The Move to Online State Testing

Beginning in spring 2010, the Measurements of Student Progress (MSP) will be available online in grades 6-8 in reading and math. The rest of the grades, including high school, will be phased in over the next few years.

Visit Washington's Online Testing Web site to download tutorials, view demos, and more.

Washington is not the first state to move to online testing, but it is at the leading edge. The move will save valuable time and resources because the state will no longer need to print, mail and score nearly two million test booklets. Also, school districts will no longer be required to handle and store the test booklets during state testing.

Next spring, about 25 percent of students statewide in grades 6-8 are expected to participate in voluntary online testing. By 2012, the majority of grades and content areas will be online. Please see the timeline chart below.

In spring 2011, the High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE) will debut on computer in reading, math and writing. In addition, fifth graders will participate in MSP online testing in reading, math and science. Eighth graders will begin to test in science that year. In spring 2012, fourth graders will move to online testing in reading and math.

Writing will debut online in spring 2011 in grades 7 and 10, with an online practice test beginning in fall 2010. OSPI is conducting feasibility studies for online testing in fourth-grade writing and all subjects in third grade. For now, third grade will remain a paper-and-pencil test until more information is gathered.

Paper-and-pencil testing will always be an option for students with special needs.

Because of budget cuts, OSPI was forced to eliminate voluntary fall online testing. However, the agency will be able to provide a diagnostic testing tool for teachers and students beginning in the fall of 2010 thanks to $4.4 million from the Legislature (House Bill 1244, Sec. 513).

View the online testing rollout schedule.