Family Resources
 Email/text alerts
This page includes information to help families understand learning standards and assessments in our state. Some of the resources were created by OSPI, and some are from our partners in education.
Ready Washington is a coalition of state and local education agencies, associations and advocacy organizations that support college- and career-ready learning standards and assessments: Common Core State Standards, Next Generation Science Standards and Smarter Balanced assessments.
Ready Washington’s family resources can be downloaded for printing and sharing.
Other resources are available by category:
K-12 Learning Standards
As required by state law (RCW 28A.655.070), OSPI develops the state's learning standards and oversees the assessment of the learning standards for state and federal accountability purposes.
Fast Facts
Short handout that broadly covers learning expectations and basic information on state testing in grades K-12. Available in several languages.
A two-page handout that provides an introduction to our K-12 learning standards in English language arts and math, and the tests used to assess what students know and are able to do in those two subjects.
Includes a video series, webinar series, and Parents’ Guides to Student Success.
What skills do students need to succeed? Get the facts on how the standards were developed and answers to frequently asked questions.
Download the
Top 8 Questions Parents Ask Teachers,
Parent Roadmaps in English Language Arts and Mathematics. Also includes videos and public service announcements.
Produced by the Hunt Institute, this video explains the standards’ design and purpose.
TeachingChannel.org shows a video example of a 3rd-grade math lesson, “Discover Number Patterns With Skip Counting.”
Short videos, produced by GreatSchools.org, showcase the milestones for each grade level. Also available in Spanish.
Assessments
A two-page handout explaining the Smarter Balanced Assessment system, graduation and matriculation requirements, and supports and testing times for English Language Learners. Available in 9 languages.
Comprehensive overview of the tests required for (1) federal accountability and (2) high school graduation.
Short handout that broadly covers learning expectations and basic information on state testing in grades K-12. Available in several languages.
A two-page handout that provides an introduction to our K-12 learning standards in English language arts and math, and the tests used to assess what students know and are able to do in those two subjects.
Find out more about using your Smarter Balanced score to qualify for entry-level credit-bearing college courses.
Also available in the following languages:
Chinese | Khmer
| Korean |
Punjabi |
Russian |
Somali |
Spanish |
Tagalog |
Vietnamese
More than 220 public and private colleges, universities, and community and technical colleges across the country allow students to use Smarter Balanced scores to show they are ready for college coursework. This helps students avoid further placement exams and costly remedial courses.
Written by OSPI and the Washington Student Achievement Council, districts and
schools may opt to send this letter to their high school students.
Chinese |
Khmer |
Korean |
Punjabi |
Russian |
Somali |
Spanish |
Tagalog |
Vietnamese
Fact sheet, developed by the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, on the key features of the Smarter Balanced assessments and resources for more information.
What do the assessments mean for students, parents, teachers, and policymakers? Also available in
Spanish.
Everett Public Schools developed this two-minute video to illustrate the expected changes with the implementation of the new summative assessment.
Login as a Guest and see what the Smarter Balanced assessments are all about. First click on the "Take the Practice and Training Tests" button. Then click the "Sign In" button. Choose the grade level you're interested in and the click "Yes." Follow the prompts until you click "Begin Test Now."
National PTA resources include the Parents’ Guide to New Assessments in Washington and Assessment Fact Sheet: Moving Beyond the Bubble.
The approved achievement levels help to describe student performance on the new
assessments.
Teachers, parents, higher education faculty, business leaders, and other community members from our state took part in a highly inclusive, consensus-based, and rigorous process.
An interactive infographic that shows who determined the Smarter Balanced threshold scores, and results of the field test, by grade and content area.
Top testing questions.
Don’t see your question answered here? Submit your own to Assessment@k12.wa.us.
FAQs about who can request to review a test booklet and how to do it.
Students in Washington are tested every year in English language arts (ELA), math and science. Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams determine how each student in special education participates in state testing.
Graduation
To earn a high school diploma, a student must earn high school credit, pass state tests or approved alternatives to those tests, complete a Culminating Project (required for classes of 2014 and earlier; not required for classes of 2015 and after per RCW 28A.230.090), and complete a High School and Beyond Plan.
A resource to help educators and families understand state graduation
requirements. The toolkit is updated when changes occur. School districts should
ensure all key personnel are aware of the toolkit. Available in several
languages.
A checklist by graduating class. Track your student’s progress as they move
through high school.
Some students may need to use an assessment other than a state exam to
demonstrate their skills. For them, the CAA Options—or state-approved
alternatives—are available.
Students who have not met their high school graduation requirements AND have not
earned a regular high school diploma are eligible for a free public education
through the school year in which they turn 21 years of age. Also available in
the following languages:
Chinese | Khmer | Korean | Punjabi | Russian | Somali | Spanish | Tagalog | Vietnamese
Enrollment Options
Learning by Choice answers the commonly asked questions about the Learning by Choice law, options created by the No Child Left Behind Act, and other enrollment options available to students in public, private and home-based instruction.
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