The WASL scores are in.

Love it or hate it, the final WASL scores for the class of 2008 are in. Of the incoming seniors, 87.5% have met the state's reading requirement, 87.5% have met the writing, and 83.6% have met both. All students of the class of 2008 must pass both the reading and writing WASL or state-approve alternative to graduate.

Hopefully, your first reaction is "Great numbers for the start of the school year!" Because they are good numbers. Immediately following that though, is the important and inevitable question: What about the 16.4% that haven't passed yet?

First, keep in mind that these scores do not include the summer's WASL retakes and there will be another opportunity for students to pass the test in the spring. Plus, there are many alternatives for the WASL that students have access to.

It's also important to note that the WASL isn't the only graduation requirement for kids. Course credits, a high school and beyond plan and the completion of culminating project are also statewide requirements. Not to mention additional requirements that vary district by district (i.e. additional course credits and community service).

The real benefit of these scores is that they help the state, schools and districts identify students who need extra help.

"We want all students to earn a meaningful diploma," Bergeson said in this press release. "We need to work with districts and high school principals and counselors and parents to find the kids who are at risk of coming up short -- on the WASL or on credits or any graduation requirement -- and get them the help they need to take this important step in their ives."

So between now and June 2008, we hope the focus isn't on the fact that 16.4% of the class hasn't passed the WASL yet, but instead on finding and implementing ways to steadily get that number down to zero.

For detailed WASL results, view the OSPI report card.