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Testing and Assessments

 Why assess students in a variety of ways?

No one assessment tool can provide all of the answers needed to make good decisions. While the goals of learning may be the same for all students, individuals' ways of achieving those goals vary. All students must be provided multiple opportunities for learning and for demonstrating understanding.

Assessment in the South Kitsap School District includes a variety of measures intended to provide snapshots of what students know and are able to do. Each measure helps inform decisions about future learning goals. Together these snapshots create an album. This assessment album helps parents, staff, and students make decisions for future learning. These assessments also provide evidence of the progress our students are making toward the South Kitsap School District's academic goals and Washington State's Learning Standards.

Classroom-Based Assessments

  • Include interviewing, portfolios, setting goals, performances, products, demonstrations, essays, paper-pencil exams.
  • Occur in a continual manner in all grades.
  • Enable teachers to make ongoing decisions about instruction.
  • Promote self-reflection and self-assessment.

(The following exams are State Required)
OSPI cancelled Smarter Balanced and WCAS testing for the 2020-2021 school year. We expect that we will be testing in Fall 2021 instead. Please check back here for updated information as we receive it.

Grades 3-8 English Language Arts (ELA) and Math: Smarter Balanced Tests

  • Aligned with Washington's State Learning Standards.
  • Smarter Balanced year-end summative assessments are not timed. Students may take as much time as they need to complete the tests.
  • Testing will occur in multiple sessions, so students will typically spend one to two hours per day on the assessments over several days.
  • It's important to remember that Smarter Balanced assesses writing at every grade level.

Grades 5 and 8 Science: Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS)

  • The WCAS will be given to students in grades 5 and 8.
  • The WCAS measures the level of proficiency that students have achieved based on Washington State 2013, K-12 science learning standards at the intermediate grade and middle school level.

Grade 10 ELA and Math: Smarter Balanced Tests

  • Washington's State Learning Standards in English language arts and math are designed to prepare students for career, college, and life.
  • Smarter Balanced year-end summative assessments are not timed. Students may take as much time as they need to complete the tests.
  • Testing will occur in multiple sessions, so students will typically spend one to two hours per day on the assessments over several days.

Grades 11: Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS)

  • The WCAS measures the level of proficiency that students have achieved based on Washington State 2013, K-12 science learning standards, high school standards.

Visit the OSPI Timelines/Calendar for additional information.