March 16, 2026
Dear Families of Students in Grades 3-5 at Kittitas Elementary School,
This spring your child in grades 3-8 and 10 will take the Smarter Balanced or the Washington Access to Instruction and Measurement (WA-AIM) tests in math and English language arts (ELA). Students in grades 5, 8, and 11 will also take the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS) or the WA-AIM science assessment.
The results from these tests are one of many ways of understanding where students are in their learning, relative to grade-level learning goals in math, English language arts, and science. For students in grade 10, the Smarter Balanced or WA-AIM tests can also be used as a graduation pathway. The state assessment results can help all of us work together to pursue additional support or accelerated opportunities that may benefit your student’s learning. These assessments also fulfill state and federal requirements to understand how districts and the state are doing in meeting all students’ learning needs and help to improve instruction. Most students will take the tests online.
Terminology:
CAT: Computer Adaptive Test
PT: Performance Task
ELA: English Language Arts
Our school is scheduled to take the tests:
Grade 3 | ELA CAT 5/6/26 8:20-9:50
ELA PT 5/8/26 8:20-10:20
Math CAT 5/13/26 8:20-9:50
Math PT 5/15/26 8:20-9:20 |
Grade 4 | ELA CAT 5/6/26 8:20-9:50
ELA PT 5/8/26 8:20-10:20
Math CAT 5/13/26 8:20-9:50
Math PT 5/19/26 8:20-9:20
|
Grade 5 | ELA CAT 5/5/26 8:20-9:50
ELA PT 5/7/26 8:20-10:20
Math CAT 5/12/26 8:20-9:50
Math PT 5/14/26 8:20-9:20
Science Day 1 5/19/26 8:20-9:50
Science Day 2 5/20/26 8:20-9:50
|
For more information about the Smarter Balanced and WCAS tests, visit the OSPI State Testing page and click on the name of the test.
To try out an online Smarter Balanced practice or training test or WCAS training test, visit the Washington Comprehensive Assessment Program (WCAP) Portal and click on the Practice and Training Tests button.
The WA-AIM is an alternate assessment based on alternate achievement standards aligned to the Washington State K–12 Learning Standards for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. For more information about the WA-AIM tests, visit the OSPI Assessment for Students with Cognitive Disabilities page.
Please contact Jenny LaFrenier 509-955-3120 if you have questions about state testing.
Thank you for continuing to work with us to make sure your student is successful. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to better support your child in building their skills so they can have a future full of opportunities.
Sincerely,
Jenny M. LaFrenier
Principal, KES