English Language Arts Learning Standards

Contact Information

Praxia Apostle
Associate Director of Secondary English Language Arts
360-972-4044

Carey Kirkwood
Associate Director of Elementary English Language Arts
360-995-3232

Maja Wilson
Assessment Specialist
360-725-4976

OSPI supports educators, schools, districts, families, and partners in implementing Washington's English Language Arts learning standards, literacy initiatives, assessments, and policy requirements.

Learning standards for English Language Arts (ELA) are now formally adopted. Educators have the 2026–27 school year to begin exploring, learning about, and using the newly revised standards. The standards are required to be used with students in the 2027–28 school year. 

The learning standards are available in a Word, PDF and an Excel format. The Excel file contains a crosswalk to the Common Core State Standards adopted in 2011, connections to WIDA, connections to Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments, a glossary of key terms, and a selected bibliography.

Resources

What’s New in the WA ELA 2026
Key Shift and Six Key Literacy Practices for Literacy
ELA Family Caregiver Guides
  • Family Caregiver Guides by grade level (coming soon)
  • WA K-6 Literacy Framework: Family, Caregiver and Community (coming soon)
Literacy for All Learners

These resources highlight guidance and resources that support equitable, culturally and linguistically responsive literacy instruction for every student. These materials are designed to help educators create inclusive learning environments, implement evidence-based practices, and ensure that all learners have access to high-quality literacy experiences. Explore the resources below to support planning, instruction, intervention, and student belonging across Washington's diverse classrooms.

ELA Standards Implementation Support

ELA Standards Implementation Support by Domain

This section contains details to support the implementation of the ELA standards by domain, including videos, slides and additional resources.

Reading Domain

The reading standards ask students to read across a wide variety of genres. Literary and informational texts are combined and reorganized around genre including emerging genres (e.g. social media posts) beyond the categories of literary or informational. In Kindergarten through 5th grade, standards for foundational skills are placed in the context of a language and print-rich environment. Students build greater phonological awareness and accurate decoding skills, using phonics and word analysis to build fluency. Text/visual features expand into grades 6–12, teaching students to “decode” genre-specific visual elements. From Kindergarten through high school, these standards are followed by standards for comprehension, interpretation, analysis, and evaluation of texts. 

Writing Domain

The writing standards empower students to compose a wide range of genres for varied purposes and audiences. Although argument is one form of persuasion, the standards recognize that many persuasive genres use distinct techniques. Informative, explanatory, and narrative writing are also included as flexible genre categories rather than fixed text types.

This expanded view of writing aligns with shifts in the reading standards and deepens the inclusion of media literacy. The writing standards also introduce digital citizenship, prompting students to consider the permanence of their writing and the range of intended and unintended audiences.

With a process-oriented approach, the standards help students consider the communicative situation and prepare them to write unfamiliar genres in the future. In the writing domain, the standards proceed from identifying the purpose to planning and drafting, revising and editing, and sharing and publishing. This reflects the recursive nature of composing and developing writing over time.

Speaking Listening and Digital Forums Domain

The speaking, listening, and digital forums standards emphasize the importance of engaging students in meaningful, respectful communication—both in person and online. While digital forums resemble conversation more than traditional writing, they introduce unique opportunities that need students to apply and expand their social-emotional learning and digital citizenship skills. 

Language Domain

The language standards support students to develop their knowledge and use of the English language in different contexts for different purposes. Language skills and knowledge develop within the literacy activities represented by the other domains.

The language standards emphasize the context in which students develop language skills and knowledge. Students learn how language works across contexts and social situations to convey meaning. Students use syntax, vocabulary, and word relationships to interpret and express ideas with clarity and precision. Students also apply encoding and transcription skills—such as spelling, punctuation, and written conventions—to communicate effectively in writing. In addition, language standards are written to be easy to use in dual-language settings and include connections to the Key Language Uses found in the WIDA English Language Development framework.

Research & Media Literacy Domain

The research and inquiry standards accurately reflect real-world uses for the inquiry process. Students can write about research but can also use it to inform decisions and discussions, satisfy curiosity, inspire creative work, and provide context for the texts they read and study. Putting research and media literacy into a single domain emphasizes the need to identify credible and relevant sources during the research process.

Students encounter countless media messages all day long. The media literacy standards do not tell students what to think about media messages and information sources. Instead, these media literacy standards help students think critically about media messages so they can make their own informed choices about what to believe and what actions to take. As students consider their reactions to media messages, they rely on and build skills associated with social-emotional learning.

Additional English Language Arts Resources

Assessment Resources
  • Please visit the "Connections to State Assessment" section on the Learning Standards Review FAQs webpage to learn about the impact of the WA ELA 2026 on state assessments. The OSPI ELA Assessment contains additional information and resources about the Smarter Balanced Assessment testing.
  • WA K-6 Literacy Framework: Assessment (coming soon)
Regional and National ELA Resources
Washington State Literacy Policy and Legislation
  • ESSB 6162 - Dyslexia and Screening K-2: A Washington State law that defines dyslexia as a specific learning disability and requires early screening in Washington State. (RCW 28A.320.260:
  • ESHB 1295 - Comprehensive Literacy K-4: Washington state law passed in 2026 that requires public elementary schools to use evidence-based instructional practices in reading and writing literacy for students in kindergarten through fourth grade.