Testing Students in Washington State
Washington uses the grades 3-8 Measurements of Student Progress (MSP)
and the High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE) to test its students. The
HSPE is used as the state’s high school exit exam. In spring 2010,
Washington also began
online testing
in grades 6–8 in reading and math.
The name of the MSP, given to students in grades 3-8, conveys the goal
of the test: to measure student progress.
Note: Results of spring 2010 MSP testing will be available in late August.
This test measures the proficiency of students in high school and serves
as the state’s exit exam. Students must pass this assessment or a
state-approved alternative in reading and writing in order to be
eligible to graduate.
Changes to the State Assessment for 2010 and Beyond
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The new tests are shorter to take, but will remain just as rigorous. The new tests are also available online over the next few years, starting with reading and math in grades 6-8 in spring 2010.
About one percent of students participate in the Washington Alternate Assessment System (WAAS), a challenging program for students in special education.
In addition, the state translates its math and science exams into six
languages (Spanish, Russian, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese and Somali).
Students can listen to the test questions on a CD, but must answer in
English. This covers about 80 percent of the English Language Learner (ELL)
population in our state.
Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) was given as the state assessment from spring 1997 to summer 2009. It was replaced by the MSP and HSPE.
View the Rollout Schedule for Online Testing. Also, view a state testing history timeline to see the years each subject was phased in at each grade level.
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