State Testing Timelines & Calendar
Contact Information
This page lists the testing windows for all state assessments for the 2023-24 school year. Families and school staff should check their district's calendars or contact their district's central office for the specific testing schedules/dates for their school buildings.
Spring 2024 Testing
In spring 2024, students in grades 5, 8, and 11 are expected to take the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS), and students in grades 3-8 and 10 are expected to take the Smarter Balanced ELA and math assessments.
Smarter Balanced ELA & Math
The spring 2024 Smarter Balanced math and ELA tests will include both Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) and Performance Task (PT) components. The assessments for both subject areas will be the same length as in Spring 2023, with a shortened CAT and a full-length PT. The specific test blueprints that will be used are posted to the Smarter Balanced Test Development & Design webpage and are referred to as the "adjusted" blueprints.
The adjusted blueprints do not provide claim-level scores, but do provide target information, overall scale scores, and performance levels.
WCAS
The WCAS is the same test design and length as in spring 2023 and will provide Reporting Area information, overall scale scores, and performance levels. The test blueprints are posted online on the WCAS Educator Resources webpage in the Test Design & Item Specifications section.
Testing Windows
Smarter Balanced Assessments ELA & Math
|
Grade(s)
|
Subjects
|
Requirement/Availability
|
Testing Window
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-8 and 10 | ELA and math | Required for federal and state accountability. |
Online: March 4 – June 28, 2024 Paper/Pencil: April 8 – May 17, 2024* |
| 11 and 12 | ELA and math | Available to students who have not yet passed the ELA and/or math assessment and want to use it as a pathway to demonstrating post-secondary career or college readiness or who previously tested and would like to attempt a higher score.** |
Online: March 4 – June 28, 2024 Paper/Pencil: April 8 – May 17, 2024* |
* Paper testing is available only to support large print, braille, and standard print forms (in English for ELA tests and English or Spanish for math tests) for students whose IEP or 504 plan states paper.
** Smarter Balanced assessments are also available to students in the classes of 2021 and earlier receiving special education services who have the option of taking the assessments at an Off-Grade Level if they are pursuing a CIA and their IEP team determines that is appropriate.
Smarter Balanced is administered within the last 12 weeks of the school year, but no later than June 28.
Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science
| Grade(s) | Requirement/Availability | Testing Window |
|---|---|---|
| 5, 8 and 11 | Required for federal and state accountability. | Online: April 8 – June 7, 2024 Paper/Pencil: April 8 – May 17, 2024* |
| 12 | Available to students who need a score to comply with local district policies including credit retrieval/recovery. |
Online: April 8 – June 7, 2024 |
* Paper testing is available only to support large print, braille, and standard print forms in English or Spanish for students whose IEP or 504 plan states paper.
Washington Access to Instruction & Measurement (WA-AIM) Fall 2023 Retake
| Grade(s) | Subjects | Requirement/Availability | Testing Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 and 12 | ELA and math | Fall retakes are specific to students with the most significant cognitive disabilities, in grades 11 or 12, to use as a pathway to demonstrating post-secondary career or college readiness. | September 25 – November 21, 2023 |
Measurement & Washington Access to Instruction
| Grade(s) | Subjects | Requirement/Availability | Testing Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-8 and 10 | ELA and math | The WA-AIM ELA and Math are required for eligible students' federal and state accountability. | January 29 - May 3, 2024 |
| 5, 8, and 11 | Science | The WA-AIM Science is required for federal and state accountability for eligible students. | January 29 - May 3, 2024 |
WaKIDS Fall 2023
(GOLD ®)
| Grade(s) | Subjects | Requirement/Availability | Testing Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| K | Six areas of development and learning: social-emotional, physical, language, cognitive, math, and literacy. |
Required for students in state-funded, full-day kindergarten and Transition to Kindergarten. |
WaKIDS isn't a "test." Kindergarten teachers observe children during everyday classroom activities and take an inventory of their skills by November 15, 2023. Transitional Kindergarten teachers must complete their observations and inventories within 10 weeks from the program start date. |
WIDA ACCESS
| Grade(s) | Subjects | Requirement/Availability | Testing Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| K-12 | Writing, Reading, Listening, and Speaking | Required for federal and state accountability for EL students who qualify for the State Transitional Bilingual Instructional Program (TBIP). | Online: January 29 - March 22, 2024 Paper/Pencil: January 29 - March 22, 2024* |
* Paper testing is available only to support large print, braille, and standard print forms for students whose IEP or 504 plan states paper.
WIDA Alternate ACCESS
| Grade(s) | Subjects | Requirement/Availability | Testing Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| K-12 | Writing, Reading, Listening, and Speaking | Required for federal and state accountability for EL students who are eligible for the alternate assessment and qualify for the State Transitional Bilingual Instructional Program (TBIP). | Paper/Pencil: January 29 - March 22, 2024 |