Background

The HSPE name conveys the goal of the test: to measure a student’s proficiency of basic skills. Students in the classes of 2010-2012 must pass a reading and writing assessment to be eligible to graduate. If a student has already passed a specific assessment via the WASL (the former state test), such as reading, they will not have to take the HSPE in that content area.

Students in the Class of 2013 are the first to be required to pass reading, writing, math and science assessments.

The HSPE is shorter to take than the WASL and will be moved online over the next few years. Reading, math and science will take just one day each instead of two with the WASL. For now, writing will still take two days.

Beginning in spring 2011, about 25 percent of the state’s students in high school will take the HSPE via computer in reading, writing and math. See OSPI’s online testing schedule.

The testing window for high school generally remains the same in spring 2010: Reading (March 16), Writing (March 17-18), Math (April 13) and Science (April 15).