Majority of Federal Way High School Students Have Met the Reading and Writing Standards

Preliminary results from the spring round of WASL testing show that the majority of Federal Way high school students have met the reading and writing standards. Eighty-seven percent of Federal Way’s Class of 2009 – this year’s 11th graders –have met the reading and writing requirements.  For the class of 2010, this year’s 10th graders, 79% have passed the requirements.  Over half – 52 percent – of Federal Way’s ninth graders have taken and passed the reading and writing sections of the WASL. Statewide, 20% of ninth-graders have passed.

Federal Way’s results for 10th and 11th grade students are somewhat higher than the state averages. Statewide, around 85 percent of this year’s 11th graders have met state reading and writing standards required for graduation. In addition, 75 percent of this year’s 10th graders across the state have passed both the reading and writing portions of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning.  

Two weeks ago, seniors – the first class required to meet the state standards to graduate – received their results from the spring testing.  Statewide, 91.4 percent of 12th graders in the Class of 2008 met both reading and writing standards through the WASL or legislatively approved alternative assessments. To graduate, students must also meet other state and district graduation criteria, including a Culminating Project, High School and Beyond Plan and all state and local credit requirements.

In Federal Way, around 95 percent of the Class of 2008 who were credit-eligible also met the state’s standards for graduation, according to OSPI’s report dated June 16, 2008.      

Students who pass the math WASL, in addition to the reading and writing portions, earn a Certificate of Academic Achievement (CAA). Over 72% of Federal Way’s seniors earned the CAA this year. Students who receive special education services who pass alternate versions of the tests earn a Certificate of Individual Achievement (CIA); approximately 2% of Federal Way’s Class of 2008 graduated with CIA’s.  OSPI’s page for the Class of 2008 provides options for students who still have not passed the WASL, including attending the home district or a community college. Go to http://www.k12.wa.us/Communications/pressreleases2008/Class2008Update.aspx.

High school students in grades 9-12 who have yet to pass one or more sections of the WASL can register now to take one of more of the tests this summer, August 11-14. Online registration for the August 2008 High School WASL is available through June 27, 2008, at https://www.k12.wa.us/waslregistration/. A toll-free telephone line, (866) 400-9275 [(866) 400-WASL], is also available between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Students need their state identification number, which is on the front of their WASL score report, to register.

What’s Next for Next Year’s Seniors?
Students in the Class of 2009 have two more chances to pass the WASL. In addition, students have multiple opportunities to use legislatively approved alternatives to the WASL.

More than 62 percent of 11th graders statewide have passed the math WASL, which is not a state graduation requirement until 2013. Those students who do not pass the math WASL must earn two credits of math after 10th grade and take the WASL or another state-approved math assessment annually.

Federal Way students who have not yet met WASL standards, including those who have not yet taken the tests, are being given extra support during the school year to meet these and other graduation requirements.

This summer, Federal Way Public Schools is offering the Promoting Academic Success (PAS) program to students who haven’t yet passed the reading or math sections of the WASL. Students may participate in this program free of charge if their spring 2008 WASL scores qualify them for the program. Invitations will be offered to students who qualify for this program.

Summer PAS will be held from June 30 to August 7 at Federal Way High School. Morning, afternoon and evening sessions are available four days a week. The goal is to prepare students to pass the WASL in August, 2008. Students who successfully complete the PAS program also will be eligible to receive an elective credit.

Over One-Half of FWPS’s Ninth Graders Have Passed the WASL
This year, a record number of ninth graders across the state – more than 21,000 – voluntarily took one or more of three state assessments (reading, writing and math). Preliminary results show that one out of five students in the Class of 2011 statewide has already met both the reading and writing requirement even though most students won’t take the WASL until next spring in the 10th grade.

In Federal Way, the number is significantly higher: Over one-half (52%) of the class of 2011 have taken and passed the WASL. Because ninth graders who took the spring WASL received their preliminary scores in June this year for the first time, they are eligible now to take the August WASL. Ninth graders must have been in school during the spring WASL administration to be eligible to register.

June 18, 2008