English Language Arts
Contact Information
Carey Kirkwood
Associate Director, Elementary ELA & Content Integration360-725-6037
Praxia Apostle
Associate Director - Content, Secondary ELA360-972-4044
OSPI provides support to school districts and partners with the implementation of the English language arts (ELA) standards, educational initiatives, and laws required by Washington state.
ELA Open Office Hours 2026–27
Join the OSPI ELA team for monthly open office hours where we respond to educator questions, share ELA resources, and provide state-wide updates. Registration is for individual sessions, so you will need to register each month using the links provided. Please note, these are open office hours without pre-set topics and are not recorded.
Meeting notes will be shared the week following office hours on the OSPI ELA webpage.
If you have questions, please contact the ELA team.
| Date | Time | Registration Link |
|---|---|---|
| October 7, 2026 | 400PM – 5:00PM | October link |
| November 11, 2026 | 400PM – 5:00PM | November link |
| December 2, 2026 | 400PM – 5:00PM | December link |
| January 5, 2027 | 400PM – 5:00PM | January link |
| February 2, 2027 | 400PM – 5:00PM | February link |
| March 3, 2027 | 400PM – 5:00PM | March link |
| April 7, 2027 | 400PM – 5:00PM | April link |
| May 5, 2027 | 400PM – 5:00PM | May link |
ELA Learning Standards
The Common Core State Standards are the Washington State K–12 ELA Learning Standards. The standards describe what students should know and be able to do at each grade level. The Best Practices for Instruction are concepts, ideas, and practices that encourage a more equitable and just educational system.
HB 1295 Handout: Strengthening Literacy in Washington
Learn what HB 1295 means for early literacy in Washington. This handout highlights key changes and supports related to K–4 literacy curriculum, screening and early identification, educator learning, family engagement, and state resources for strong reading and writing instruction.
Assessments
Assessments are designed to help districts, schools, teachers, parents, and students determine the level of proficiency of a student's understanding of the ELA learning standards.
Washington State Fellows Network
Engaging Teacher Leaders in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Early Learning.
About Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a neurological disorder that is characterized by unexpected difficulties and abilities that are not consistent with the person's intelligence, motivation, and sensory capabilities. Learn more about recommended tools for early screening of dyslexia!
Bridge to College Courses
A 12th-grade course grounded in essential career and college readiness expectations as reflected in the Washington State K–12 Learning Standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics (the Common Core State Standards) to ensure that students passing the course are fully prepared for college-level coursework.
Washington Reading Corps
The mission of the Washington Reading Corps (WRC) is to improve reading abilities of K–6 students across Washington state.