Bay Carrie Pederson

Kelso seniors who haven’t passed required sections of the state WASL exam may once again have the option to walk at graduation next spring.

For the 2007-08 school year, the Kelso School Board determined seniors who had not met WASL graduation requirements could walk in the ceremony if they made successful appeals to the school board.

The board will discuss renewing that policy at its Sept. 22 board meeting and vote on the matter Oct. 13.

“I’m not ready to make it a blanket for the future, but I would like to extend it,” board member Patty Wood said at Monday’s board meeting.

Other board members agreed, with board President Roy Parsons saying the policy offers students “a way for them to get their diploma” even if they fail the Washington Assessment of Student Learning exam.

Starting with the class of 2008, the state required seniors to pass the reading and writing sections of the WASL to graduate. By 2013, students also must pass the math section.

Two students in the Kelso class of 2008 made successful appeals to the board and graduated later in the summer, district officials reported at a board meeting Monday.

Kelso board members wondered how long the state will allow school boards to make policies allowing students to graduate without passing the WASL. In such cases, students must present materials and show proof that they have learned the material.