State Assessment
SMARTER BALANCED ASSESSMENT (SBA)
Subject: Math and ELA
Grades: 5, 8, 11 - All grades 4-9, 11, 12 (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)
Subject: Science
Grades: 5, 8 ,11 - All Grades 6, 9, 12 (WCAS)
Type: Next Generation Science standards-based test used to show the level of proficiency of students in science.
Method: Untimed, multiple-choice, and short answer questions online.
Purpose: Determine if students meet state learning standards in science.
WIDA
Subject: English Language Proficiency
Grades: ELL students in K-12
Type: Proficiency test of listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
Method: Untimed, mix of multiple choice and performance items, administered Online.
Purpose: Required by the State of Washington to qualify students for services (placement) and to measure the growth and language acquisition of all English Language Learners (annual).
WASHINGTON KINDERGARTEN INVENTORY OF DEVELOPING SKILLS (WAKIDS)
Subject: Developmental skills
Grades: Kindergarten
Type: Holistic inventory of kindergarten readiness. Includes assessment of physical, social, cognitive, literacy and emotional skills.
Method: Untimed, student observation. Family and community connections, early learning collaboration, whole child assessment.
Purpose: Provide information to improve classroom teaching and tailor instruction to individual student needs.
WASHINGTON - ASSESS TO INSTRUCTION AND MEASUREMENT (WA-AIM)
Subject: ELA, Math and Science
Grades: All levels 3-8 and 10
STATE TEST REFUSAL
State law requires that schools provide an assessment of skills and knowledge in grades 3 and above. This year, we are administering the Smarter Balanced assessments that are being given across the country. Sometimes parents want to have their students excluded from testing, whether it is state or district assessments. Highline occasionally receives a request from parents to refuse state testing, with different reasons such as health or emotional concerns (test anxiety).
Our state assessments assess critical state standards, including higher-level thinking, communication, reasoning, problem solving, and application of knowledge and skills in new situations. Teachers gain information about students’ progress toward meeting grade-level expectations (what students should know and be able to do) in the core academic areas of reading, writing, math, and science, and can plan instruction accordingly.
Parents may refuse to have their child participate in state testing. Our district procedure is for parents to meet with principals to discuss their decision and formally refuse. Schools are not required to provide special instruction for students who refuse testing. They do provide supervision while their classmates take the state test.
