In-person Testing Reminder The Bottom Line:

 

We will be testing in-person this year. Many of you heard about the exciting bill passed in May that will allow online schools to complete state testing remotely. This means no more driving to testing sites, students can test in their familiar home environment, and families can maintain their regular schedules! However, while the bill passed, the actual rules for how remote testing will work still need to be created and approved. The state is expected to finalize these rules by the end of this school year, then likely pilot the program with a few schools during the 2026-27 school year before rolling it out statewide in 2027-28. Translation: Remote testing is likely two years away. This year—and probably next year—we'll continue testing in person, which means we will get to see each other in-person and celebrate our learning together!

 

Dates to Know for SY 2025-26:

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WIDA Testing February 9 – March 20

 

SBA/WCAS Testing April 20 – May 29

 

About Testing Site Assignments: Testing sites for WIDA and SBA/WCAS are nearly finalized! Our goal is to get location and site testing window information to you before winter break so you can plan for your student's end-of-year celebration of learning (State Testing). Note that the testing window will show the dates the site is open, not the specific dates your child will attend (those details will come closer to the testing date).If there's an issue with the assignment - such as the site being too far away, siblings scheduled at different locations, or a location that doesn't work for your family (for example, you're uncomfortable with the church-based site in Puyallup) - the message will include instructions on contacting the assessment coordinator.________________________________________Frequently Asked QuestionsWill SBA/WCAS testing be online this year?No. Remote testing will not be available this year. The earliest it could happen is spring 2027 (during the 2026-27 school year), but statewide implementation in spring 2028 (2027-28 school year) is more likely.If the bill passed, why can't we test online this year?The bill authorized remote testing but didn't include the specific rules for how it will work. The state needs time to develop guidelines, pilot the program with selected schools, and work out logistics before making it available to everyone.Could WAVA be selected for the pilot program?It's unlikely. The state has indicated they'll select only a few schools for piloting, and as one of Washington's largest online schools, WAVA is probably not a candidate. The state also hasn't shared details about the pilot timeline yet, so it may not even begin this school year.What's happening with the rule-making process?All online schools in Washington are monitoring the process and attending public hearings. No final rules have been established yet, but we expect them to be published in April 2026 (which would apply to the 2026-27 school year, not this current year).Will families have a chance to support this effort?If there's an opportunity for public input or advocacy that could help move this forward, we'll let you know and provide clear next steps!

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