January 27, 2008
"WASL isn't the No. 1 threat to diplomas"
Interesting story in the Everett Herald. Mostly because the data presented is a conventional wisdom buster:
Dave Pavelchek, senior research manager for Washington State University's Social and Economic Science Research Center, studied 15 school districts' WASL results and academic credits from the classes of 2008 across the state at the end of the last school year.
He found that 62 percent of the 11,000 students had both passed the WASL and were on track with their credits to graduate on time. Five percent had enough credits but hadn't passed the WASL. Another 22 percent had passed the WASL but were behind in credits and 11 percent were behind in credits and hadn't passed the WASL.
"I think if people are looking solely at the WASL as the reason kids aren't going to graduate, it's a mistake," Pavelchek said.
Posted by Eric Earling at January 27, 2008
08:12 AM | Email This
1. Exactly what constitutes "behind in credits".Did these kids fail in their classes and get promoted anyway or is education simply optional for them.Or both.In any case a 62% graduation rate certainly isn't New Age "excellent".
2. Kilroy, "behind in credits" means they've flunked classes and are juniors in class standing when they're supposed to be seniors.
Social promotion ends in 8th grade. 9th graders sometimes seem baffled by the fact that they can't just coast through. If I could make one easy, relatively inexpensive change to public education, it'd be to make middle school grades mean something. Otherwise, it's just three years to ingrain bad study habits.
3. I totally agree with the article and I think Anderson above is ontrack, except the problem begins in elementary school. Kids need to get a firm grounding in the basics of reading, writing, and math in elementary school. It is crucial that kids develop reading skills there. One can make-up for later deficiencies, but it is easier to get the grounding in the basics and build upon that.
4. Has the number of students who are credit deficit increased, decreased or remained about the same in the last several years?
5. Kilroy asked "Exactly what constitutes 'behind in credits'." As pointed out it means that a student failed a class. But it can also mean that a student has not yet taken a required class at the "right" time. It does not necessarily mean that they cannot earn the missing credit(s) before graduation.
6. Kilroy asked "Exactly what constitutes 'behind in credits'." As pointed out it means that a student failed a class. But it can also mean that a student has not yet taken a required class at the "right" time. It does not necessarily mean that they cannot earn the missing credit(s) before graduation.
7. I firmly believe the credit system (earning credits to move through the grades and schools) should begin as soon as students stop staying with one teacher all day, typically in the 6th grade. Too many kids coast through middle school with the firm belief that attendance (and not skill/content mastery) will suffice when being promoted. And they are correct. Until the reality of high school crashes down upon them.
8. WASL may not be preventing many kids from receiving a diploma, but it is getting in the way of quality education. I removed my kids from public school because of too much emphasis on the WASL. (Too much group work and subjective writing assignments; and not enough emphasis on accuracy and individual work)
I don't believe today's students are any better off then students that graduated before WASL.
It is really too bad because it is an expensive and time consuming test. We need high standards. Good tests are out there, we just need someone to step up, and admit the WASL is not it.
9. I just want to add to the 'behind in credits' discussion. A student can be behind in credits for other reasons besides failing a class. Many districts have different credit requirements, so if a student transfers to another district, they may find themselves without the correct number of credits. Also, some classes like 'accounting' may count as math credit at some schools and a business or occupation credit at another.
Also, students that have failed the math WASL must continue to take WASL math classes to recieve a diploma. This can interfere with taking classes that are required for a student's college application. Students are in a catch 22 as they must choose between a high school diploma or having the correct credits for college. Most students in this situation tend to forgo the diploma, and focus on college. Ironic isn't it?
This is why the SAT test or any technical career entrance test should substitute for the 10th grade WASL.
10. Just a clarification on #9. The class of 2008 can waive passing the math portion of WASL by taking a math class, and passing it, through out school. The comment that this is keeping a student from doing college level work is absurd. Students don't take enough math as it is, and arrive at college poorly prepared.
Maybe this will be the salvation of WASL - get rid of the math test, and require four years of math high school. This will surely be more beneficial to a student than the WASL.
11. Most schools have much improved WASL scores but I believe there is a limit to how close to 100% can be achieved based solely on what schools can do. Lets see the statistical data on those who are short of credits and not passing the WASL and see what it will really take to get 100% rates of success. What are the root causes holding the remaining students back? Before you answer it is all the public schools fault show me the data.
12. Most schools have much improved WASL scores but I believe there is a limit to how close to 100% can be achieved based solely on what schools can do. Lets see the statistical data on those who are short of credits and not passing the WASL and see what it will really take to get 100% rates of success. What are the root causes holding the remaining students back? Before you answer it is all the public schools fault show me the data.
13. Most schools have much improved WASL scores but I believe there is a limit to how close to 100% can be achieved based solely on what schools can do. Lets see the statistical data on those who are short of credits and not passing the WASL and see what it will really take to get 100% rates of success. What are the root causes holding the remaining students back? Before you answer it is all the public schools fault show me the data.
14. Just visit any anti-WASL site and you will read parent testimony on the situation I described above (post #9). It is not a not a high percentage of kids that fall into this category, but it is VERY REAL, and these students should be given a way out of the situation without having to take additional WASL math. When a student signs up for WASL math it is taking place of another class! and the class that it is replacing is sometimes a class needed for their college application.
WASL math is not real math. It is not unheard of for a student to fail the math WASL but be capable of taking a high level math class.
Also, the math that the schools teach nowadays (Integrated math) does not prepare kids for college. It is sad that we are 'staying the course' with this. Kids do need more math, but traditional math would be much more effective.