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State Superintendent Chris Reykdal has decided Washington state will not administer Smarter Balanced Assessments or the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science in spring 2021. Standardized testing this spring will not support our students’ mental health and is not the best use of our limited remaining in-person instructional time this school year.
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These assessments are postponed until fall.
Our assessment window for the 2020–21 school year will be in the fall – a timeline consistent with guidance provided by the Department to satisfy federal testing requirements.
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Some assessments are happening now.
The WA-AIM, ELPA21, and WIDA Alternate Access assessment windows have already opened, and students have been testing.
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Districts may be conducting other assessments.
OSPI recognizes many school districts are utilizing local diagnostics and assessments this spring, and encourages use of the Interim Comprehensive Assessment (ICA). The ICA is comparable to the summative assessment and can provide a score on the same scale as the summative. Focused interim assessments are also available and can provide information on students’ understanding of specific content standards.
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Subject-area Assessments:
VIEW: Bulletin 014-21
Action Required: due date June 30, 2021
Re: 2020–21 Instruction and Assessment Reporting Requirements for the Arts, Educational Technology, Health and Physical Education, and Social Studies
Summary: For the 2020–21 school year, school districts are required to report assessment information using the specified links for each content area by June 30 (see Reporting Links in the bulletin). The annual reporting system is now open online for districts to begin entering information for this school year.
VIEW: Bulletin 011-21
Action Required: due date June 21, 2021
Re: Directory Change Request Process for 2020–21 School Year
Summary: The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is responsible for establishing a numbering and classification scheme used to identify each school within the state. These directory data are the cornerstone for all state and federal reporting and attention to their accuracy and timely notification of changes to directory information is vital. This bulletin is to inform you of the process to notify OSPI of changes to directory information contained within the Education Data System for the 2021–22 school year.
April 25 is the final day of the 2021 regular legislative session. Of the bills the Alternative Learning Department was monitoring, many did not pass. Those that did include:
- Concerning the emergency waiver of graduation requirements.
- Concerning school attendance.
- Concerning professional learning, equity, cultural competency, and dismantling institutional racism in the public school system.
- Establishing a building point of contact in all K-12 public schools for students in foster care.
More information about the 2021 legislative session can be found on the Washington State Legislature website.
The ALE Advisory Committee met on April 21. Representatives from programs across the state, Washington Association for Learning Alternatives (WALA), and the Alternative Learning Department (ALD) met and discussed the following topics:
- Legislative updates
- 2021-22 ALE guidance updates
For questions about the ALE Advisory Committee, please contact WALA or the ALD.
Online Learning Advisory Committee (OLAC) is coming up!
An Online Learning Advisory Committee (OLAC) has formal membership selected by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Members of the advisory committee will assist OSPI by providing advice regarding the approval criteria, major components of the website, the model school district policy, model agreements, and other related matters.
- For more information about OLAC, check our website.
May 12, 2021, 9:30 am-12:00 pm via Zoom
To join this OLAC meeting, click here: OLAC Zoom Meeting
ALE Reporting requirements per WAC 392-550-060:
In addition to monthly enrollment and CEDARS course reporting, two annual reports are required for ALE: the annual school board report, and the ALE Year-End Report.
School Board Report
Each ALE program must report to their school board annually. If you haven't presented your program's report yet this year, schedule with your board secretary.
Included in this report:
- Enrollment information
- Teacher-student ratios
- How your program support district goals
ALE Year-End Report to OSPI
The EDS application instructions for ALE Year-end Reporting will be available later this spring. Deadline for this annual reporting in August 31, 2021.
Reporting items will include:
- Substantially Similar expenditures
- Certificated instructional staff FTE
- ALE enrolled courses provided using contracted instruction
- Full-Day Kindergarten
- Assessment participation (SBAC, WaKIDS)
Coming Soon! ALE Guidance Videos!
Updated videos and a PDF of guidance for 2020-21 will be coming soon.
Current topics:
- ALE Overview
- Written Student Learning Plans
- Weekly Contact
- Monthly Progress Reviews & Intervention Plans
- School Board Role
- ALE Resources
Watch our website and this newsletter for the release.
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Center to Improve Social and Emotional Learning and School Safety Webinar: Evidence-Based Practices for Equity in Social and Emotional Learning, Tuesday, April 27, 12:00 pm, Register Here.
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LoLA Professional Development - Session 3: Exploring Innovative ALE School Designs and Possibilities - Monday, May 24, 2021, 9:00 am - 10:30 am. Participants can register through the following Google Form: LoLA PD REGISTRATION
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National Digital Learning Annual Conference (DLAC), June 14-16, 2021, Houston Texas + Virtual Access. For information: www.deelac.com
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2021 Virtual PBIS Leadership Forum, October 26-28, 2021. This three-day virtual forum is designed to support state, regional, and local educational leaders, together with community and family partners, to increase the effectiveness of school environments through PBIS. For information: www.pbisforum.org
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GATE Equity Webinar Series Regular monthly webinars. Information and registration available through the GATE website.
Contact Us!
For more information about Alternative Learning, please contact us at ALDInfo@k12.wa.us, or visit our OSPI Learning Alternatives website.
For specific questions, contact us by email:
ALE Programs: Anissa Sharratt
ALE/Reengagement Compliance: Liz Quayle
Online Learning: Nicole González
Previous newsletters are available on the ALE website.
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