Heads Up, High School Parents

I just skimmed this article but apparently all Washington parents will get a letter from their school (district?) about the rules and schedule for state testing. Look for that in the mail.

From the Seattle Times article:

State rules for who has to take the High School Proficiency Exam — and its predecessor, the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, or WASL — have been confusing parents and students for years.

Four bills before the Legislature may simplify things in the near future. Some proposals take aim at the most confusing part of high-school testing — the rules that cover which high-school math exam or exams a student is expected to take this spring.

The confusion stems from the state's transition from a general high-school math test in 10th grade to end-of-course exams for algebra and geometry. As the rules stand now, some students who took algebra or geometry a few years ago may be expected to take end-of-course exams in those subjects this year.

Of course this is just more churn with more in the pipeline if, as it seems, there will now be national standards to factor into tests.

How it stands now:

The existing law says Washington high-school students must pass exams in reading and writing, or an approved alternative, to earn a diploma. In math, they must either pass a statewide exam or take extra credits in math. High-school students also take a science test, but a passing score won't be required until 2013. That year math assessments also are scheduled to become graduation requirements, as end-of-course exams.