Assessment Operations:
Schools will soon begin taking the state assessments. Thus far, the technical administration of the interim (practice) online assessments has gone very smoothly. Knowing the topic of state assessments has become a major focus for students and families, we have shared the following message with our community.
This spring, our students are once again participating in state-mandated standardized tests. The results will give our teachers and administrators valuable information about whether we are meeting our students’ academic needs and how we can improve teaching in our classrooms.
They also will give us a sense of how our students are progressing in their learning.
But student success is defined by so much more than just one test. If families want to know how well their students are doing, they should look at weekly assignments, unit tests, report cards and the communications they have with their students’ teachers. Those are the best sources of information for how students are progressing, not a single standardized test.
Some of our teachers share a video with their classes before testing begins. It’s called “This Test Does Not Define You.” We invite you to share it with your students at home and assure them that whether they end up with a low score or high, they should never, ever think the outcome of these tests will determine their future. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFMjbs3hoiU
Graduation Requirements and State Testing
As graduation requirements have changed over the course the past few years, below is the list of requirements for each graduating class for your reference.
Tests Required for Graduation
Class of
Subject
Test
2016
ELA
Choose 1:
· Reading AND Writing HSPE
· Smarter Balanced ELA test (exit exam cut score)+
Math
· Algebra 1/Integrated Math 1 EOC
· Geometry/Integrated Math 2 EOC
· Algebra 1/Integrated Math 1 EOC exit exam**
· Geometry/Integrated Math 2 EOC exit exam**
· Smarter Balanced math test (exit exam cut score)+
Science
Biology EOC++
2017 & 2018
Smarter Balanced ELA test (exit exam cut score)+
2019
Smarter Balanced ELA test (cut score to be determined by State Board of Education)+
Smarter Balanced math test (cut score to be determined by State Board of Education)+
Important to Note:
* Reading and Writing HSPEs will be available to 11th and 12th graders who have not met their graduation requirements in spring and summer 2015, and to 12th graders in spring and summer 2016.
** EOC exams are based on previous Washington State Learning Standards in math. EOC exit exams are based on updated Washington State Learning Standards (Common Core), beginning in school year 2014-15.
+ The Washington State Board of Education will set the exit exam cut score. The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium will set a college- & career-ready cut score that will be used for accountability in 11th grade. If a 10th grader meets the college- & career-ready cut score, he or she will not have to take the Smarter Balanced ELA test in 11th grade.
++ Until Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are implemented and assessed, students will be required to pass the biology EOC. After NGSS are implemented and assessed, students will be required to pass a comprehensive NGSS Test. The timeline for NGSS is being developed.
Consolidated Program Review
The consolidated program review audit monitors multiple federally funded programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). This process fulfills OSPI's compliance monitoring requirements under Federal regulations (34 CFR 80.40). The CPR process consists of an OSPI team reviewing school districts’ federal and selected state programs. The monitoring activities are designed to focus on the results of the school districts’ efforts to implement critical requirements of the ESEA using available resources and flexibility provisions. This comprehensive review takes place every five years and next school year we are on the list for review. In preparation for this, Deb Kernen, Stacy Brown, and myself have begun looking over the documentation we need to collect, and are developing a plan to ensure all documentation will be ready for the review by the state next Fall.