-
Student Testing Programs
The Centralia School District Assessment System provides important information to help students, parents, and educators make teaching and learning decisions. Individual student goal setting and program involvement initiatives are enhanced through the use of assessment data to inform these processes.
The district uses a variety of assessments to measure academic growth and achievement and complies with all state and national testing requirements.
Smarter Balanced Assessment
Since the 2014-15 school year, all students in grades 3-8, and 11 have been taking the new Smarter Balanced Assessment in English Language Arts and Math. The Smarter Balanced assessment is a computer-based test that assesses what students know and are able to do. Unlike the MSP, it is designed to align with the Common Core State Standards. You can find more information about Smarter Balanced from OSPI: http://www.k12.wa.us/assessment/StateTesting/default.aspx and from the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium: http://www.smarterbalanced.org/
Measurements of Student Progress (MSP)
As of 2014-15, the only MSP given will be the Science MSP, administered at 5th and 8th grade.
High School Testing:Please see the OSPI website for detailed description of federal accountability requirements and high school graduation requirements:
The English Language Proficience Exam (ELPA 21) http://www.k12.wa.us/Assessment/EL/default.aspx
This assessment measures English language competencies for student who receive second language learning services funded by the state. This test measures reading, writing, speaking, and listening performance in grades 2-12.
2nd Grade Reading http://www.k12.wa.us/Reading/Assessment/other.aspxAt 2nd grade all students are tested in the Fall and Spring using a State reading assessment which measures fluency and comprehension skills.
Highly Capable TestingAlso each spring, all kindergartners will take a cognitive skills screener that is used for initial screening for possible identification as highly capable. This assessment is part of a gifted program screening process. We are not using the screening to determine placement in the HiCap program. Rather, we are using it to screen for students who might qualify with further assessment.
After the initial screening, we will send permission letters to our highest scorers. Once these students bring back their signed permission forms, we will then proceed with further assessment to determine whether the students qualify for HiCap. This further assessment will not be another test, but will be a review of items such as WaKids, classroom assessments, and teachers' anecdontal notes.Please see the "Special Programs" section of this website for further details.
Detailed assessment data will be reported annually through the schools, district performance reports, our student-parent-teacher conferences held throughout the year, and the OSPI website: http://reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us