By mid-June, Bellingham School District 10th, 11th or 12th grade students who took the 2007 Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) this spring will receive individual score reports mailed to their homes, detailing their performance on the reading, writing and math sections.
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) will release some statewide results this summer of how many students passed these sections of the WASL. Districts and high schools will not have official numbers from OSPI at the district and school level until late August or early September.
Science will be scored over the summer with results returned in the fall. Students in special education programs who used the Washington Alternate Assessment System's (WAAS) portfolio will receive their scores at the beginning of next school year. These options are also scored over the summer.
Ninth grade students who took the WASL early will receive their score reports in the fall.
For the graduating classes of 2008-2012, students must pass the reading and writing WASL, a state-approved alternative to the WASL or an assessment for students receiving special education. Students can meet the state's math requirement by:
- Passing the math WASL or a math assessment for students receiving special education; or
- Passing a state-approved alternative (Collection of Evidence, scores on SAT, ACT, PSAT, AP tests, WASL/grades comparison); or
- Passing an approved high school math course to earn credit and retaking the WASL or an approved math assessment annually or until meeting standard. Students need to take the math WASL at least once before this option is available.
Students who pass the reading, writing and math assessments earn a Certificate of Academic Achievement or Certificate of Individual Achievement and a high school diploma. Students who fulfill the math requirement by earning math course credits do not receive a certificate but do earn a diploma. Retakes are available, as well as additional support through summer school and extended learning. Click here for details on the new state WASL requirements...
AUGUST 2007 HIGH SCHOOL WASL TEST RETAKE
The high school WASL will be given again from Aug. 6-9 at Squalicum and Sehome High Schools. Students can take the exam for the first time, make up any test sections missed during the spring testing or retake any WASL subjects they did not pass. All students have a total of five free opportunities to take the WASL. A student's highest score will be the only score recorded.
Students must register for the August WASL through OSPI between June 8 and July 8. Students can register online at http://www.k12.wa.us/waslregistration/ or call 1-866-400-WASL (9275) between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The student's State Student Identifier (SSID) number, located on the front of the individual score report, will be required for registration. Click here for details...
SUMMER SCHOOL/EXTENDED LEARNING SUPPORT
Our district's summer school program will help strengthen students' skills before retaking the WASL. Our program is offered for free to qualifying students from 8 a.m. to noon July 9 through Aug. 9. A WASL course is specifically offered for students who scored a level 2 on the WASL. They will benefit from this reading/writing or math support before taking the WASL in August. For more information about summer school, visit http://www.bham.wednet.edu/district/SummerSchool.htm or call 647-6817. For some students, the extra learning opportunities that the district has available during the 2007-08 school year will be another option.
For more information about all graduation requirements, please click here...
printer friendly