WASL prompting new ideas at local schools

EPHRATA — The new challenge for many high schools are twofold: Ensuring students pass the Washington Assessment of Student Learning and offering classes of interest to students in helping them work toward their career goals.

It is a challenge Ephrata High School is addressing. In a March newsletter to parents, principal Dan Martell identified what such a change will mean in the future of education.

"We've gotta make sure we're preparing all our students …" Martell said. "Our state has said to have those skills you have to have a minimum competency to pass that WASL."

This school year EHS began doing what is called "double dosing" in math for ninth-grade students. Double dosing is a method by which students take two math classes, one being specifically for reinforcing concepts taught in the first math class.

Next school year Martell said the high school would like to look into aligning part of its English department with its business education department, with the goal being to reinforce basic English skills in a class that already requires knowledge of similar skills.

In the March newsletter Martell further expanded on the dilemma facing EHS and other high schools throughout the state.

"Historically, schools were under the operating paradigm that some students would do well, some would do OK and others would fail," Martell wrote. "The new paradigm is that all students will meet certain standards. We have taken on quite a mandate."

At Sage Hills High School in Ephrata, the alternative school that opened last year and serves predominantly at-risk youth, administrators are not using double dose methods to help students pass the WASL, but are using a three-tiered approach that focuses more on personal growth.

Vice principal at SHHS Charlotte Throgmorton said their approach includes academics, social interaction and self development.

"Our focus is to get our kids back around about having a positive attitude about themselves and success in the community that we live in," she said. "With focusing on the other aspects of self esteem and social interaction, we're actually preparing our kids to holistically do the best they can on that test."

As students prepare once again this spring to take the WASL and sophomores are faced with the demand of passing the test in order to graduate, the balancing act between satisfying academic requirements and extracurricular interests weigh heavy on the minds of educators in the Ephrata School District.

That means continuing to offer high quality band, art and other elective and after school activities without those programs suffering at the cost of overemphasis on academics, according to Martell.

"A comprehensive school is a school that provides everything to everybody," Martell said.