Supporting Academic Achievement
The State of Washington has set high standards for student achievement. The
standards—called Essential Academic Learning Requirements—are measured by the
Washington Assessment of Student Learning, commonly called the WASL. Starting
with the class of 2008, students will be expected to show they can meet these
standards in order to graduate.
Seattle Public Schools pass rates on the WASL have been moving in a positive
direction:
 |
| District WASL Scores - 1999 |
|
| Grades: |
4th |
7th |
10th |
| Reading |
56% |
40% |
36% |
| Writing |
39% |
36% |
33% |
| Math |
36% |
27% |
25% |
|
|
| District WASL Scores - 2005 |
|
| Grades: |
4th |
7th |
10th |
| Reading |
77% |
63% |
66% |
| Writing |
57% |
58% |
54% |
| Math |
59% |
47% |
41% |
|
This progress is slower than educators, students or parents would like to see.
Many students will fall short of meeting the state's graduation requirements
unless the rate of passage increases dramatically over the next three years.
Even more distressing is the persistent gap in the pass rates between non-poor
white students, for whom English is their first language, and almost everyone
else—this is known as the achievement gap. As distinct sub-groups, students of
color, students for whom language and culture are barriers and students living
in poverty continue to find themselves on the low end of the achievement gap.
The Alliance is helping to advance Seattle Public Schools' efforts to improve
educational outcomes and close the achievement gap by providing funding and
other support for practices that promise better results.