Biggest WASL letdown: math

Any illusions that progress on the state's high-stakes academic-achievement test would be a steady upward trend were dashed last week.

Results from the 2006 Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) showed more than half of the county's sophomores had failed at least one portion of the test, with the bulk of them stumbling in math.

The results have Snohomish County school districts scrambling to hire classroom coaches, add teacher training and set up additional classes for struggling students. Districts are trying to make these improvements with budgets strained by rising fuel, utilities and labor costs.

"We've had good success with instructional coaches. Now we're trying to find the resources to add them at more schools," said Nancy Katims, the assessment director for the Edmonds School District, where 10th-grade reading scores jumped to an 87 percent pass rate, writing rose almost 20 percentage points, to 85 percent, but only 56 percent of students passed in math.

Those results parallel trends around the county, with many high schools posting big gains in 10th-grade reading and writing but falling short in math.

Starting with the class of 2008, students must pass the WASL in reading, writing and math for graduation. Students get four free retakes or may provide an alternative demonstration of proficiency.

Math stands as an even-higher barrier for minority students. Just 18 percent of American Indians and 20 percent of Hispanics in the Marysville School District met 10th-grade math standards, compared with 45 percent of whites. In Everett, 19 percent of African Americans and 28 percent of Hispanics passed the math portion, compared with 48 percent of whites.

Unexplained drops were seen in seventh-grade reading and math scores, as well as fourth-grade math scores.

The results, which school districts have had in preliminary form for two months, prompted Snohomish County superintendents in August to question the statistical validity of the WASL results and call for a delay in the scores' release.

Everett schools Superintendent Carol Whitehead said Friday that she was satisfied with reassurances from the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction that the scores had been thoroughly reviewed and were accurate, but she said the results still are troubling.

"Our own measurements of seventh-grade reading tell us that our students are improving," she said. "Therefore, we will hold the course and expect to see this year's strange statistical anomaly become just a blip on an upward trend over time."

At county high schools, the WASL scores ranged from a high of 63 percent of Kamiak sophomores and 61 percent of Edmonds-Woodway High School sophomores meeting standards in all three subjects to 33 percent at Granite Falls.

Kamiak and Edmonds-Woodway also posted the highest math scores, with 68 and 67 percent of 10th-graders, respectively, meeting state standards. Though both schools have less than 15 percent of students from poor families — one of the biggest predictors of test scores — the schools also did about 10 percentage points better than two schools with similar demographics: Snohomish and Henry M. Jackson high schools.

Diana Howe, who chairs the Kamiak math department, said it's taking a unified approach to math, with all teachers giving students frequent practice in the types of questions and skills tested by the WASL.

Kamiak also offers student-to-student tutoring in math, a community volunteer who comes twice a week to help students and an after-school study club. Teachers, she said, are giving 100 percent effort, and all of it is helping students.

At Marysville-Pilchuck High School, where 40 percent of last spring's sophomores met standards in math, Superintendent Larry Nyland said the district has added teacher training in math. It also is considering a tougher curriculum and hopes to give students more help.

"We've made significant gains in literacy, and we're confident we'll make the same gains in math," said Nyland. He said he wouldn't favor suspending the math requirement for graduation, a proposal likely to be debated by the Legislature in the coming session.

"We owe it to kids to teach them these skills because they need math to do well in life," Nyland said.

Darrington High School lifted itself from the bottom of the test heap to post a 31-percentage-point gain in writing and a 21-point gain in math. Though fourth- and seventh-grade scores remained below average, Darrington sophomores responded to raised expectations and encouragement from teachers, said Superintendent Larry Johnson.

"I'm pleased with the results and proud of our staff," Johnson said. "I don't think we're in the toilet anymore."

Granite Falls High School also showed strong gains in reading and writing, but only 40 percent of sophomores met standards in math. As in many districts, a concerted effort in literacy is only now being duplicated in math.

The district has hired a teacher to develop more support for students, including counseling, regular assessment and a planned spring after-school math academy, said district spokeswoman Kathy Grant.

Grant said she grew frustrated hearing state Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson talk about the success districts around the state have had with teaching coaches.

"Fine — give us coaches. Give us the money for coaches. We're all struggling to find the resources," Grant said.

Lynn Thompson: 425-745-7807 or lthompson@seattletimes.com