Teaching
and Learning

Certificate of Academic Achievement

Students must earn the Certificate of Academic Achievement (formerly known as the Certificate of Mastery) by passing the reading, writing and mathematics sections on the tenth-grade WASL in order to graduate. Beginning in 2010, students also must pass the science portion of the WASL.

Since  2006, students have had up to four opportunities to retake all or part of the tenth-grade assessment. Students can “bank” scores in individual subjects, and retake just the portions of the test they don’t pass. The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction has also developed an alternative assessment and/or appeals process for students who need a different way to show they’ve met the state’s learning goals. Some special education students will have the option of earning a Certificate of Individual Achievement. Requirements to earn this certificate will vary based on each student’s individual learning plan.