Assessment

The Smarter Balanced assessment system provides educators, students and parents meaningful results with actionable data to help students succeed. The assessment is aligned to Common Core State Standards and consists of three major components, all designed to improve teaching and learning.

The Smarter Balanced Summative assessments are required. They will take place during the last 12 weeks of the school year. These computer-based tests will help schools evaluate how well their students performed by comparing them with students from other schools across the nation. The end-of-year assessments also will empower families by providing them with a clear indication of how well their children are progressing toward mastering the academic knowledge and skills necessary for college and career readiness.

Smarter Balanced assessments replaced the math, reading and writing portions of the MSP students in grades 3-8. The science portion of the MSP (tested in grades 5 and 8) remained the same. 11th graders will take the high school level of the new Smarter Balanced tests, but meeting standard on the tests is not a graduation requirement until the Class of 2019. Students will not take the new Smarter Balanced tests in grades K-2, 9, or 12. 10th graders will only take the English Language Arts Smarter Balanced test.

Learn more by visiting the Smarter Balanced website.

Certificates of Achievement (CAA/CIA) Options

Students must pass state assessments, or a state-approved alternative to the assessments (see CAA Options below), or an assessment for students receiving special education services (see CIA Options below).

CERTIFICATE OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT (CAA) OPTIONS:
Students must take the State high school assessments at least once before using one of the Certificate of Academic Achievement Options listed below:

• College Admission and AP/IB Test Scores Option
• GPA Comparison Option
• Dual Credit Courses Option

CERTIFICATE OF INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT (CIA) OPTIONS:
Students receiving Special Education services may earn the CIA by one of the following:

• CIA Cut Score (formerly Basic Level 2) on Regular Assessment/COE
• Off-Grade Level Assessment
• Locally Determined Assessment (LDA)

WA-Access to Instruction & Measurement (WA-AIM): The Washington Access to Instruction & Measurement (WA-AIM) is an alternate assessment aligned to the Common Core State Standards for students with significant cognitive challenges. The WA-AIM will measure student knowledge and skills through the use of twice annual administered performance tasks.

Out of State Waiver

All students who wish to receive a diploma from Washington State must meet Washington State graduation requirements, including assessment requirements. If a transfer student is eligible for an Out of State (OOS) Waiver, and has met the designated numerical cut score on an approved OOS test, then he/she may apply to receive a waiver for the assessment graduation requirement in a given content area. Please see your counselor or visit the OSPI website for more information.