Skip to main content

Contrasting Group Study for Science Assessment

Open March 19-April 13, 2018  




OSPI Science Assessment



Reminder: Contrasting Groups Study

The Science Assessment team is offering training to science educators in the use of Achievement Level Descriptors (ALDs) to complete the Contrasting Groups Study (CGS). The purpose of the CGS is to inform the achievement level setting process for the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS) premiering in spring 2018.
Three free clock hours will be provided to teachers who participate in the training and complete an evaluation.
The CGS training course is available here: WCAS Contrasting Groups Study 2018. Educators must complete the training before entering predictions for the study. The application in the Education Data System (EDS) that teachers will use for making their predictions will open on March 19 and close April 14. This is an opportunity for all science teachers with students in grades 5, 8, or 11 to have a voice in the "cut-scores" that will define the achievement levels used in state and federal reporting for the WCAS. Please forward this information to your co-workers, or download the Winter/Spring 2018: Contrasting Groups Study flyer for distribution.
Questions? Please contact science@k12.wa.us 








This email was sent to bmacnevin@nwesd.org using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction · 600 Washington St. S.E. · Olympia, WA 98504
GovDelivery logo
http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTgwMzIwLjg3Mjg1MjkxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE4MDMyMC44NzI4NTI5MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmdHlwZT1vcGVuJnNlcmlhbD0xNjk4NjY4OCZlbWFpbGlkPWJtYWNuZXZpbkBud2VzZC5vcmcmdXNlcmlkPWJtYWNuZXZpbkBud2VzZC5vcmcmdGFyZ2V0aWQ9JmZsPSZtdmlkPSZleHRyYT0mJiY=

Popular posts from this blog

OSPI Bulletin 065-23: Learning Standards Review Update

Summary:  This bulletin provides an update to the information about the learning standards review project addressed by Superintendent Reykdal’s letter to district superintendents dated February 14, 2023. It includes current information about the reviews of the Washington state learning standards for English/Language Arts, mathematics, and science. It also includes a timeline for the review process. Key Audiences:  Educational Service District Superintendents, School District Superintendents, School District Business Managers, School District Curriculum Directors OSPI's Bulletin re: Math, ELA, Science: [ PDF ] Science Updates: [ PDF ]

EarthGen: Climate Justice League, Assemble!

EarthGen is excited to share t his cohort-based learning opportunity designed for teachers across Washington State to deepen their Climate Justice learning. Climate Justice League, Assemble! When: Feb 15 2024 9AM - 3PM Where: Good Shepherd Center in Seattle Climate Justice League, Assemble!  is an  in-person offering on  February 15th from 9am-3pm at the Good Shepherd Center in Seattle  and will provide teachers opportunities to critically define climate justice education and improve their understanding of Anti-racist and Anti-colonial science teaching. Educators will be invited to participate in online communities of practice following the workshop. A few things to note: While this learning opportunity is designed for folks that have participated in the Climate Justice League, we are excited to have space for new registrants! Teachers will be provided  sub reimbursement  to attend the in-person session, and upon completion of the session will earn...

Test Design and Item Specifications (12/27)

Science Updates Test Design and Item Specifications for the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS) for grades 5, 8, and high school are now available on the Science Assessment webpage .  The documents describe how clusters (stimulus and item sets) and standalone items for the WCAS assessments are developed to assess the Washington State 2013 K-12 Science Learning Standards ( Next Generation Science Standards ). The documents include a test design section followed by an item specification section. The test design section includes information about the organization of the WCAS, the item types used, and an overview of the science standards. The item specification section includes a small sample of specifications that are based on the Performance Expectations (PEs) in the standards. The sample will continue to expand through the 2017-18 and 2018-19 school years until item specifications for all PEs are achiev...