By June 14, Bellingham School District sophomores will receive individual score reports mailed to their homes, detailing their performance on the reading, writing and math sections of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL).
Later in June, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) will release some statewide results of how many students passed these sections of the WASL as well as the number of "near miss" and "far miss" from meeting standard. Districts and high schools will not have these official numbers 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 portfolio will receive their scores at the beginning of next school year. These options are scored over the summer.
Current sophomores took the WASL earlier this spring and need to pass all three sections to graduate. Retakes are available, as well as additional support through summer school and extended learning.
AUGUST 2006 HIGH SCHOOL WASL TEST RETAKE
The high school WASL will be given again from August 7-10 at Bellingham and Sehome High School. Students can take the exam for the first time, make up any exams 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 to take the August WASL through OSPI between June 9 and July 9. Students can register online at 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.
SUMMER SCHOOL OPTIONS
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 10 through Aug. 10. 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 is building into the 2006-07 school year will be a better option.
EXTENDED LEARNING SUPPORT
Starting this fall, students who have taken the WASL twice but have not been successful in passing the test will have additional support to meet this graduation requirement. High schools are currently planning extended learning and additional support opportunities for students. Students who have the skills and knowledge but who are not able to show what they know on the WASL also will have options developed by the state to demonstrate that they have met standard. Our district will share more information with students and families as the options are approved for use by the State Board of Education.
For more information about all graduation requirements, please review our Ready Guide at http://www.bham.wednet.edu/learning/culminating-project/hsgradreq05.htm
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