Assessment

Washington students take state and federal tests regularly to assess their learning growth as well as the progress of the educational system as a whole. State tests include the following:

• 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.

State tests (SBA, WCAS, WIDA) may be taken with or without accessibility features. If a student's IEP documents the need for an accommodation that is not addressed within the guidelines, the student's IEP team may have their school district personnel submit a Non-Standard Accommodation Request form.

Resources:

• WA State Assessment Options by Graduation Year
• Washington State Assessment Family Resources
• Washington State Assessment / Testing Overview
• Washington State Testing Calendar
• OSPI Graduation Toolkit -
• Washington State Graduation Requirements -
• Smarter Balanced Assessments -
• Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (WaKIDS) -

Waivers and Appeals

http://www.k12.wa.us/assessment/WaiverAppeals/Appeals.aspx

*Many of the resource pages offer automatic email updates when the information changes. Please sign up to receive those automatic updates on the OSPI website.

Assessment Refusals

If you would like for your student to not take assessments, please use the following link to note your choice. Please complete annually.

Assessment Refusals Form (click button to open form)