to see that as we move forward.”
The idea of skipping the pencil-and-paper tests makes sense for some students, such as those with special needs or who are still learning English, said Sen. Dave Schmidt, R-Mill Creek.
Groups that oppose the WASL graduation requirement, in particular, are mobilizing for a debate.
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