Washington delays spring assessment tests
By Terry Murry on Monday, April 19th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
OLYMPIA – The Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction has postponed spring assessment tests until fall. The state had already applied for and received a waiver from the U.S. Department of Education. Superintendent Chris Reykdal said that the waiver did not offer the flexibility he felt students, families, and educators needed to hold the tests in the spring.
“I have made the determination that Washington state will not be administering the Smarter Balanced Assessments or the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science this spring,” Reykdal wrote. “Instead, our assessment window for the 2020-2021 school year will be in the fall – a timeline consistent with guidance provided by the department to satisfy federal testing requirements.”
Reykdal’s staff is planning the tests. The planning process will include the need to substantially reduce the length of state assessments in the fall and beyond, as well as a review of all federal and state laws that will need to be changed to transform our assessment system to one that better informs students, families, and educators. Once the planning is complete, details of the planning process will be made public.
