House OKs delay for WASL math, science
Tuesday, March 13, 2007 7:28 AM PDT
By Associated Press
Printable version
E-mail this articleOLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- The state House passed a measure Monday to delay a requirement that students pass the math and science portions of Washington's student achievement test in order to graduate from high school.
The measure passed on an 83-15 vote and now heads to the Senate, which is considering a similar measure.
As state law stands today, students in the class of 2008 would be the first group required to pass the math, writing and reading sections of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning in order to graduate.
Only 58 percent of this year's junior class have passed all three sections of the 10th grade WASL, with most failures in the math section
The bill allows students in the classes of 2008 through 2012 to graduate without passing the WASL math test if they meet certain conditions, such as taking additional classes. It also delays the requirement to pass the science WASL from 2010 to 2014.
Some lawmakers voiced concern over the delay.
"There's going to be the perception by some that we have caved to political pressure," said Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Carrolls.
The Senate's version would delay the math requirement only for students in the classes of 2008 and 2009, if they also meet conditions similar to those in the House measure. The Senate version would delay the science requirement to 2011.
Both bills would require students who do not pass the math WASL to take additional classes to catch up. They also would allow students to graduate if they pass an approved alternative assessment.
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The measure is House Bill 2327.
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On the Net:
http://www.leg.wa.gov/.
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