Assessments

Assessments and Testing

The SPSSeattle Public Schools Assessment Department collaborates with an array of stakeholdersThose student, families and community groups impacted by proposed policy, program or to implement and support a balanced assessment framework that includes academic as well as social-emotional measures . We promote the student-centered improvement of teaching that engages, empowers and educates all students with a specific focus on African American children and adolescents; as well as best practices for assessment literacy and data-driven decision making.

Assessments are used in Seattle Public Schools to help educators and families measure how students are meeting academic goals and grade level standards.

State Summative Testing Dates

Spring 2022

Spring 2022 ELAEnglish language arts is the academic subject of reading and writing., math, and science will be at grade level. Students in grades 3-8 and 10 are required to take the ELAEnglish language arts is the academic subject of reading and writing. and math assessments. Students in grades 5, 8, and 11 are required to take the science assessment. Students in grades 11 or 12 may elect to take ELAEnglish language arts is the academic subject of reading and writing. and/or math in order to fulfill a graduation pathway.

Smarter Balanced English/Language Arts and Math– March 7 to June 3

Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science– April 11 to June 3

Read more on our Smarter Balanced webpage.

District Assessments

District assessments are typically given during the school year to help teachers see progress toward College and Career Readiness Standards in subjects such as math and language arts. Teachers can use the information from these assessments to work collaboratively with their colleagues to plan lessons and provide support for individual students.

In Seattle Public Schools, teachers use different types of formative assessments. The SBASmarter Balanced Assessment interims will be available for use. Content and grade level recommendations for these interims align with the 2019-24 Strategic Plan. Data collected from these assessments will help inform classroom instruction and remediation and/or extension activities to meet the needs of all students. 

For detailed information on MAP, please see our Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) webpage.

State Assessments

State assessments are required for federal accountability and also provide a common measure of student progress at the school, district and state levels. Our educators examine the results and use them to help determine which resources and supports are needed to close achievement gaps. For detailed information, please see the pages below:

• Smarter Balanced Assessments
• Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science

Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Resources

• OSPI Report Card for the district or individual schools
• OSPI Report Card
• State of Washington overview of state testing

College-Readiness Assessments

Seattle Public Schools administers the SATScholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is the most widely used college admission test and PSATPreliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) helps juniors prepare for the SAT and assessments free of charge during a regular school day. SPSSeattle Public Schools leadership is currently considering future SATScholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is the most widely used college admission test/PSAT school day events and dates. Please check back soon for updates.

Check out our School-day SAT/PSAT webpage for more information about the following:

• Preparing for the SATScholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is the most widely used college admission test/PSAT and free resources
• How to create a College Board account to access scores and send reports
• How to request accommodations if needed for students with an IEP or 504 planA legal document that outlines obligated school supports and services needed to
• Allowed calculators for SATScholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is the most widely used college admission test and PSATPreliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) helps juniors prepare for the SAT and
• SATScholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is the most widely used college admission test supports for English Learners including allowed bilingual dictionaries

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Summary of Assessments 2021-22

Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (WaKids)

• State required
• Grade level: Kindergarten

WaKIDS provides a snapshot of the school readiness of students as they enter kindergarten.

Fountas and Pinnell (F&P)

• District and state required
• This tool is not available for use in remote learning environment
• Grade level: Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th

F&P assessment identifies student’s independent and instructional reading levels.

SPSSeattle Public Schools Interim AssessmentsInterim assessments support educators to monitor progress towards state standards and adjust

• Available to schools
• Grade Level: 3-8

Interim AssessmentsInterim assessments support educators to monitor progress towards state standards and adjust support educators to monitor progress towards state standards and adjust instruction.

Measures of Academic Progress

• District required; District-wide administration currently suspended
• Available to schools
• Grade level: K-8

MAP is a computer-based adaptive assessment. MAP results provide baseline data and to show student growth. This data can also be used by teachers to adapt instruction to student needs.

Smarter Balanced AssessmentDetermines students’ progress toward graduation and college, career readiness in English language (SBASmarter Balanced Assessment) or WA-AIM

• State required- there will be a fall and spring administration during the 21-22 school year.
• Grade level: 3-8 and 10th
• Students in 11th and 12th may elect to take the assessments if desired to fulfill a graduation pathway.

Determines students’ progress toward graduation and college, career readiness in English language arts/literacy and math.

Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCASWashington Comprehensive Assessment of Science is a test given in the spring) or WA-AIM

• State required
• Grade level: 5th, 8th, 11th

The WCASWashington Comprehensive Assessment of Science is a test given in the spring measures the proficiency that Washington students have achieved based on the Washington State 2013 K-12 Science Learning Standards.

Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSATPreliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) helps juniors prepare for the SAT and)

• Not required, but takes place during a normal school day and free of charge
• Grade level: 10th, 11th

The PSATPreliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) helps juniors prepare for the SAT and helps juniors prepare for the SATScholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is the most widely used college admission test and is used to qualify students for scholarships and advanced learning opportunities.

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SATScholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is the most widely used college admission test)

• Not required, but takes place during a normal school day and free of charge
• Grade level: 12th

The SATScholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is the most widely used college admission test is the most widely used college admission test in the country. The test can be used as a substitute graduation requirement if the student didn’t meet passing scores on other assessments in ELAEnglish language arts is the academic subject of reading and writing. or math.

WIDA English Language Proficiency Test

State required ELL eligible students only 

Grade level: K-12

The WIDA assessment system measures a student’s language proficiency relative to the English Language Proficiency standards. Any student whose primary and/or home language is other than English is required by the state to test. Student progress is assessed every year to until they reach a level of ‘proficient’.