Hello Kodiak Families,
Springtime means warm weather, sunshine, flowers blooming, and Smarter Balance Assessments. That’s right, we have our state testing coming up in late May; please plan ahead and ensure that your child will be here on these days:
ELA/ Math testing May 8th-11th and May 15th – 18th
Make up testing- May 22nd – 26th
Science testing- May 22nd – 26th (5th grade only)
These assessments are one important indicator of your child’s progress, and give the school crucial information about how we are meeting the needs of our students. Please help your child prepare to do their best by getting a good night of sleep, eating a healthy breakfast, and arriving at school on time.
Your child’s teacher will give you more detailed information about the class schedule.
What are the state tests?
The Smarter Balanced Assessment provides accurate measures of achievement and growth while challenging students to think critically and solve real-world problems. It is a computer-adaptive test, which means it adjusts the difficulty of questions throughout the assessment based on the student’s response. Students in grades 3-8 and high school take the test in the areas of Math and English Language Arts each year.
The Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS) measures the level of proficiency that Washington students have achieved based on the Washington State 2013 K-12 Science Learning Standards, which are the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). All students are assessed on their knowledge of the standards through the WCAS in grades 5, 8, and 11.
Why does participation matter?
While no single test can give a complete picture of your child’s progress, statewide tests provide educators and administrators with information about what educational approaches are working and where additional resources are needed. Your child’s participation is important to ensure schools and districts receive the targeted resources they need to help all students succeed.
What can I do to help my child prepare?
Encourage children to do their best, but remind them that one test won’t make or break their future. In addition, make sure your child knows that no test can’t measure their intelligence or worth. Help your child get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and get to school on time. If you and your child are interested in learning more, check out sample tests linked in the resource section below.
Stay informed
Talk to your child’s teacher or school principal if you have questions or want to learn more.
Resources
To learn more about what your child should know and be able to do in the ELA & Math Tests: https://bealearninghero.org/in-the-classroom/smarter-balanced/
To learn more about the test and the score report and areas: https://wa.startingsmarter.org/
Sincerely,
Brian Fraser