Preface

In 1993, the Washington State Legislature enacted House Bill 1209. This bill led to educators, parents, and community leaders developing Goals 1 through 4, the Essential Academic Learning Requirements for each of these goals, the Washington Assessment of Student Learning [WASL] for Goal 1 and Math at grades 4, 7, and 10 and Goal 2 at grades 5, 8, and 10. All students must Meet Standard in Reading, Writing, Communication, and Math toward earning the Certificate of Mastery, which will be a requirement for the high school diploma. In addition, an accountability law was passed that requires schools and school districts to show a 25% increase in students Meeting Standard every three years. Failure to demonstrate improvement in student learning will call for state intervention.

This major education reform effort has "raised the bar". In 1950, jobs were made up of 20% professional, 20% skilled, and 60% unskilled requirements. While our current work force is still comprised of 20% professional positions, our society now requires 65% of our workers to be skilled and only 15% of our workers to be unskilled. Given these dramatic social changes, this reform effort is necessary. While many of the changes we are experiencing are exciting and invigorating, it is important to acknowledge that there is always loss and grief involved in any change and transition. The Wenatchee School District highly values the hard work and dedication our staff continues to make toward these reform efforts. As we also endeavor to acknowledge the emotional challenges such change and transition requires, we will work together as a team to release former concepts, skills and understandings as we embrace the unfamiliar, and sometimes frightening, new areas in which we embark. The Wenatchee School District Learning & Teaching Guide is intended to provide practical support in this time of transition. This document will continue to be a work in progress. We welcome everyone's active participation as it evolves through membership in our district articulation teams, building SDMT's, engagement in our Learning Improvement Days, and any and all communication to the Wenatchee School District Learning & Teaching Department. Together, we can support one another in being lifelong learners.

Thank you to the many staff members and community members who participated in developing the previous Wenatchee School District Curriculum Guide and to the many who continue to contribute to this Learning and Teaching Guide. A special thank you to the hard working and dedicated 1998-2002 Articulation Team Members.

Dr. Jeanine Butler
Assistant Superintendent of Learning and Teaching

Thanks to all articulation team members since 1998.