The Seattle School District says the class of 2008 has proven the School Board's change in four new statewide graduation requirements works when the class met and exceeded the state reading and writing portions of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, better known as the WASL.

The goal in changing the graduation requirements for the class of 2008 and beyond was to allow better preparation for students to contribute to their own economic well-being along with their families and communities, and to enjoy productive and satisfying lives in the future, says the district.

The Class of 2008 was chosen to be the pilot class for the new requirements because it was the first class educated with the state's learning standards from kindergarten on.

The four new statewide graduation requirements are as follows:

- High School and Beyond Plan: A student plan including the classes needed in preparation for a 2-or-4-year college, vocational, or technical school, certificate program or the workforce.

- Credit Requirements: Students pass required number of classes and earn 19 or more credits in English, math, science, social students, health and fitness, visual or performing arts, occupational education and electives.

- Complete a Culminating Project: Completing an integrated learning project that helps students understand the connection between school and the real world, i.e. through a portfolio collection, career internships, studying topics of interest etc.

- Earn a Certificate of Academic Achievement or Certificate of Individual Achievement: A certificate informing that an individual student has mastered a minimum set of skills by graduation. Students earn the Certificate of Academic Achievement by meeting state reading, writing and math standards on the High School Washington Assessment of Student Learning or on one of the Certificate of Academic Achievement Options (state-approved alternatives to the WASL.) The Certificate of Individual Achievement is for students who are in special education programs that are unable to take the High School WASL but are able to demonstrate their skills through a portfolio or a WASL designed for a different grade level.

The Class of 2008 was expected to meet the new statewide requirements in order to earn their high school diplomas. Seattle Public Schools announced that the preliminary district-wide Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) results were 92.1 percent of seniors (2,351 out of 2,554) passing the reading and writing requirement. This bypassed the statewide average of 91.4 percent making nearly 94 percent of seniors passing the reading and 93.5 percent passing the writing requirements.

As for the math portion of the WASL test, they have delayed it until 2013 as a requirement for students to pass but students are still required to take math courses and attempt the WASL or another state-approved alternative each year. This year 74 percent of seniors met the math state standards.

"This is an excellent accomplishment for the fist year in which the State of Washington set a bar for passing tests of academic skills in reading and writing," said Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson. "There are still challenges to be met. The goal of our Strategic Plan, 'Excellence for All,' is to increase the number of students who stay in school and graduate ready for college, work and life. This is an important step in that direction."

Goodloe-Johnson also highlighted the number of outlets that may help students who have not met state or district graduation requirements. Students must take the WASL at least once before seeking these options but with these options they are able to earn their Certificate of Academic Achievement to fill in their graduation requirements.

Allison Espiritu may be reached at 932-0300 or allisone@robinsonnews.com.