WaKIDS (Washington WaKIDS (Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills)
WaKIDS isn’t a “test.” Kindergarten teachers observe children during everyday classroom activities. This helps teachers find out what each child knows and can do at the beginning of the school year. Knowing more about children’s entering skills and strengths helps teachers and parents work together to support student growth in the kindergarten year.

Before October 31, teachers take an inventory of each child's developing skills in six areas:

1. Social-emotional
2. Physical
3. Cognitive
4. Language
5. Literacy
6. Mathematics

Parents who wish to excuse their children from participating in this inventory should notify their building principal in writing during the first week of school, or as soon as possible thereafter.

State Developed Assessments

• These classroom activities are administered by teachers of social studies, arts, health & fitness and educational technology. These activities assess how well students have mastered the state level essential academic learning requirements in these different content areas. The assessments are required by our state. 

Smarter Balanced Testing

• Students in grades 3 through 8 and 10 take the Smarter Balanced Assessments annually each spring (typically in the last six weeks of the school year). Students take two online exams: English language arts and mathematics. These exams assess student progress towards meeting the Common Core State Standards, including college and career readiness. These assessments are required for state and federal accountability. 

Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science

• Students in grades 5, 8 and 11 take the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (typically in the last six weeks of the school year). The exam assesses student progress towards meeting the Next Generation Science Standards. The assessment is required for state and federal accountability. 

World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA)

• The WIDA annual test is given to all students who qualify for English language learner services with a placement screener test. It measures students’ growth in English language knowledge and skills. Results from this test determine which students are eligible to continue to receive English language learner services.

• State Testing Overview
• Family Resources Relating to State Testing
• Washington State Report Card 
• English Language Proficiency Assessment
• Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills 

We strongly discourage parents/guardians from excluding their child(ren) from state assessments. Participation in these assessments provides valuable information about student learning and helps guide instruction and support.

When students do not participate in our assessments:

• Teachers and staff lack full information about the instructional needs of students, which could lead to some students not receiving all the instructional support they might need to be successful later in school.
• Our school district is deprived of the opportunity to fully analyze the district's performance in the core content areas of English language arts and mathematics.
• Students who do not take the Smarter Balanced Assessment prior to high school will not have had the opportunity to practice and get feedback before taking the Smarter Balanced Assessment as a graduation requirement.
• Students who do not demonstrate mastery of the standards on the High School Smarter Balanced Assessment will need a graduation pathway alternative to graduate.
• Participation in standardized assessments helps students prepare for similar tests they will encounter throughout life, including college entrance exams and professional certifications.

If you still wish to exclude your child from testing, please contact your school’s building test coordinator:

• Chautauqua – Assistant Principal Karen James
• McMurray - Principal Greg Allison
• Vashon Island High School – Assistant Principal Sabrina Kovacs
• Alternative Learning--Program Director Heather Erickson

If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s school administrator or counselor.