What is the SBA?

The Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) is a set of state-required summative assessments in English/Language Arts (ELA) and math which are taken at predetermined intervals/grade levels to determine student performance in these subjects.

Who is taking the SBA?

• 10th graders will be taking the ELA and Math SBAs

Why does my student need to take the SBA?

Students must take the SBA in ELA and Math in order to have a complete High School and Beyond plan, which is a Washington State graduation requirement. Meeting standard - meaning an ELA score of 2548+ and a math score of 2595+ - also allows a student to satisfy an ELA and/or Math graduation pathway, another WA graduation requirement.

Results from the 10th-grade ELA and math tests are also used to assess students' proficiency in these subjects and then are used to inform course-taking for the next two years of high school; after a 10th-grade student demonstrates they have met standard on the test, they have greater flexibility in the course they can take going forward. Note that test scores are not used to solely determine grade level promotion, graduation, teacher evaluation/retention/promotion, and are not used as the sole criteria for student program qualification or disqualification.

Qualifying SBA scores also allow students to recover up to 1.0 high school credit of English and 1.0 high school credit of math!

What is the WCAS?

The Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS) measures students' science proficiency in grades 5, 8 and 11 based on the Washington State 2013 K-12 Science Learning Standards, also called the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). 

Who is taking the WCAS?

All 11th graders take the WCAS.

Why does my student need to take the WCAS?

The tests fulfill the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requirement that students be tested in science once at each level: elementary, middle and high school. Although House Bill 1599 (2019) removed the high school science graduation requirement, EPS 11th graders take the WCAS for state and federal accountability purposes.

Qualifying WCAS scores can also be used to recover up to 1.0 high school credit of science!

What is the WA-AIM?

The Washington Access to Instruction & Measurement (WA-AIM) is the alternative state assessment to the SBA and WCAS for students with significant cognitive disabilities. It is a portfolio-type assessment, compiled by case managers for qualifying students.

Who is taking the WA-AIM?

Families of qualifying students will be notified about WA-AIM participation at yearly IEP meetings -- if you have questions about your student and the WA-AIM, please speak to your student's case manager or Assistant Principal Eric Jennings.

Why does my student need to take the WA-AIM?

Students must take the WA-AIM or another state assessment in order to have a complete High School and Beyond plan, which is a Washington State graduation requirement. Meeting standard - meaning an ELA score of 104+ and a math score of 103+ - also allows a student to satisfy an ELA and/or Math graduation pathway, another WA graduation requirement.

On an individual student basis, results from the WA-AIM provide another piece of evidence to help teachers better understand how to adjust their curriculum and instruction to help individual students meet grade level standards as well as assist counselors in constructing student courseloads. Note that test scores are not used to solely determine grade level promotion, graduation, teacher evaluation/retention/promotion, and are not used as the sole criteria for student program qualification or disqualification.