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Graduation RatesEighth Grade Graduation: cause for celebration or simple pat on the back?By maureen on 23 Jun | 0 comments
This morning, the New York Times explores the growing controversy surrounding 8th grade graduations. Some schools find the over-emphasis on 8th grade graduation an antiquated throw-back to an era when 8th grade was the highest level of education those headed for blue collar work attained. Other schools highlight the rite (often including mini-proms and limousine rides) for students whose parents may not traditionally celebrate educational achievement.
It’s 13 not 37.By allisonm on 10 Jun | 0 comments
Diplomas Count leaves me empty.By allisonm on 05 Jun | 1 comment
And so it begins…By allisonm on 28 May | 0 comments
Start your engines for the Class of 2008By maureen on 21 May | 0 commentsI just got back from an OSPI Media Workshop on the Class of 2008’s upcoming assessment results release and for once, my head wasn’t spinning (I know, shocking!). It’s pretty clear that since the Class of 2008 will be the first class required to meet a number of new state mandates that OSPI wants everyone to be adequately informed and able to digest information that’s, um, not always the most straightforward.
Just how bad is it?By maureen on 03 Apr | 0 comments
Well, we’re not at the bottom of the barrel, but Seattle has it pretty, pretty bleak. No, I’m not talking about the weather—that’s a whole other post—I’m talking about our graduation rates.
Molly Berger: The Hard Part of Staying the CourseBy maureen on 02 Apr | 0 comments
Allison who?By allisonm on 31 Mar | 0 comments
It’s been awhile since I’ve posted. Lots going on at PFL recently (but more on that in a couple of weeks!) But what's up with me you ask? Well, maybe you didn't ask but I'll tell you anyway.
The low down on EOCs.By allisonm on 14 Mar | 0 comments
Creating a College-Going CulturePosted on 05 Mar | 0 comments
The Mary Walker School District is located about an hour outside of Spokane, deep in the heart of rural and rugged Northeastern Washington. The majority of students are poor and many high school students possess more education than their parents.
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Years ago, when my Tacoma middle school decided to celebrate our 8th
grade graduation with a nice dinner and a borderline dowdy ceremony at a local
improvement club, I felt a bit sheepish. Not just because I was 14 and wasn’t
exactly comfortable wearing a dress, the whole thing just felt anticlimactic. 
This just annoyed me. The headline for 
As Maureen says, there’s been a lot of "buzz in the blogosphere" about 
Yesterday, schools and districts received their WASL scores – a database, if you will, of students as of May 23 who have passed or not passed the WASL or state-approved alternative. This year, students must meet the reading and writing requirement in order to graduate.
Another student withdrew from my class and from school today. At least this time he was transferring to a state accredited online school. That is not always the case. I have had students transfer to questionable online schools where they only need 17 credits, $500, no WASL, and no senior project to get (buy) a diploma. I have had capable students opt for a GED and others just plain quit. We have Running Start students opting to earn an AA degree with no high school diploma. A colleague in school across the region had a student boldly state, “I am not taking another math class, and I am not taking the math WASL again. What are my options?”
End-of-course exams. Last session, it was a heavily debated topic as legislators toyed with the idea of nixing the WASL for what some argued to be greener end-of-course (EOC) pastures. While vetoed last year, EOCs have resurfaced this session. But this time, a bit more thought out and definitely in full force.
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