Annual math assessment graduation requirement amended

OLYMPIA - The state graduation requirement for students to continue to take an annual math assessment while earning two credits of math after 10th grade was eliminated today after Gov. Chris Gregoire signed House Bill 1562 into law. The bill is effective immediately and retroactive to the Class of 2008.

Now, students in the classes of 2009 through 2012 who do not pass the high school math WASL on their first attempt can meet the math graduation requirement by earning two math credits after 10th grade. Those students are no longer required also to take a math assessment every year.

This change, however, does not remove the requirement for students to take the math test in their 10th grade year. Beginning with the Class of 2013, all students must pass a math assessment to be eligible to graduate.

It will be in students' best interest to pass the math WASL or an alternative assessment by the 11th grade so they can complete the math graduation requirement, said Randy Dorn, State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

"This is a common sense change to the law," Dorn said. "And there's still plenty of incentive for students to pass a math exam by the 11th grade. We just want to ensure that students have the basic math skills before they take that next step in life, whether it's college or the workforce."

The change in law was requested by Superintendent Dorn for several reasons:
1) The law stated that students earning two math credits after 10th grade didn't have to passthe math WASL to meet the graduation requirement, they just had to take the test. Often, students filled in the minimum number of required bubbles to generate a score, or didn't take the test seriously, thus making it difficult to accurately assess their proficiency.
2) Students who returned for a fifth year, even to take a history or English class, were required under the law to take an annual math assessment. This was never the intent of the law.
3) Due to some confusion in the school system, many students failed to take the math WASL in the 11th grade, not realizing there was a requirement to take an annual math assessment. Because of that, they were forced to pass a math assessment, even if they earned two math credits after 10th grade. Again, this was never the intent of the law.
Before the bill was signed, those students who did not take an annual math assessment would possibly be denied a diploma because of a misunderstanding, Dorn said.

"Our goal was to ensure that every student developed their math skills at the proficiency level needed," Dorn said. "But there were certainly unintended consequences from this requirement and we felt the law needed to be changed to be fair to all students."

The Class of 2013, this year's eighth graders, will be the first to be required to pass a high school math assessment and science assessment to graduate. Next year, the high school WASL will be replaced by the High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE), currently in development. If students already passed the WASL, they will not be required to take the HSPE.
In addition, the Class of 2013 will be required to earn three high school math credits (grades 9 through 12) to be eligible to graduate, an increase from the current minimum state requirement of two.

Math WASL in April
The high school math WASL is scheduled for April 13-14. Students who are earning two math credits after 10th grade, and who have already taken the high school math WASL once, are now not required to take the April test.

For more information
Meeting the Math Graduation Requirement ( http://www.k12.wa.us/Resources/pubdocs/2008/Meeting_Math_Grad_Requirement.pdf ) (PDF)
Earning a Diploma: Class of 2009 and Beyond ( http://www.k12.wa.us/Resources/pubdocs/2008/WASL-HSDiploma.pdf ) (PDF)
WASL and Graduation Requirements ( http://www.k12.wa.us/Resources/default.aspx ) (link)
House Bill 1562 ( http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2009-10/Pdf/Bills/House%20Passed%20Legislature/1562.PL.pdf ) (PDF)

About OSPI
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is the primary agency charged with overseeing K-12 education in Washington state. Led by State Superintendent Randy Dorn, OSPI works with the state's 295 school districts and nine educational service districts to administer basic education programs and implement education reform on behalf of more than one million public school students.

OSPI does not discriminate and provides equal access to its programs and services for all persons without regard to race, color, gender, religion, creed, marital status, national origin, sexual preference/orientation, age, veteran's status or the presence of any physical, sensory or mental disability. For more information, visit the OSPI Web site at http://www.k12.wa.us.