Elementary Report Cards

OSPI Report Card

FAQ About State Testing

Dyslexia Screener

Melissa VanZanten
Director of Curriculum and Assessment

Shari Grover
District Specialist-Assessment
(360) 965-0038

The Assessment Department is responsible for the oversight of district and state assessments grades K-12 to measure student progress.

• Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBA): English language arts (ELA) and math tests for students in grades 3–8 and 10 for federal and state accountability. The high school ELA and math assessments can be used to meet a student's graduation pathway requirement.

• Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS): Science test for grades 5, 8, and 11 required for federal and state accountability.

• Washington - Access to Instruction and Measurement (WA-AIM): ELA, math, and science alternate assessments for students in grades 3–11 with significant cognitive disabilities documented in their Individualized Education Program (IEP) for federal and state accountability. The high school ELA and math assessments can be used to meet a student's graduation pathway requirement.

• Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Skills (WaKIDS): This program helps bring families, teachers, and early learning providers together to support each kindergarten student's learning and transition into public schools.

• WIDA Screener: Used to determine initial eligibility for ELD services for English learners in grades K–12.

• Annual WIDA ACCESS Assessments: For all students in grades K–12 who qualify for English language development (ELD) services to determine which students remain eligible to continue receiving ELD services.

• WIDA Alternate ACCESS: For students in grades K–12 with significant cognitive disabilities who qualify for English language development (ELD) services to determine which students remain eligible to continue receiving ELD services.

• National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP): NAEP is a national test that measures what students across the country know and can do in 10 subject areas, including mathematics, reading, writing, and science. Federal law requires every state to give the NAEP in reading and math at grades 4 and 8 every two years.

• OSPI-Developed Assessments (formerly CBAs) and OSPI-Developed Performance Assessments (formerly CBPAs): The state develops classroom-based assessments for the Arts, Educational Technology, Health and Physical Education, and Social Studies based on the state's learning standards to help guide day-to-day instruction. State curriculum specialists create tasks and questions that model good assessments and provide them to local school districts.
  

As a member of the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, students in the State of Washington now take the Smarter Balanced Assessments in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. This includes all students in Grades 3-8 and 11.

Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS)

The Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS) measures the level of proficiency that Washington students have achieved based on the Washington State 2013 K-12 Science Learning Standards, which are the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). All students are assessed on their knowledge of the standards through the WCAS in grades 5, 8, and 11. The tests fulfill the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requirement that students be tested in science once at each level: elementary, middle, and high school.

OSPI-Developed Assessments in Social Studies, The Arts, Health and Fitness, and Educational Technology (a.k.a the CBAs) CBAs administered in Social Studies and Health & Fitness. CBPA administered in Fine Arts. CBAs and CBPA are administered once each year to each student in grades 5, 8 & 11. Washington State supports the development of classroom-based assessments that are based on the state’s learning standards and help guide day-to-day instruction. State curriculum specialists create tasks and questions that model good assessments and provide them to local school districts. For more information on CBAs and CBPAs please go to: www.k12.wa.us/assessment/default.aspx and scroll to the bottom of the page.

Advanced Placement (AP) Exams:
The Advanced Placement program was designed for high school students and offers them the opportunity to take college-level courses at the high school. College and university professors and high school teachers develop the course materials. Students are able to demonstrate the concepts and skills mastered through academic-specific tests. Students who receive a satisfactory score on any of the tests might receive college credit or be allowed to waive a specific introductory college class. Tests are given on various dates depending on the test subject area. For further details, contact your high school counselor.

PSAT: The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a program co-sponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT®. It also gives you a chance to enter NMSC scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools. The PSAT/NMSQT measures: Critical reading skills, Math problem-solving skills and Writing skills. The most common reasons for taking the PSAT/NMSQT are to: Receive feedback on your strengths and weaknesses on skills necessary for college study, see how your performance on an admissions test might compare with that of others applying to college, enter the competition for scholarships from NMSC (grade 11) and help prepare for the SAT. The PSAT is administered in early Spring to all students in Grade 10 at no cost to families. For further details, contact your high school counselor.

SAT: The SAT test is designed to assess a student’s academic readiness for college. This exam provides a path to opportunities, financial support and scholarships. The SAT is the most widely used college admission test. The SAT test is administered in early Spring to students in Grade 11 at no cost to the families.