Parts of WASL dealt a blow

The state House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday that stops short of dumping the math and science sections of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning but makes it clear that's what those lawmakers would like to see.

In an 81-17 vote, the House signaled its desire to replace math and science on the WASL with end-of-course exams in algebra, geometry and biology, as long as an independent third party agrees those exams would be superior to the WASL.

Senate Bill 6023 also calls for a five-year delay in the year that students must pass the math WASL to graduate — from 2008 to 2013. Students who fail, however, still would have to take additional math courses to earn their diplomas. Passing the science WASL also would not become a graduation requirement until 2013.

The bill now will go to a conference committee. In the meantime, a group of 38 school superintendents are making a last-minute push to convince legislators that passing reading and writing on the WASL should be delayed past 2008, like math.

Superintendents from the Edmonds and Everett school districts, along with dozens from Eastern Washington, say the school system hasn't yet done enough to prepare all students in the class of 2008 to pass the reading and writing WASL, especially students who live in poverty or those who are learning English. If students who fail math get a reprieve, said Yakima School Superintendent Ben Soria, then so should the roughly 16,000 students who've failed reading and writing.

The Seattle Education Association, the union that represents Seattle teachers, sent Seattle-area lawmakers a similar plea last week.

Linda Shaw: 206-464-2359 or lshaw@seattletimes.com