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OSPI Science Assessment Webpage updates


SPI Science

Science Assessment Updates

Greetings from the Science Assessment Team!
We hope you can take a few minutes during this exciting time of year to visit the OSPI Science Assessment webpage.
We recently updated the site with information about:
The Assessment Bill ESSB-2224
Postpones the high school science assessment graduation requirement until the class of 2021.
The Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS)
  • Will be administered for the first time in spring 2018. The assessments fulfill the federal requirement that students be tested once in science at each level: elementary, middle, and high school.
  • Will be online in grades 5, 8, and 11.
  • Will assess the Washington State 2013 K-12 Science Learning Standards (Next Generation Science Standards). 
Training Tests, Items Specifications, and Lessons Learned for Scoring Student Work are coming later this fall. Information will be posted on the science assessment webpage.
WCAS Features
  • Will assess all three dimensions of the learning standards (Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas, Crosscutting concepts).
  • Will consist of several item clusters (items associated to common stimuli) and standalone items.
  • Will require approximately the same testing times as previous state science assessments.
  • Will use the same online engine as the Smarter Balanced assessments. For item clusters, stimuli will appear on left side of screen, with associated items on the right side. Standalone items will occupy the entire screen.
  • Will have some clusters with more than one stimulus. The first stimulus is collapsed when the second stimulus is provided. Both stimuli are available to the student.
  • Will have some locking items where student cannot change their answer once they have moved on to the next item. This allows subsequent items to update the student with correct information. An "attention" box warns the student that they will not be able to change their answer once they move on, and will give the student a chance to return to the item and change their answer.
  • Will include a variety of item types:
         Selected Response—multiple choice, multiple select
         Technology Enhanced—ex: drag and drop, drop-down choices, simulations, graphing
         Constructed Response—ex: equation builder, short answer
  • Will include multi-part items:
         Parts labeled with letters A, B, and C.
May have a mix of item types. May ask for evidence to support an answer from a previous part of the item.
Professional Development Opportunities
In addition to the annual Item Cluster Writing, Content Review, Pilot Rangefinding, Rubric Validation, and Content Review with Data workgroups, there will be several additional meetings that occur only when new standards are adopted. The additional meetings include: 
  • Achievement Level Descriptors (fall/winter 2017)
    Educator workgroups produce descriptions of the knowledge and skills students demonstrate for each performance level (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4).
  • Alignment Study (winter/spring 2018)
    Educator workgroups evaluate the alignment of the WCAS to the Washington State 2013 K-12 Science Learning Standards (NGSS).
  • Contrasting Groups Study (winter/spring 2018)
    Educators use the Achievement Level Descriptors (ALDs) to predict how their students will perform on the WCAS. Online ALD training is provided prior to this study.
  • Achievement Level Setting (late summer 2018)
    Educators develop threshold score recommendations for student performance levels (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4).
Watch your inbox for invitations to apply for science assessment events!
Please share this message and information with your colleagues, and encourage them to sign up to receive Science Assessment email/text updates.
Best wishes for a great start to your school year. Many thanks for all you do every day for students.

- OSPI Science Assessment Team

Questions? Email us at science@k12.wa.us 

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