• What is the Certificate of Mastery (CoM)?

• Who has to take the Certificate of Mastery and when?

• What will the test be like?

  • Test Specifications
  • Example reading questions
  • Example writing questions - short, timed
  • Example writing questions - Critical Review Essay
  • Example math questions

• How will the state Certificate of Mastery be implemented?

• Which subject areas will be assessed on the CoM?

• What happens after a student has earned the State Certificate of Mastery?

• What happens when a student doesn't pass the 10th grade State Certificate of Mastery? What about students in special programs?

• Visit the Commission on Student Learning for more information on the Certificate of Mastery.

What is the Certificate of Mastery?

The Certificate of Mastery is a credential of achievement signifying that a student has met the state's Essential Academic Learning Requirements. Current plans call for the certificate to be a statewide graduation requirement awarded once students pass the high school assessments in reading, writing, listening and mathematics beginning in the year 2006, with science added as a requirement in 2008. Most students should earn a certificate by about the age of 16. Their remaining time in high school may be spent focusing on local graduation requirements and classes that will prepare them for higher education or for work.

Who has to take the Certificate of Mastery and when?

The school year 2003-2004,  will be the first year that tenth grade students will be required to take the Certificate of Mastery.  Those students are scheduled to graduate in 2006 and in the 1998-1999 school year they are fifth graders.

What will the test be like?

The tests will be the current WASL which is being conducted for the first time at grade 10 in the 1998-99 school year.  Students must demonstrate higher level thinking skills through reading, writing, listening, math and science. 

• Example reading questions
• Example writing questions - short, timed
• Example writing questions - Critical Review Essay
• Example math questions

How will the state Certificate of Mastery be implemented?

The Commission on Student Learning has established a committee for the purpose of making recommendations on the Certificate of Mastery.  This committee proposes that the implementation should take place over several years.  (This is similar to how the new WASL was implemented, where many schools volunteered to have fourth graders take the test one year prior to its requirement.)

By the year 2006, all students in Washington State should be required to earn the  state CoM to graduate from high school.  As early as 2000, districts my voluntarily award students the state CoM in reading, writing, communication (listening) and mathematics.  However, until 2006, students who do not earn the state CoM may not be denied a high school diploma.

Beginning with the graduates in 2006, local districts are required to post whether or not a student has earned the state CoM on the transcript.

Which subject areas will be assessed on the CoM?

Reading, Writing, Communication (Listening), and Mathematics EALRs will be assessed for the 10th graders beginning in the school year 2003-2004. Beginning with the graduates of the year 2008, science EALRs will be added.

The CoM committee recommends that students be noted for achievement in additional content areas such as the arts and civics on their transcripts.

What happens after a student has earned the State Certificate of Mastery?

Earning a state CoM in the 10th grade is not intended to eliminate the vital 11th and 12th grade years of high school.  The Tahoma district will still have graduations requirements beyond the state CoM.  Students  should continue to pursue educational and career objectives.

Educational pathways after the achievement of the CoM may include such options as school-to-work transition programs, preparation for community college, university study, technical programs, Running Start and work-based learning.

What happens when a student doesn't pass the 10th grade State Certificate of Mastery? What about students in special programs?

Students will have multiple opportunities to retake any or all assessments to meet the standards before graduation. 

Each student in a special education program has an IEP.  The IEP must be based on the individual needs of the student.  The Commission on Student Learning intends that whenever appropriate, the IEP goals will be based in whole or part on the EALRs, either at grade-level or off grade-level.   State guidelines for accommodating special populations of students are currently being developed. 

For a small percentage of students, the CoM may not be appropriate.   Alternative assessments are developed by the CSL for these students.