Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL)WASL is a series of tests that helps make sure our students learn the foundational skills and knowledge that educators, parents and community leaders say are important to their success in life. Students in grades three through ten take required tests sometime during the months of March, April and May. Optional testing is available for students in grades 9, 11 and 12. The WASL serves two purposes. It helps identify how each student is doing and how each school is doing. Schools pay attention to WASL results. They use them to improve teaching and to do a better job of meeting every student’s academic needs. Starting with the class of 2008, all students must show they have a certain level of skill in reading, writing and math (and, soon, science) to be eligible to graduate. One of four ways students statewide must do this is by passing the WASL (or a state-approved alternative – available after two attempts at the WASL) or, for students receiving special education services only, passing one of the options available under the Washington Alternate Assessment System (WAAS). Unlike most standardized tests, which are all multiple choice, the WASL is a mix of multiple-choice, short-answer and extended-response questions. The WASL is used to meet testing requirements under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. WASL scores determine whether a school, a district or the state has met Adequate Yearly Progress. The following resources are available online at Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction—www.waslinfo.org.
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