Superintendent of Public Instruction, Chris Reykdal, announced earlier this month that the state will not be administering the Smarter Balanced Assessments or the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science this spring. Instead, the testing window is moved to fall 2021.
In announcing the decision, Reykdal said, “This was a complicated decision, and we appreciate all of the feedback we received. We do not believe testing, as usual, this spring would provide reliable or meaningful results; nor does it support the mental health of our students. Moving the testing window to the fall allows our educators to focus on engaging their students and families over the last couple months of school and preparing for a comprehensive opening of schools this fall.”
Typically students in third grade through tenth grade take the Smarter Balanced Assessment in math and English/language arts. Students in fifth, eighth, and eleventh grades also take the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science. Chris Reykdal, State Superintendent, asked for a waiver from the US Department of Education for the current school year. It was determined that the best route would be to move testing for all Washington State students to the fall. The test is likely to be reduced from what has been required in the past.
More information will be released in September regarding student testing.