News Release
Everett Public Schools
Feb. 13, 2009
For more information:
Mary Waggoner, 425-385-4049
Terry Edwards, 425-385-4050
State's decision means no ninth-grade WASL exams this year
The state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has announced the cancellation of ninth-grade WASL exams for this year. This decision impacts approximately 1,400 freshman students in Everett Public Schools' three comprehensive high schools and Sequoia High School. For the last three years, ninth-grade students at Cascade, Everett, H.M. Jackson and Sequoia have been encouraged to take the state required tests a year early.
"Our students have been prepared for this exam since elementary school," noted Chief Academic Officer Terry Edwards. "We have found it to be an advantage for them to experience the tests and for so many of them to meet standard on sections of the test as ninth-graders. Doing so frees them up to concentrate on course work and other graduation requirements during the remaining years in high school. The test results also helped us to know exactly what support to provide for those students who did not meet standard as ninth-graders."
The state decision means that tests cannot be administered, even for those freshman students who registered on the OSPI Web site to take one of the WASL exams in March or April. Instead, students will take a state test next year as 10th-graders.
Interim Superintendent Karst Brandsma said, "We in Everett Public Schools are disappointed in the state's decision. Historically, our ninth-graders have done well on the high school WASL and have benefitted from taking the test early and from meeting standard on all or parts of it early in their high school careers. However, please know we are committed to quality teaching and learning experiences to prepare each student for state tests that are given next year."
Parents who have questions about the high school WASL exams are encouraged to contact their school counselors. To learn more about the state's decision to cancel the ninth-grade WASL exam this spring, go to the Web site of the
Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.