Articles Miss Key Point

On Thursday, August 30th, OSPI Superintendent Terry Bergeson presented the results of student success on the Spring 2007 WASL. Virtually all of the major papers in the state reported not only the state findings, but also the scores of their local schools. Lost in the reporting was the result of a four-district sample of over 5,000 students of the class of 2008 and their readiness to graduate from high school in the spring.

Many have focused on the students who have enough credits to graduate in 2008 but have not passed the WASL. There has not been the same concern for students who have passed the WASL but have not earned enough credits to be on track for graduation as they enter their senior year. Yet, there are over four times as many students who will not graduate because they have not earned credits (22.6%) compared to those who have not passed the WASL but are on track earning credits (4.3%). Click here to view that chart used at the press conference to illustrate that results of the survey completed during the summer.

This year's seniors are more likely not to graduate because they are behind in credits rather than not having passed the WASL. That point needs to be understood not only by principals, teachers and students, but also the policy makers at the district level, Olympia and beyond.