- Class of 2010 Stays on Track, But Math Remains a Problem
- Washington on Track to Adopt Common Core Standards
- State Announces Teacher and Principal Evaluation Pilots
Class of 2010 Stays on Track, But Math Remains a Problem
While 93 percent of 12th graders in the class of 2010 passed the reading and writing state exams, the number of students graduating proficient in math remains low. That’s according to the preliminary results of the High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE) released yesterday by Superintendent Randy Dorn. The HSPE replaced the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) and was administered for the first time this year.
Only 69 percent of 12th graders passed the HSPE in math and it is estimated that little more than 20 percent met the graduation requirement by earning two math credits after 10th grade.
This year’s ninth graders, the class of 2013, will be the first to be required to pass all four state exams: reading, writing, math and science. Those students won’t have the option of earning additional math credits if they don’t pass the exam.
“This state has done well with its reading and writing curriculum,” Dorn said. “We’ve got to raise math to that level.”
Beginning with the class of 2013, students must earn three math credits to graduate. They will also be expected to pass end-of-course exams in algebra I and geometry.
Results for the high school science exam and the Measurements of Student Progress (MSP, for grades 3-8) will be released in late August. Passing rates for the high school science exam have historically been around 40 percent for 10th graders. Beginning in spring 2012, the state will offer an end-of-course exam in biology as the class 2013 finishes its 11th grade year.
“We have to make science instruction a higher priority in all grades if we are going to expect students to achieve and pass an exam to graduate.” Dorn said.
Preliminary results for 10th graders in the class of 2012 show that 78 percent passed reading and 84 percent passed writing in their first attempts at the HSPE. Just 43 percent of 10th graders passed the math exam. For 11th graders in the class of 2011, 88 percent have passed reading, 90 percent have passed writing and 57 percent have passed math in two years of taking the exam.
The need for accelerating student progress is math and science has never been clearer. Washington state leaders, educators and policymakers must come together to ensure that all students are receiving the class time and quality instruction necessary to graduate with skills they need to succeed. This means holding firm on Washington’s commitment to graduation requirement timelines, communicating those timelines clearly to teachers, parents and students, and providing schools and students that are struggling with intervention and support.
To learn more about the requirements for the Class of 2010 and the upcoming requirements for the Classes of 2011-2013, visit OSPI’s resource page.
View more information on OSPI’s HSPE score release in the presentations below.
OSPI Score Release Presentations
Class of 2010 SlidesClass of Supplemental Slides
Washington on Track to Adopt Common Core Standards
On June 2, the day after states submitted their Round Two Race to the Top applications, the Common Core Standards Initiative released the final Common Core Standards for math and English language arts. These standards mark almost two years of work on behalf of the National Governors Association (NGA), the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and numerous other groups such as Achieve, ACT and the College Board.
Due to the federal government’s support of the standards, the emphasis placed on adopting the standards in Race to the Top, and the endorsements of numerous education experts, Kentucky, Hawaii, Maryland, West Virginia and Wisconsin have already agreed to formally adopt the standards and are now beginning the process of implementation. Based on commitments made in state Race to the Top applications, many other states will soon follow.
Washington leaders are currently comparing the common standards to the state’s current standards and are expected to announce adoption plans soon. Early this year, Superintendent Randy Dorn expressed his preliminary support for the standards:
"I embrace the idea of multiple states working together to ensure that all students are prepared to succeed in college and careers and to compete globally," said Supt. Dorn. "As the population of the U.S. is increasingly mobile, it is critical to support all students with a strong and consistent curricular foundation. It is my hope that this initiative will promote increased collaboration among states in developing curriculum resources and identifying best practices that will lead to Washington students being well-prepared to enter our 21st century global economy."
As a component of Washington’s Race to the Top legislation (SB 6696), Supt. Dorn may provisionally adopt the standards by August 2, 2010. The Washington legislature will approve the state’s adoption of the standards during the 2011 legislative session.
Washington is also leading a consortium of states to design common assessments for the new common standards, and plans to submit an application for the Race to the Top Common Assessment grant by June 23, 2010. Winning applications will be announced in Fall 2010 with lead states required to implement the assessment system in their state no later than 2014-15.
To learn more about the Common Core Standards in Washington, including frequently asked questions about the adoption process, visit OSPI’s website.
State Announces Teacher and Principal Evaluation Pilots
Last week, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) announced that eight districts and one consortium of districts will begin pilots this fall of new teacher and principal evaluation systems.
The districts are Anacortes, Central Valley, Kennewick, North Mason, North Thurston, Othello, Snohomish and Wenatchee. The consortium is composed of eight districts: Almira, Davenport, Liberty, Medical Lake, Pullman, Reardan-Edwall, Ritzville and Wilbur. Districts will receive between $100,000 and about $180,000 a year for the two years of the pilot.
The pilots will be conducted in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 school years. Midway through the pilot period, and at its conclusion, OSPI will collect and analyze materials from the pilot districts and make recommendations to the Legislature regarding adopting one or more of the systems for use by districts in the state.
The cornerstone of any effective evaluation system is its ability to produce robust data that can be used to meaningfully differentiate performance, improve teaching and learning and inform strategic human capital decisions, such as tenure, professional development, assignment and compensation. It is our hope that the work of the pilot districts will help educators, policymakers and the public determine how to develop and implement highly effective evaluation systems for the entire state.
For more information on Washington’s teacher and principal evaluation pilots, visit OSPI’s website. And, for additional resources on teacher and principal evaluation, visit The New Teacher Project, National Center on Teacher Quality, and Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession websites.