Math remains a challenge

As the families of thousands of 10th-graders prepare to receive their students’ individual results next week from the 2006 Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL), State Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson is sending a message of hope and encouragement: “Congratulations to the thousands of students who met all three standards and are on track to earn their diploma. For those who struggled, there is time and support to get you there.”

During a news conference recently, Bergeson shared early statewide numbers from the spring 2006 WASL taken by 10th-grade students. Because the WASL is now part of the new graduation requirements for the class of 2008, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) accelerated the return of scores to students and their parents. Individual student results will help families make decisions about summer school programs and upcoming WASL retake opportunities.

In August, after school districts complete their annual student records reconciliation, OSPI will report complete data on the performance of all 10th-grade students.

Early numbers, however, indicate the vast majority of students who took the 10th-grade WASL have learned the essential skills expected of them in reading and writing. However, while gains were made in mathematics, it remains the most challenging subject for students.

Students who achieve passing scores on the 10th-grade reading, writing and mathematics WASL earn a Certificate of Academic Achievement, one of Washington’s new graduation requirements in place for the class of 2008. Students must also complete the required course credits, a culminating project and a “high school and beyond” plan to earn a diploma.

Bergeson is awaiting results from the alternate tests in reading, writing and/or mathematics that students in special education programs were eligible to take.

• Of the 71,136 sophomores who took the reading test, 60,873 students met or exceeded the standard. More than half of the students – 43,758 – scored in Level 4, the highest performance level. This year’s results also show a two-thirds reduction in the number of students scoring in the lowest performance level (Level 1).
• Writing scores showed impressive improvement, noted Bergeson. Of the 70,812 sophomores who took the writing test, 59,196 met or exceeded the standard. There were nearly 10,000 more students than last year who achieved the writing standard, and there were two-thirds fewer students performing in Level 1.
• Of the 70,255 who took the mathematics test, 37,866 met or exceeded the standard. The improvements in mathematics were most noteworthy in the movement of students out of the lowest achievement level – a one-third reduction.

School districts have student results in hand and are in the process of sharing information with parents about summer school and other options to support students. Thanks to the 2006 Legislature, districts also have new resources – $28.5 million – to assist struggling students in meeting state standards.

Bergeson praised the hard work of students who took the WASL this spring and thanked the parents and educators who supported them. She also reinforced the increased need in an internationally competitive environment for a focus on ensuring that students achieve skills.

Bergeson spoke to the issues presented by the mathematics results. “In spite of the motivation provided by the graduation requirement, many, many students still struggle with mathematics. We must face these results squarely and accelerate our efforts to teach kids the mathematics they need. Our futures and their future standard of living depend upon it.

“Our state is a major force in the international economy. Mathematics is essential to the jobs that drive that economy. And it is also essential to successfully managing our daily, complex lives. The world has changed. It is time to face facts: Mathematics is for everyone.”