Measurements of Student Progress (Grades 3-8)

Beginning in the 2009-10 school year, the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) will be replaced by two new tests: the grades 3-8 Measurements of Student Progress (MSP) and the High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE).

The MSP name conveys the goal of the test: to measure student progress. State testing should never be the sole judge of a student’s academic skills and knowledge. A student’s entire performance should always be considered.

The MSP will be 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 2010, about 25 percent of the state’s students in grades 6-8 will take the MSP via computer in reading and math. See OSPI’s online testing schedule.

The testing window for the grades 3-8 state test will be moved to May in spring 2010 (paper-and-pencil testing, May 12-28; online testing May 3-June 4). The longer testing window for online is to ensure schools have enough time to rotate students through computer stations or labs.